AI in Gardening: Hype vs Reality

0:00It's March 26. I'm Corey with The Story, and this is Anchorage News Today, local news powered by AI. AI is making its mark and gardening, especially after a local columnist wrote about roses. Suddenly, ads flooded in for rose bushes, promising instant coverage of your whole house front with millions of blooms. But those claims are way off base. In reality, roses need time to grow. Start the min doors in pots, then transplant outside around mid-May for flowers all summer. Officials say they won't bloom right away unless they already have buds. Gardeners are split on this AI trend. Some see it pushing quick landscaping fixes over real hands on gardening. Others appreciate AI for smart planning, like matching plants to your yard conditions or figuring out growth rates and spacing. Newer AI tools are pretty handy too. Point your phone at a plant, mushroom, bird or tree, and it identifies it instantly, skipping the need for heavy field guides. That's real progress for folks in the garden.

1:01As we wrap up planting season, harden off indoor lilies in a shady spot. So seeds for flowers like zineas and marigolds, start veggies such as broccoli and kale, and get those gladioli in the ground soon.