30.05.2023
Green spaces fulfil important functions in our lives. They filter the air, regulate the temperature, provide people with a place to relax and act as a home and source of food for animals. With smart technology, these green havens can be tended to efficiently and responsibly
There are several factors that keep gardens robust and resilient – planting, watering and maintenance. When gardeners are selecting plants for their garden, more species that need less water are coming into play in light of climate change. Thinking about what plants need and matching them to local conditions is one of the secrets to maintaining a garden that keeps on thriving. Regular maintenance and watering are also key to keeping green spaces looking gorgeous and, more importantly, delivering all the other benefits. After all, biodiversity, temperature regulation and moisture absorption, all disappear once soil and plants start to dry out.
Collecting, measuring, controlling, monitoring
Using water starts at the source. Rainwater is softer than costly tap water and plants prefer it anyway. Water butts or cisterns can be set up as an easy way to collect water from rooftops. Powerful garden pumps – like the new GARDENA Garden Pump 6500 Silent Comfort with Bluetooth – keep collected water moving without making too much noise.
Drip irrigation targeted at the roots provide water to plants where they absorb it. This helps keeping leaves dry, which can help reduce the risk of fungal diseases. Another benefit is that the system deters weeds, as the available water is largely absorbed by the cultivated plants and flowers. Smart irrigation systems have networked sensors to measure the moisture content of the soil, and local weather forecasts are factored into the schedule.
A connected garden
Watering can be linked to lawn care. Like all GARDENA’s smart devices, the smart SILENO robotic mower can be fully integrated into a digital network known as the GARDENA smart system. This allows the robotic mower to be programmed and monitored at any time and from any location. It operates independently whatever the weather and can handle lawns in different shapes and sizes. The mowing schedule automatically adapts to the rate of grass growth, saving gardeners time and strenuous labour and ensuring the optimum growth of the lawn with a precise trim. The mown grass is left on the lawn as a natural fertiliser and does not need to be disposed of. It is also possible to adjust the mowing schedule, for example, to prevent the mower from operating at night or during twilight. That way, nocturnal animals are not disturbed.
Lawn areas can be mapped in the smart app using LONA (location and navigation) technology and mowing activities can be configured individually for set zones. Robotic mowers can keep lawns looking perfectly pristine but also skip over certain areas to create wildflower patches, which look beautiful and provide a food source for wildlife in the garden.
Smart solutions for green havens
Combining smart, automated irrigation and lawn care makes gardening easy. New and existing devices can be added to the smart ecosystem. The GARDENA smart system is compatible with the three major smart home platforms – Apple Home, Amazon Alexa and Google Home.
Thanks to the app, garden owners can be confident that their plants are receiving the best care. And it even allows them to stay up to date while they are away. The app contains a plant library, provides information on the status of the individual components and factors in weather data and sunrise and sunset times to optimise the schedules set for clever watering.
More information on a clever use of water in the garden can be found at www.gardena.com/cleverwatering.
1 Extreme weather events | BMUV, Water – at the center of the climate crisis | United Nations
About Gardena
For over 50 years Gardena has provided everything passionate gardeners need. The broad assortment of products offers innovative solutions and systems for watering, lawn care, tree and shrub care and soil cultivation. Today, Gardena is a leading European supplier of high-quality gardening tools and distributed in more than 100 countries worldwide. Gardena is a brand of Husqvarna Group. Gardena Division has 3,110 employees worldwide. Further information on gardena.com.