Thankfully (for me anyway), microchips and remote controls are becoming as popular in the garden as they are in the kitchen, den or even the office.  We knew it was only a matter of time and that time is now!

Let’s face it.  There are more demands on our lives than ever before and the consequence is those demands are cutting into our gardening time.  So, what if we could embrace this technology to eliminate some of the maintenance drudgery and make every gardening and landscaping moment pure pleasure?

No…they haven’t invented a robotic weeder yet, but there are plenty of other cutting edge devices that are helping us save time, lighten our load and eliminate many of the mysteries of managing our own little corner of the world.  Let’s take a look at just a few.

Imagine ‘joe gardener’ decides he or she is ready to spruce up their front yard.  This might include rejuvenating the lawn and adding some new plants and flowers.  Off to the garden center they go, not completely certain of what the purchases will include, but confident they’ll figure that out when they get there.  That’s because this ‘joe gardener’ has taken their trusty “Pocket Gardener”.

The Pocket Gardener
Visualize the frustration experienced when you find an interesting or unfamiliar plant at the nursery, only to realize there is little or no information about the plant itself or its cultural requirements.  How tall will it grow?  Does it prefer sun or shade?  Is it an annual or perennial?  Is it pests and disease resistant?  Questions like these and many more don’t need to leave you wondering any longer, thanks to the Pocket Gardener.   

This free download from Ohio State University works with virtually any pocket computer (PDA) or Palm Pilot device.  The software enables anyone to access 181 retrievable, comprehensive profiles, encompassing everything from ground covers to trees.  Furthermore, the data is stored on the University’s computers so you don’t have to worry about using up a lot of extra memory.

This is a rapidly expanding resource from one of the top horticultural websites in the country and an indispensable tool next time you head to the garden center. Check out The Pocket Gardener.

Video enabled handheld devices
From Ipods to cell phones, video enabled handheld devices are now becardeneroming our on-site tutors, especially in the garden.  Imagine that trip to the nursery includes the purchase of some new sod.  Do you know how to properly install it?  You do if you have your video enabled device.

Download one of the many instructional videos available today from numerous websites and watch step by step instructions right as you go.  With more and more how-to videos ready for downloading, now everything from soil preparation and planting to pruning and harvesting are at the ready anytime, anywhere!

Remote controlled watering
That’s right guys, a remote control for the lawn and garden is literally now just a click away.  Take L.R. Nelson Company’s new introduction, the Remote Rain®.  Even I had my doubts as to the appeal of a remote on/off for attaching to hose spigots, sprinklers, etc…other than of course the manly desire to control yet another remote. 

Now simply click the sprinkler on and off before moving it to another position.  Previously I’d have to walk to the source, turn off the water, reposition the sprinkler, walk back to the source and turn it on again.  And for sprinklers requiring adjustments, this was always a real hassle.

With the Remote Rain device, simply click the water off, tweak the sprinkler and click it back on again.   Applications flooded my brain as I began to imagine controlling all the other the irrigation duties from my hammock as well.  Specific product information for this product can be found here.  The LR Nelson Remote Rain is approximetly $70.00 and available at Home Depot, Ace Hardware, Target and Improvements Catalog.

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