This document discusses using QR codes in extension demonstration gardens to provide plant and site information to visitors. It describes how QR codes work and how several public gardens have implemented them successfully. The author details setting up a mobile-friendly website with plant profiles linked to QR codes in their new extension demonstration landscape. QR codes could provide audio tours, evaluations, photos submissions and more. While awareness and technology barriers exist, QR codes allow customized, updatable signage for self-guided garden tours.

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