With new lawn and garden gadgets, you might actually be able to achieve the beautiful backyard your grandmother is known for with half the effort. New technologies for spring make managing your yard easier than ever. Learn about the tech triumphs we are most excited about this season.
1. Hi-tech lawn sensors let you garden smarter, not harder.
Most people overwater or underwater their plants. Finding that perfect middle ground can be a challenge. “We often water based on what we think the plant needs,” explains Don Mandeville, district manager at The Home Depot. “These new smart products take away the guesswork.”
Edyn is a solar-powered sensor for your yard or garden that tracks soil humidity and temperature. Based on the condition of your lawn, Edyn provides guidance through a smartphone app on whether you should water your plants—and for exactly how long. “This type of product saves a lot of time, energy, money and water for the homeowner,” says Don.
PlantLink is a smart app that wirelessly syncs to sensors you place in key areas throughout the garden or in containers in and around your home. You can place up to 64 sensors with one unit, so it has a big reach. “The app has a catalog of more than 50,000 flowers and edibles in its system, and it tells you exactly what is needed to help a plant grow best,” describes Don. “You can get regular notifications on your smart devices to let you know when your roses and your strawberries need to be watered.”
2. Turn your sprinkler on with your smartphone.
Now that you know when your flowers need some TLC, regulate your sprinkler with Rachio’s Smart Sprinkler Controller. It lets you customize watering schedules with ease through the smartphone app, helps you set an irrigation plan and gives you access to the system from any location so you can stop or start watering at a moment’s notice. Even better, you can save as much as 30 percent on outdoor water use.
3. Lithium-Ion power tools continue to impress.
Today’s battery-powered outdoor power tools put questions around power and run time to rest. “Our cordless tools give you everything you expect from gas, but with more features and better maintenance,” says Jason Swanson of Ryobi. With Ryobi’s new ONE+ line, homeowners get more power, more features and more run time. The fade-free power keeps your batteries charging all hours of the day, so your tool is ready when you are.
Ryobi’s lithium-ion products are also easy to use—they have a blower that weighs less than seven pounds and a lawn mower that starts with a simple push of a button. And best of all, the Ryobi has an arsenal of more than 50 tools that are compatible with the same battery.
4. Let solar power light up your patio.
Solar technology is leading the way to new lighting options for night-time patio fun. While Hampton Bay’s LED Patio Umbrella blocks bright rays for you during the day, its solar cells soak up the sun. At night, 40 solar-powered lights underneath the umbrella come alive and provide a soft glow for anyone sitting within its reach.
Solar post caps can also help you illuminate your porch. As aesthetically pleasing as they are functional, these posts consume zero electricity and automatically turn on as dusk turns to dark.
5. Get the most accurate grilling information with a smart smoker.
Being a master griller has a lot to do with skill, but it also helps when you have the coolest smoker on the block. Let your smartphone act link a remote control for your grill with Masterbuilt Pro’s Bluetooth Electronic Digital Smoker. The smoker’s app lets you control the temperature of your grill and see the temperature of your meat – all at your fingertips through Bluetooth™.
6. Tracking performance for your mower just got easier.
Bluetooth functionality doesn’t end at your porch. Cub Cadet’s Zero-Turn Riding Mower comes Bluetooth-equipped and connects to a mobile app, helping you understand the inner-workings of your rider. The app tracks your mower’s performance and maintenance and will even guide you to the correct replacement part should you ever need it.
