DENVER (TheStreet) -- Should the Super Bowl begin to drag, keep yourself awake by digging into these new apps that will help you get ahead in life.

Plan Your Garden:

One of the most chock-full garden apps is the new

Garden Plan Pro

, an iPad app from U.K. garden-planning software company GrowVeg.com.

Besides the usual features like a journal-keeping function, sharing and plant tips based on location, the app helps gardeners figure out crop rotation, succession and odd-shaped garden plots. There's also a square-foot gardening mode. It's not cheap at $19.99 but as a new app, it's temporarily half off. Link: http://bit.ly/ADzejW

Do Your Taxes:

Got an iPad? Then you can do your taxes discreetly on the couch while everyone's still watching the game.

The

TurboTax

for iPad app came out last season but the new, improved version now has that critical step to let you import your tax return from last year's TurboTax. Free to download, it's $29.99 to file your federal return, $36.99 for each state.

It's iPad-only but if you've got a simple return and aren't claiming kids or a house, try TurboTax SnapTax for iPhone

http://bit.ly/zWkt1W and Android

http://bit.ly/ytB8PF users. SnapTax photographs your W-2 and costs $19.99 to file. Link: http://bit.ly/yG8gKE

Take a Course in Astrophysics

:

The new

iTunes U

app is part of

Apple's

educational service to bring students, teachers and universities together online.

The app now allows anyone with an iPad or iPhone to view course materials and participate - from the minimum of watching a lecture to interacting with professors. Free. Link: http://bit.ly/x4LfX0

Find Something Else to Watch

:

Without taking over the big screen, the

Buddy TV Guide

app (new for Android) lets you figure out what else is on that you really want to watch -- or watch after the big game.

You'll have to configure it a bit by picking your favorite shows, channels and actors. But after that, it'll spit out personal recommendations so you're not stuck watching the lame after show. Buddy can also recommend better shows on

Netflix

or

Amazon

.

Better yet, if you have a TiVo, Internet TV like

Google TV

or

Samsung

Connected TV, the app turns your phone into a remote control. Free. Link: Android, http://bit.ly/yV6RHM, and iOS, http://bit.ly/wCtgoB

Find Some New Apps

:

Sure there are tons of free apps out there, not to mention hordes of blogs with recommendations. But few offer the regular and useful tips as

Apps Gone Free

from AppAdvice.com.

The site's popular column of the same name gives readers the heads up on apps that now won't cost a dime. It's a list and write-up, complete with links to your iOS app of choice. Free. Link: http://bit.ly/wtc2yg

Tamara Chuang is an outside contributor to TheStreet. Her opinions are her own.