With the second decade of the twenty-first century fast approaching, the rise of smart technology that is capable of integrating into nature is becoming more and more common throughout our homes. These smart home devices make life so much easier for their owners— both inside the house and out. Smart lawn and garden devices generally fall into four categories: sprinklers, sensors, lighting, and automated lawnmowers. So, if you’re a homeowner who wants nothing more than to sit back, relax, and enjoy your yard without having to do all the mowing, maintenance, and other yardwork that goes into it, look no further because this article is for you.

 

Robotic Lawnmower

Anybody that has ever mowed a lawn knows that it is by far the most thankless backyard chore ever conceived of. Fortunately, it has become one of the easiest tasks to automate via technology. The WORX Landroid is a shining example of the practicality of owning a robotic lawn mower and its potential. You’re able to program your device’s range, cutting height, and schedule all from the user-friendly control panel. Most models even utilize safety features like PIN codes to prevent theft or children accidentally turning it on. On a full charge, it will mow for approximately 45 minutes before returning to its dock to recharge for another 45 minutes. Its built-in rain sensor automatically stops the Landroid when it senses rain and only re-starts when the  grass is dry again.

 

Garden Sensors

Garden sensors are perfect for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike. Smart garden sensors like Edyn, are able to track the amount of moisture, light, temperature, and the soil’s PH before giving you personalized recommendations based on your garden’s conditions and the weather forecast. With a database of over 5,000 different varieties of plants, Edyn can even match you with plants that grow best in your region. The best part is that the sensor is solar-powered and Wi-Fi enabled, making it easier than ever to keep track of your garden.

 

Smart Sprinkler Controller

Smart sprinkler controllers take all the thinking out of watering the lawn by using weather forecasts and other data from sites like NOAA to make automatic weather adjustments and recommendations. Smart sprinkler controllers like the Rachio 3 gives busy homeowners the opportunity to create their own schedules based on personal preferences right from the comfort of their phone. Oh, and if for some reason it cannot connect to the Internet, the Rachio 3 will use historical data to make watering decisions. If you’re still not convinced, you might be surprised to know that the Rachio 3 is also compatible with other smart home devices like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home. Out of all the smart devices on our list, we believe that a smart sprinkler controller is the one must-have device.

 

Weather Station

A home weather station is a set of meteorology instruments combined into one device that essentially measures the microclimate of your yard. Weather stations like this model by Netatmo collect weather based data using the various tools that come attached and generate an actionable report of what kind of climate you have, what sorts of plants grow best in it, how much rain your getting, and other useful data like this. Based on your preferences, it will regularly send this report to your phone where the data can be stored or used to make decisions about your yard.

 

Smart LED Flood Light Bulbs

You’ll have full control over your outdoor aesthetic with a set of smart LED lights. Make your yard pop at night with LED light bulbs from all over the color spectrum and use them to change your color schemes from season to season or for special events! Not only can you color your lawn, but you can also control when the lights turn on (which is great for when you’re on vacation!), and their dimness all from an app. To top it off, these bulbs are made for the outdoors- meaning that they can survive blizzards, storms, or a regular bath from a sprinkler system.

Which one of these smart devices does your lawn or garden absolutely need? It’s a tough choice because they’re all so useful. When you combine any of these devices with a professional landscaper, you’re sure to end up with the beautiful, smart, and green backyard that you’ve been waiting for your entire life.