You've heard of smart homes, but what about smart gardens? Despite the many benefits of having a garden, the maintenance required to keep it looking its best can be quite a challenge.
After all, despite becoming an “extra room” in the summer, a garden tends to lack the comfort that a real home can offer. Well, that's not such a bad thing, because that's where technology comes in handy. And smart robots are just the beginning…
Smart Garden
From devices that take over tedious and repetitive gardening tasks to handy gadgets that help create a soothing atmosphere, as well as tasks that can be automated in the smart home, technology companies are waking up to the fact that they stand to profit from making people's outdoor lives more enjoyable…
Hydration Station
(Image courtesy of Gardena)
Smart watering is a great example of technology that works in the background and is so smart you barely notice it. You can control it with a companion app on your smartphone or pre-program it to water your lawn plants at just the right time. Some smart irrigation systems even support voice control.
Additionally, certain devices, once linked to a Wi-Fi signal, can accurately pinpoint local weather forecasts and automatically react, increasing watering if sunshine is predicted and canceling scheduled watering if rain is forecast.
Robot Gardener
(Image courtesy of Future)
Just like the best robot vacuums, your robot lawn mower will mow your lawn and grind up the grass clippings according to the schedule you choose, then silently return to its dock and recharge for the next round.
(Image provided by Honda)
And EEVE Willow is also worth a mention (though it's surprisingly pricey). This cute, blinking robot can mow the lawn, identify and kill weeds with a bio-weed killer, clean your patio, and even act as a security guard at night. It also has AI capabilities, meaning it can detect a variety of items, including objects and animals, and avoid them as it walks through your yard.
Tip: Some smart garden gadgets require access to an outdoor tap or plug, so be sure to check before you buy.
Scene Setter
Once you've finished tending to your plants and lawn, the next thing to consider is your outdoor entertainment space. Smart lighting is one of the easiest ways to create ambiance outdoors, whether you want subtle lighting when you're outdoors with friends and family, want to enjoy a view of your garden at night from inside your home, or decide to host an impromptu garden disco.
Smart lighting can be programmed to automatically come on at scheduled times throughout the day, then dim and finally turn off at a set time. They can be used to highlight certain areas of your garden, light walkways for safety or just add a bit of magic to your outdoor space.
Once you've got the lighting in place, it's time to get some music going. The best durable and waterproof wireless speakers will deliver your favourite soundtrack to your garden through your favourite music streaming platform, adding to the ambiance.
Tip 3 for a smart garden
Eve Aqua – Smart Water Controller with Apple Homekit Technology
You can program Eve Aqua to water your plants or control it by voice using Apple's Siri. This intelligent smart watering device works tirelessly in the background to do all the hard work for you, so your garden thrives and you barely even notice the device is there.
Sonos Roam 2 Smart Speaker with Voice Control
Stream music from your smartphone via Bluetooth for easy voice control, and even connect to other Sonos speakers in your home via Wi-Fi for multi-room listening. It has a 10-hour battery life, rugged construction for easy portability, and an IP rating of 67 so you don't have to worry about splashing it in water.
Matter Smart Multicolor Outdoor String Lights Smart Kit 49 Feet (15 Meters)
This set of 20 smart festoon lights can change from one colour to multiple colours at once as required, plus they're IP56 rated so you don't have to worry about leaving them out in the rain – perfect for the British summer.