Keep Your Landscape Lush with a Smart Irrigation System

A smart irrigation system ensures all your plants receive the right amount of water without wasting a drop.

Atlanta has the distinction of having the one of the largest urban tree canopies in the country. With the city streets basking in wonderful shade in the summer and vibrant color in the fall, it’s no wonder Atlanta homeowners take great pride in the landscape on their own properties.

Keeping the grass and plants looking their best requires conscientious watering, at the very least. A seemingly easy task, it’s can end up being the bane of your backyard. Too much or too little water can jeopardize the health of the greenery—taking your home’s curb appeal to ground zero. Yanking a hose around the yard is no fun, and there’s no way of knowing when to stop watering. A sprinkler system is a better option, but again, creating a watering schedule is like pinning down a time for a family dinner: you never really know if it’s going to work or if everyone will be adequately fed.

If you’ve ever scratched your head while watering the lawn, you’re not alone. According to a survey by sprinkler manufacturer Rachio, 76 percent of Americans admit to inappropriate sprinkling. This could stem from forgetfulness, like leaving the sprinkler on right after it’s rained.

Thankfully, lawn irrigation systems have become a lot smarter over the past few years. They are easier to program, more automated, and able to synch with other home electronic systems, like smart home systems from Control4. From an app on your smartphone rather than complicated timers mounted in the garage you can monitor and manage a watering schedule that makes sense. Some irrigation systems can even be controlled with your voice. Should a pop-up rainstorm hit, just tell Alexa to stop watering the grass.

Some smart irrigation systems, like Skydrop, are able to automate the watering schedule based on a variety of different parameters: The air temperature, the humidity level, even the precipitation forecast. For example, if the sprinkler system sees that rain is on the way, it can temporarily override the irrigation setup. Sensors linked to the sprinkler system can monitor the conditions of your landscape. If moisture sensors detect that the soil is dry, they can signal the sprinklers in the section of your lawn to activate, for example.

The biggest boost in watering efficiency can be realized by linking the sprinklers to a smart home system. This puts the automation system in charge, which means all kinds of cool things can happen. Let’s say guests are arriving for a party. A sensor at the end of the driveway can signal the home automation system which in then deactivates the sprinkler. Or maybe you’d like to water the lawn while you’re sleeping. A good night button on a keypad or remote by your bedside can activate the sprinklers while also arming the security system and switching off all the house lights. Through a home automation system, you can make your sprinklers not only care for your lawn more efficiently, but also with deference to your daily schedule.

Interested in living the smart life in a Control4 smart home? Simply fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch.