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Using AI as your landscaping expert
Your quick guide to leveraging AI for smarter yard care and plant management.
This article is part of the eBook: Everyday AI guide: Practical genAI life hacks from real users, a free download from We Love Open Source.
As a new homeowner, I quickly realized that taking care of a yard is more complicated than I expected. Grass, trees, flowers, and weeds were all unfamiliar territory. Using AI, specifically Gemini, I approached this like having a landscaping expert in my pocket. By sharing photos of my yard and providing context, I could interactively explore issues, get guidance on plant care, and understand how to maintain my lawn and garden.
Dead or dormant grass?
For example, I noticed a dead spot in my grass and wanted to understand what was happening. I shared multiple photos with Gemini, including comparisons of healthy and affected areas. AI identified the type of grass as Fescue, explained why it might be struggling in summer heat, and suggested approaches for dealing with weeds and maintaining other plants. Answering follow-up questions and providing extra details helped me make informed decisions about watering, weed control, and overall yard care. This approach made managing my landscaping feel approachable, even as a beginner.
Prompts used in this guide
- Hey, I need some help. I have grass. I don’t know anything about the grass or landscaping, it looks dead. Can you help me figure out what it is and how to solve it? Be my landscaping expert.
- Can you assess this area based on the photos I’m sharing?
- Would it be helpful if I provide multiple images showing healthy versus affected areas, and zoomed-in details?
- If there’s more information I could provide to help your analysis, ask for it.
By the end of my interaction, Gemini helped me understand the likely causes of my yard issues, offered practical suggestions for care, and clarified next steps to improve plant health. This experience highlighted how AI can be an interactive, landscaping assistant for tackling unfamiliar yard tasks, helping you explore solutions and make better decisions with confidence.
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