The internet is full of horticulture information – some good and some not. Below are some of our favorite sources of information and knowledge.
The Garden Center Technology Gold Rush: Separating Real Opportunity from Expensive Distraction - Op-Ed by Andrew Levi
If you own or manage a garden center, you have probably noticed that technology has suddenly discovered our industry. POS systems, inventory platforms, ecommerce, loyalty programs, digital marketing, SMS, AI, augmented reality, analytics, mobile apps, digital signage and marketing automation are all being pitched as the next big thing, usually with similar promises: more sales, lower costs, happier customers, less labor, smarter decisions and greater loyalty. Apparently, all we have to do is turn everything on and watch the business grow.
Plants: Do They Really Work in an Ecommerce Machine? Op-Ed by Andrew Levi
Every retailer is hearing the same message: “You need ecommerce! Add checkout. Offer buy online pickup in store (“BOPIS”), local delivery, ship local, maybe even ship out of region. Capture incremental sales. Don’t get left behind…”. The pressure is constant, and it’s coming from everywhere, especially software providers. Shopify, Epicor, and traditional POS vendors like LightSpeed, CounterPoint, and Square are all pushing ecommerce hard into the garden center channel because, for them, it’s a logical upsell and a “greenfield” opportunity. “Just turn on the feature – It’s easy”. But what’s easy for a software company to sell isn’t necessarily profitable for a business to operate. The moment you move beyond in-store merchandising and start promising to transact online, you’re not just running a garden center anymore – you’re becoming a warehouse, a tech company, and a logistics operator all at once. And that’s a VERY different business.
PlantTAGG Tutorial Videos
The PlantTAGG mobile app contains a wealth of features to help you manage and care for every plant you own. Click here to access our Tutorial Video library to help you get up to speed or learn how to use a new feature in the system.
Plant By Number Design
Plant By Number Design helps home gardeners transform their yards with beautiful, easy-to-follow landscaping plans. Inspired by the simplicity of paint-by-number kits, each design provides a visual guide to what and where to plant, to bring the vision to life. With curated plant lists and thoughtful layouts, Plant By Number Design empowers gardeners to create stunning spaces with confidence.
Simplyscapes - Landscape Design Software
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Native Plant Society of Texas
Texas A&M Soil Testing
Neil Sperry
Texas Discovery Gardens at Fair Park
Our 7.5-acre organic garden features native and adapted plants. Inside, our two-story Rosine Smith Sammons Butterfly House and Insectarium transports you to a tropical rainforest, complete with hundreds of free-flying tropical butterflies!
Located in Dallas’ historic Fair Park, Texas Discovery Gardens is a year-round organically maintained urban oasis filled with natural wonders. Family festivals, workshops, free admission days, and our extensive (and growing) EarthKeepers® student education program introduce children and adults to a natural outdoor learning experience.
Dallas Arboretum
Aggie Horticulture
US Department of Agriculture Plants Database