The term smart suggests advanced technology, which is often expensive. I’m guessing that’s why you haven’t got a smart irrigation system for yourself.

The good news is, they’re really not that expensive, and in the long run, the money you’ll save from the efficient watering far outweighs the costs.

These systems not only reduce the effort required in watering, but also help you save on utility bills and help your plants grow better.

Here’s everything you need to know about smart irrigation systems.

The Importance Of Smart Irrigation Systems

So first off, before we even get into the benefits of smart irrigation systems, why are they so important? What purpose do they serve?

Well, water scarcity can actually occur even in developed countries like America, depending on which city you’re in.

If your city is facing water scarcity issues, you throwing an uneeded 10 litres of water on your lush garden certainly isn’t helping things.

Smart irrigation systems not only deliver the exact amount of water needed, but also deliver the water when it’s needed, minimizing water usage and making the most of the little water used.

Benefits Of Smart Irrigation Systems

So we now know the bigger impact that smart irrigation systems can have. Now let’s dive into the various benefits that they bring to you.

1. Reduced Water Bills

As mentioned earlier, no water is wasted with smart irrigation systems. It’s not as simple as knowing how much water is needed and then pouring that exact amount over the plants.

Modern irrigation systems are capable of delivering water directly to the plant’s roots, so less water is required than if you were to water over the plant and not all water reaches the plant’s roots.

Not only that, but instead of giving your plants a large amount of water at once which they won’t be able to fully absorb in time, smart irrigation systems can deliver water at various times of the day in amounts that the plant can fully absorb, further reducing water wastage.

And finally, systems nowadays are able to detect when there is rain and adjust the water they supply accordingly.

All these translate into some serious water savings, which in turn means reduced water bills

2. Time And Energy Savings

Another pretty obvious benefit is time savings.

While seemingly trivial, these small time savings do add up. Sure five minutes a day isn’t a lot, but five minutes multiplied by 365 days a year adds up to more than 30 hours!

Some plants need watering multiple times per day too, so it could be taking up more than five minutes of your time everyday.

And of course, you don’t have to worry about forgetting to water your plants, or having to drag your feet to get the watering done after a long day of work.

Overall, the time and energy savings can be quite significant, and combined with the water bills savings, really does make a strong case for you getting an irrigation system of your own.

3. Improved Plant Health And Growth

With manual watering, it’s not uncommon to overwater or underwater, which can stress your plants, cause them to not have enough water, or drown them. These all ultimately lead to less resilient plants that don’t grow as healthily and don’t look as vibrant and beautiful, and are more vulnerable to diseases.

With smart systems, there’s none of these. Your plants get the right amount of water whenever they need it, which means plants that grow to their full potential. And you get all these without having to exert any effort or time on your part.

So all in all, there’s plenty of reason to get a smart irrigation system. Besides the monetary savings, you save a ton of time and energy, which are priceless, and you get healthier and stronger plants.

Types Of Smart Irrigation Systems

By now, it should be pretty clear that smart irrigation systems are a must-have.

Here are the different smart irrigation systems available. Note that multiple systems can be combined into one system, so you may have a system that has the functionalities of all the systems listed below.

1. Weather-Based Systems

Weather-based systems, as the name suggests, use weather data to adjust watering schedules and amounts accordingly. These systems take into account rainfall, temperature, humidity, and even wind speed to provide your plants the optimal amount of water.

It’s not just about watering less when there’s rain, but it goes the other way too. During dryer or hotter days, these systems will feed more water to your plants to continue to ensure their healthy growth.

2. Soil Moisture Sensor Systems

Soil moisture sensor systems measure soil moisture levels to determine plant watering needs.

This may sound similar to weather-based systems that also take into account humidity, but they’re actually quite different. When it comes to moisture, soil moisture sensor systems are more accurate as they gather the data directly from the soil itself, whereas weather-based systems rely on data from external sources like weather satellites.

Soil moisture sensors are placed in the root zone of plants, where the soil moisture matters the most. When moisture levels dip below a certain level, the system will automatically supply water to replenish soil moisture. This ensures your plants always have sufficiently moist soil for healthy growth.

As you can imagine, this means your plants get water only when they need it, and exactly when they need it.

3. Evapotranspiration (ET) Systems

Water is continuously leaving your plants and the soil around them via a process called evapotranspiration, which entail evaporation in the soil and your plants transpiring.

ET systems gauge the rate at which water is lost via evapotranspiration and uses this data to replenish lost water.

ET systems factor in temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed, kind of like weather-based systems.

4. Remote-Controlled Systems

Remote-controlled systems are just that - systems that can be controlled via remotes, whether it’s smartphone apps or computer interfaces.

Similar to smart appliances, the idea is for users to be able to control water parameters from anywhere. From watering amounts to watering schedules, users can easily make adjustments at anytime, from anywhere.

Smart Irrigation Systems Installation

To sum it up, the benefits of smart systems are many, and they’re definitely worth getting.

Installation isn’t always straightforward though, and if you do it wrong, it defeats the purpose of the system. That’s why if possible, always get a reliable landscaping professional to perform the installation.