Keep your garden trees alive!

Problem

 

Urban and suburban homeowners often struggle to maintain the health and beauty of the trees in their gardens due to a lack of knowledge about tree species, their health conditions, and proper care techniques. Many individuals aged 30–50, who are tech-savvy and time-constrained, want to ensure their garden trees remain healthy and vibrant but find it overwhelming to research and apply traditional methods of tree care. This gap in knowledge and resources can lead to unhealthy trees, which negatively impacts the aesthetic and environmental value of their outdoor spaces. 

The challenge was to create a user-friendly, mobile-based solution that simplifies tree identification, health monitoring, and care recommendations, empowering users to become confident stewards of their garden trees without requiring extensive time or expertise.

Process

To address this problem, I conducted user research to understand the needs, pain points, and behaviors of the target audience. Key insights included: 

  • Users wanted a quick and easy way to identify tree species.
  • They sought personalized care recommendations tailored to their specific trees.
  • They preferred a visually intuitive app that could integrate seamlessly into their busy lifestyles. 

Based on these insights, I defined the core features of the Healthy Garden Tree App: 

  1. Tree Identification: A feature allowing users to take a picture of a tree and receive its name and species information.
  2. Health Monitoring: Tools to assess and track tree health, including foliage condition, root health, and signs of disease.
  3. Care Recommendations: Personalized advice on watering, pruning, fertilization, and pest control.
  4. Community Engagement: A platform for users to share experiences, ask questions, and learn from others.
  5. Educational Resources: Articles and tutorials on tree biology and sustainable landscaping practices.

I also developed user persona and user stories to guide the design process, ensuring the app met the specific needs of its target audience.

Persona:

 

User story:
 
  1. As a user I want to have possibility in the app to take a picture of my tree, So that I can know from the app a right name of the tree.
  2. As a user I want to see in the app recommendations for taking care of my tree, So that I can have my tree healthy for a long time.

Iterations

The design process involved multiple iterations to refine the app’s functionality and user experience: 

  • Wireframes: Initial wireframes focused on creating a clean, intuitive interface with easy navigation. Key pages included a cover page, login options, a “My Trees” page, and a notes section for saving care recommendations. 
  • User Testing: Early prototypes were tested with target users to gather feedback on usability. Users appreciated the simplicity of the tree identification feature but requested more detailed health assessments and care tips. 
  • Refinements: Based on feedback, I enhanced the health monitoring feature to include visual indicators of tree health and added a notifications system to remind users of care tasks. I also expanded the educational resources section to include interactive guides.

Wireframes:

Final Design

 

The final design of the Healthy Garden Tree App is a visually appealing, user-friendly mobile platform with 16 interactive pages. Key features include:

  • Cover Page: A welcoming introduction to the app.
  • Login Options: Users can sign in via Google, Twitter, or Facebook for seamless access.
  • Tree Identification: Users can take a picture of a tree, and the app identifies the species and provides a detailed description.
  • Health Monitoring: The app analyzes the tree’s health and offers actionable tips to improve its condition.
  • My Trees Page: Users can save information about their trees and track their health over time.
  • Notes Section: Care recommendations and personalized tips can be saved for future reference.
  • Profile Page: Users can manage their account and delete it if needed.
  • Main Menu: Easy navigation to key sections like About, Profile, My Trees, and Notes. 

The app also includes notifications to confirm actions, such as successfully saving a note or adding a tree to the “My Trees” page. 

Prototype (You can explore the interactive prototype of the Healthy Garden Tree App in Figma):

Impact

 

The Healthy Garden Tree App has the potential to significantly improve the way urban and suburban homeowners care for their garden trees. By providing an accessible, all-in-one platform for tree identification, health monitoring, and care recommendations, the app empowers users to take proactive steps in maintaining healthy, vibrant trees. 

The app’s community engagement features foster a sense of connection among users, encouraging knowledge-sharing and collaboration. Additionally, the educational resources help users deepen their understanding of tree care, promoting sustainable practices and long-term environmental benefits. 

Ultimately, the Healthy Garden Tree App not only enhances the beauty and health of individual gardens but also contributes to the preservation and growth of urban green spaces, creating a positive impact on communities and the environment. 

This structured approach—addressing the problem, detailing the process, iterating based on feedback, finalizing the design, and highlighting the impact—ensures the Healthy Garden Tree App is a valuable, user-centered solution for tree enthusiasts and homeowners alike.

You can read about the results of developing the Healthy Garden Tree App on Behance: Healthy Garden Tree App :: Behance

Tools

Figma, Behance, MS Word and PowerPoint