Brave New World: Handy Digital Resources for Landscapers

In our last newsletter and blog, we outlined a range of plant identification apps that you can download on your mobile phone or tablet and use on the job. We’ve found some more great apps and websites that may help identify those really tricky plants or give tips to manage pests, diseases and weeds.

Good luck and happy plant identifying.

Apps for Pests and Diseases

Plantix

Plantix is an app that specialises in plant pests and diseases. It all provides information on watering, planting, harvesting, light, required nutrients and associated plant health issues. The app also features some common garden and indoor plants, and provides tips for preventing problems that frequently affect plants. Simply by taking a photo of the pest or disease, the app identifies the problem and gives advice on eradication.

Agrobase

Agrobase claims to be the most popular app for farmers and agronomists. Its database includes a pests, weeds and diseases catalogue, as well as a list of all registered pesticides, insecticides and herbicides in a chosen country.
This is a serious app for professionals but may be useful for landscape contractors dealing with maintenance projects.

Websites for Plant Identification
Are you stumped identifying a native plant or a rare weed? There is a huge range of very useful Australian websites and services that can assist with identification and management of local plant species and weeds. Here are a few to get you started.

• The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust – www.rbsyd.nsw.gov.au/plant_info/identifying_plants/plant_identification_service
  Note: There are equivalent organisations in every State and Territory of Australia.
• Australian National Herbarium – www.anbg.gov.au/spbr/herbarium/about
  From this page, you can access the Australian Plant Name Index (APNI) and other useful information.
• The Australian National Botanic Gardens – www.anbg.gov.au/gardens/plantinfo/index.html
• The Weeds in Australia Identification Tool – https://weeds.org.au
  This site features information and tips for identifying weeds, weed management, reporting about weeds, and also includes a list of weed that are subject to legislation in each State and Territory.
• The Flora of Australia Online – www.ausflora.org.au
  A scientific site which lists mand Australian plants with text-based character keys to describe each species.