Maintaining a garden can be hard work. However, by embracing a few gadgets, you can make things a lot easier. Below are just a few ways to integrate modern technology into your gardening and bring your backyard into the 21st century.
Pressure wash your patio
Patios can become dirty and discolored over time. While it’s possible to scrub each paving slab manually, this can be a long and tedious task. Using a pressure washer is not only quicker, but it can help you to more easily remove stubborn dirt that may not be possible to manually scrub away (even with elbow grease).
When choosing a pressure washer for your patio, look for a pressure washer with at least 1000 to 1500 PSI. Consider how far away your patio is from a water source in order to select the right hose length.
Switch to a smart sprinkler system
Keeping your lawn hydrated in the summer will stop it from getting patchy. Many of us buy sprinklers, which are either manually turned on and off or are put on a timer. A more efficient solution in smart sprinklers. These sprinklers are able to adjust their dewatering schedule based on the temperature, chance of rainfall and soil moisture levels. This can prevent unnecessary watering and potentially save you money on your water bill.
You can compare different smart sprinkler systems online. These sprinklers can typically be controlled and monitored using an app – read reviews to determine which app is most detailed and user-friendly.
Invest in a robot lawnmower
Many gardeners have already switched noisy heavy petrol mowers for self-propelled electric mowers. However, there’s an even newer and more convenient mower in town: the robotic lawn mower. This mower uses sensors to automatically navigate your lawn and cut your grass for you.
Robot lawn mowers do cost more than regular mowers, but they can spare you the time-consuming chore of mowing the lawn manually, making them a worthwhile purchase (particularly if you have a large lawn). When choosing a robotic mower, compare the reviews of different models. Some have a better battery life than others, while others get stuck less and are better at navigating more complex lawns.
Remotely monitor soil quality
For those who are serious about gardening, being able to monitor the soil quality remotely can be very useful. Wireless soil sensors are able to run on solar power and can track things like soil moisture levels, soil temperature and soil salinity. This can allow you to optimise growing conditions for plants without having to manually monitor soil quality.
Some soil quality sensors are more elaborate than others – while most link up with an app, some only provide very basic data. Work out what soil properties you need to monitor and find a sensor that is able to track all of these properties. Some sprinkler systems may double as soil quality sensors, which could be useful to consider if soil moisture is your main concern.
Deter pests with ultrasonic repellers
Keep getting pests coming into your garden and destroying your plants? Gadgets may also be able to come to the rescue in this instance. One particular gadget that has gained popularity is an ultrasonic repeller. This produces a high pitched noise that cannot be heard by humans, but can be heard by many animals. The noise is motion-activated – only going off when intruders are detected.
Some ultrasonic repellers are battery operated while others are solar powered. You can compare different models online. Ultrasonic repellers are not recommended if you have outdoor pets. You should also be wary that not all animals are scared by these devices and some can get used to the noise.
Automate pool cleaning
If you’ve got an outdoor swimming pool, you’ll already know that pool maintenance is a serious chore. One of the most arduous jobs is having to regularly scrub the floor and walls of the pool to remove algae and dirt. A robotic pool cleaner could be worth investing in to help take this job off your hand. This robot clings to the floor and walls of your pool and automatically cleans them using sensors and brushes.
As with robot lawnmowers, robot pool cleaners can vary in cost and quality. Some have better suction power and advanced navigation technology that makes them more efficient at cleaning (with cheaper models, you may find yourself manually going over areas that the robot hasn’t cleaned well). You can read reviews online to compare some of the best models on the market.