1. Technology in the Garden
Using QR Codes to Market Your Demo Landscape
Emily E. Eubanks, UF/IFAS Communications Coordinator

2. Technology in the Garden
• Videos
• Audio Tours
• Apps
• QR Codes

3. QR Codes Basics
• QR codes (short for Quick Response) are
barcodes that can be read by mobile phone
(smartphone) cameras.
• A QR Code is unique to a webpage.

4. QR Codes in the Garden
• Give specific site/plant information on the
spot
• Quick access
• Bookmark sites
• Provide consumer driven technology at their
fingertips
• Used by retailers and public gardens

5. Home Depot

6. Longwood Gardens

7. State Botanical Garden of Georgia

8. Primary Extension Methods for
Teaching Basic Plant Info
• In person
– One on one
– Lecture
• Very hands-on
• Handouts
• Websites/Videos

9. Primary Extension Methods for
Teaching Basic Plant Info
• Pros
– Personalized info
– People like it
• Cons
– Very time consuming
– Can’t answer everyone’s questions
– Miss people who wander through gardens and
don’t ask questions

10. What Do Visitors Want to Know
From a Demo Garden?
• What’s the name of this plant?
• Can I grow it in my yard?
• What kind of care does it need?
• What other plants go well with it?
• Where do I get more info?

11. Traditional Plant Signs

12. Moving to an Online Format
in the Garden
• Pros
– Consistency across the state on the content
received
– Easily updated
– Can be used as a self-teaching device
• Cons
– Visitors tend to be an older population with
barriers to technology

13. Extension Demonstration Gardens
• Cooperative Extension Service use
demonstration gardens as teaching tools
• Usually maintained by Master Gardeners
• Significant variety of gardens
– Themed
– Indoor
– Location specific
– Plant type specific

14. Florida Extension Demo Gardens
• 66 documented demonstration gardens in
Florida
• Maintained by Master Gardeners
• Located at extension offices, schools, fire
stations, libraries, etc.
• Four seasons of gardening – constant
maintenance and visitation
• And, constant gardening questions

15. Audience – Super Users
• Master Gardeners • 4-H Volunteers & Youth
– Mostly over 55 – Youth ages 8-18
– Sometimes have smart – Volunteers all ages
phones – Usually have smart
– Somewhat computer phones
literate – Somewhat computer
– Lots of horticulture literate
knowledge – No prior horticulture
knowledge

16. General Audience
• Everyone else who visits Extension office or
demo garden
– County commissioners
– Lecture attendees
– Quick stop ins
– Plant clinic visitors
– General public

17. Straughn Professional
Development Extension Center
• Opened January 2012
• 1st Extension demo
landscape on UF
campus
• Demonstrates 9 Florida-
Friendly Landscaping
Principles
• Two intro signs,
interpretative signage,
and plant signs

18. Timeline
• 2011 – developed Extension demonstration garden
landscape plan and installation for Straughn Center,
plans for signage but no money
• December 23, 2011 – met about grand opening of
Straughn Center, initial request of indoor plants,
realized they really wanted signage
• January 4, 2012 – started on signage and QR codes,
realized it would be closer to 80 QR codes
• January 11, 2012 – installation of signs and QR codes
• January 12, 2012 – grand opening of Straughn Center

19. Development
• Communications Coordinator worked on content
• Web Coordinator worked on QR code and website
development
– After research, realized our current site is not mobile
friendly and would need a mobile friendly site in addition
to full site about landscape
– Built on JQuery Mobile Framework

20. Welcome Sign

21. Plant Info
• Shrubs
• Trees
• Groundcovers
• Grasses
• Perennials

22. Plant Info

23. Demo Area Signs
• Create a Wildlife
Habitat
• Use Microirrigation
• Build a Rain Garden
• Use a Compost Bin
• What is a QR Code?

24. Mobile Site

25. Full Site

26. Uses for QR Codes in the Garden
• Individual sites
– Direct to Extension office site
• Podcasts
– Audio tours, verbal info, stories about the garden,
children’s book readings, etc.
• Evaluation
– Pre- and post-test of garden
• Picture submission
– Garden photo contest

27. Uses for QR Codes in the Garden
• Email
– Send questions directly to MG Help Desk
• Google Maps
– Check in or mark on Google Maps
• Twitter hashtag
– Develop a trending hashtag about the garden
• Facebook page
– Encourage people to like and interact
• Meet Your MGs
– Bios of garden caretakers

28. Downsides
• Low awareness of QR codes
• Limited technology
• QR code might direct users to a website that
does not display properly on a cell phone
• Appropriate and effective pedagogical uses of
QR codes

29. Future
• In-service training for horticulture agents, MG
coordinators, and Master Gardeners
• Serve as a resource for county faculty
developing their signage