| I often hear people — clients and those outside the trade alike — say that AI will eventually replace professional gardeners. But I strongly disagree. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about where gardening is heading — not just in terms of climate or plant trends, but also in terms of technology. In particular, AI. It’s a topic that tends to raise eyebrows in this industry. Some worry it might take jobs, while others think it has no place in a world of soil, secateurs, and the slow work of seasons. But here’s my take, from someone who spends most of their week out in the gardens, boots muddy and fingers green: AI isn’t going to replace gardeners. It will support us — if we let it. Gardeners should embrace these tools to strengthen, streamline, and future-proof their businesses. And I’ve done my homework. Below are some of my findings. |
| It’s Not Replacing the Craft Gardening remains a physical, intuitive, and deeply human experience. No machine is going to prune a rose with the same care, or notice the look on a client’s face when the lawn’s been freshly edged and the borders are in bloom. AI isn’t about replacing that. What it can do is clear the noise — the admin, the guesswork, the repetitive tasks — so we can focus more on the gardening itself. I don’t see AI putting professional gardeners out of work. Instead, I see a shift — moving away from tedious aspects of the job and focusing on higher-value work, such as creating planting plans, improving soil health, implementing ecological design, or offering clients a more personalized service. |
| Tools, Not Threats Think of AI like you would a good spade or mower. It’s a tool — one you can choose to use or not — but in the right hands, it makes the work better. There are already apps that can ID pests or plants from a quick photo, tools for scheduling, and programs to generate invoices or send appointment reminders. I’ve started using AI for seasonal care tips and reminders—the kind of task I’d love to do manually if I had 10 more hours a week to spare. And that’s the point: this isn’t about turning gardening into a tech job. It’s about getting time back to do more of the work that really matters. |
| Smarter Gardens, Not Smarter Gardeners I can also envision AI becoming more integrated into the gardens themselves — sensors in the soil, smart irrigation systems that water only when necessary, and data-driven planting strategies to maximize the use of sunlight, shade, and seasonal changes. Especially in urban or high-maintenance areas, AI can help keep things running smoothly between visits. Not to replace the gardener, but to make each visit more targeted and effective. Even for garden design, there are now tools that simulate growth years into the future, allowing clients to see what their border will look like next spring or how much space a shrub will fill in five years. That helps with planning, but it also builds trust — something I’ve found invaluable. |
| The Business End of Things Where I’ve found AI most helpful is on the admin side. Route planning is now automated, invoicing and payment tracking are streamlined, and tax prep feels much easier. You can even keep a log of what’s been done for each client, noting what they liked and what they didn’t, and use that information to offer timely services down the line. It’s like having a silent office assistant who doesn’t need tea breaks. That said, you don’t need to jump in headfirst. I’ve started small — one or two tools that actually solve real problems. That’s the key. If something helps you spend more time in the garden and less time pushing paper or tapping your phone, it’s worth it. |
| Gardening with Tech, Not Against It To me, the future of gardening isn’t about robots doing the work. It’s about gardeners using smarter tools to do the work better, with more care, more insight, and more time to spare. Clients still want gardens with heart. That won’t change. What might change is how we get there — and if AI can help us garden more efficiently, run our businesses more smoothly, and respond more thoughtfully to seasonal shifts, then I think that’s something to embrace. Not everything needs to be automated. But if AI can help us be more present, more productive, and more sustainable in our work, then I’m all for it. |
Earthly Comforts 
Yes, very well said Rory. AI can’t ever replace a real gardener with his heart in his trade
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Exactly Sadje 🙂
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👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
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I see AI as a tool to aid the gardener, but not to replace the human passion that goes into the profession.
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Very much so Eugenia, some professions l can see if people are not careful could be replaced, others not so much if at all.
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I agree, Rory. I think those in techie positions will suffer the most.
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Well very much so Eugenia, but not just those, new articles are suggesting that by as little as 2027 we will start to see the first longer lines of unemployment – skilled positions, trades positions, medical professions are still safe, but workshops, administrators, writers, proofreaders, some artists, customer service, programmers, graphic designers – l think we will see some loss if the ai safety is managed correctly, and then the job market will shift to create a newer prospective, but l also think many employed with scream and shout and not embrace as they should. It’s a challenging and exciting time, not fun for all though.
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I agree, and time will tell.
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