One of the biggest downsides of keeping a luscious garden all year round is the constant maintenance it requires.
Any backyard lover can attest that owning a private green oasis, no matter how big or small, takes time, effort, and money.
But too much —or too little— sunlight, nutrients, or water can kill off any backyard’s green appeal in a matter of days, with correct care and consistency being critical components to helping your garden flourish.
That is why there’s no garden heartbreak greater than seeing your plants or lawn wither away into disrepair due to avoidable maintenance mistakes or flora forgetfulness.
One of the most common ways flora fanatics damage their gardens is through irrigation errors, with the “root” cause often over- or underwatering plants, trees, or grass.
But thanks to advances in smart technology branching out into our backyards, modern irrigation systems can now manage watering schedules on your behalf.
What is smart irrigation?
Smart irrigation systems allow homeowners and gardeners to manage their garden watering via automated software, which they can control via an app on their smartphone, computer, or tablet.
The interconnected tech ensures the correct amount of water is provided, exactly when needed, considering and adjusting for the recommendations of individual plant life and recent and predicted rainfall using rain and weather sensors.
The time-saving management tool helps homeowners lower water usage and energy costs, creating healthier gardens free from human error and maintenance mishaps.
Is smart irrigation investment worth it?
By watering your backyard only if and when it’s needed, smart irrigation systems can reduce your garden’s water usage by an average of 50 per cent compared to conventional watering systems.
While a smart system requires a significantly higher initial investment than walking around the garden with the hose, its ability to reduce water usage will quickly lower your water and energy bills.
This means the purchase cost will eventually be offset by utility savings and the potential to fix any costly overwatering mistakes.
But Block star and award-winning landscape designer Dave Franklin says cheaper bills aren’t the only savings to be made with a smart irrigation system. The savvy tech can also save hours of unnecessary water scheduling and daily garden maintenance.
“Everyone’s trying to save water and the environment at the moment, so this can only be seen as a great thing to come to market,” he said.
“It’s a minimal cost for such huge savings in the long term.”
“Get a controller that connects to local weather data and automates watering so you can simply set and forget, giving you peace of mind that your garden will thrive.”
Build-it’s Smart tech irrigation tips
When choosing a smart garden irrigation system, investing in quality ensures you get the bang for your buck.
Higher-end systems are kitted out with rain sensors and linked to weather data to ensure your plants and lawn are watered correctly throughout the week.
Choosing a leading irrigation system manufacturer helps ensure your smart irrigation tech will be reliable and accessible on any vacations or trips you may have planned.
Meanwhile, ensuring the installation is done by experienced landscaping or plumbing professionals will further ensure the system’s reliability in the future.
