Need a 21st-century gardening guide? Clemson has an app for that

Published: July 17, 2012

FLORENCE — Two Clemson University researchers are part of a team of scientists from across the Southeast that has developed a smartphone application for home gardeners.

The high-tech gardening tool puts vital information, such as alerts about pest outbreaks, insect and disease management, and pruning and fertilization schedules, just fingertips away via the IPMLite app for iPhone and Android platforms.

The app is developed by the same team of horticulturists, plant pathologists, entomologists, and weed scientists that developed the IPMPro app for nurserymen, professional landscapers and arborists.

The new IPMLite app provides up-to-date pest and plant disease information and plant care recommendations.

“Think of the app as your 21^st century garden adviser,” said Clemson’s Sarah White, the project’s lead horticulture developer.

“IPMLite was developed specifically for the home gardener to help identify common garden pests and problems and determine when to perform various garden tasks,” White said.

“Gardeners benefit from accurate, timely information,” she said. “IPMLite puts that information right at the fingertips of every green-thumbed enthusiast.”

The project was led by Amy Fulcher at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture. Other project partners are the University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of Maryland, North Carolina State University and Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

Clemson’s J.C. Chong, lead entomology developer on the project, said IPMLite delivers relevant information that is easy to read and condensed. Features include images and real-time alerts to allow backyard gardeners make timely decisions.

IPMLite provides:

• text alerts of time-sensitive pest issues and plant care;
• images, pest lifecycle and management options for major pests;
• how-to information and images of cultural practices; and
• pests tracking and cultural practices in calendar view or a chronological list.

“The development team was sensitive to the fact that not everyone is an entomologist,” Chong said. “The team was careful to provide information that is clear and concise, but relevant to Master Gardeners and backyard beginners alike.”

Chong is based at Clemson University’s Pee Dee Research and Education Center and White at the main university campus. Their work on this project is another example of collaboration that reaches across the university and across the state, Chong said.

IPMLite is designed for for the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 4 through 8 (with capability for Zone 9a and 9b), which includes 20-plus states from west of the Mississippi River, east and north to Pennsylvania and New Jersey and south to the Gulf Coast.

Its development was made possible by funding from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, through its Extension and AgResearch units, and support from the University of Tennessee Research Foundation. 

IPMPro costs $24.99 and IPMLite $9.99. Both applications are available through Apple (iPhone and iPad) and Android marketplaces. For more information, visit ipmproapp.com and ipmliteapp.com.

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