There is hardly an area of life in which digitization is not making itself felt. This also applies to the garden: automatic watering systems, robotic lawnmowers for the lawn and weather stations with an app connection have long since established themselves as support for the green thumb. Apps that provide practical tips for gardening, as well as indoor devices that even bring a touch of the vegetable garden into your own home, are currently in vogue. So if you have been of the opinion that gardening is a purely analog matter, let yourself be inspired by our digital garden ideas!
Before you rush to the nearest hardware store to upgrade your garden for the digital age, there are a few basic questions you should first ask yourself.
What goals am I pursuing? Some devices are there to relieve you of work, others are designed to save electricity and other valuable resources. Think in advance what you want to achieve.
Are the devices compatible with my smartphone? Some apps used to control smart devices are only available for iOS, while others are only available for Android. Ask your dealer.
What else do I need? Most devices need electricity, others also need WiFi. Make sure your garden is properly cared for.
indoor garden
Gardening without a garden? Why not! If you have too little or no space for fruit plants, salads or herbs, there is still the possibility of greening your own four walls. The SmartGrow Life (from 169 euros) from Bosch works as a hydroponic system that only needs water and light and no soil at all. Capsules with different seeds are used – and it sprout in the indoor garden.
weather station
Do you not trust the weather forecast or would you like to know exactly what the temperature is right outside your front door? Smart weather stations measure, among other things, outside temperature, humidity, air quality and air pressure and deliver a constantly updated local weather trend directly to your smartphone. Some of the associated apps also allow the recording of weather data. The two-part weather station from Netatmo costs 189.99 euros, the single device from Eve is available for 79.95 euros.
garden apps
Do you have a plant at home that you cannot identify? The PictureThis app can help. Simply photograph the unknown plant and the app will tell you what it is. You will also receive care tips and information on how often you should water. The app even recognizes illnesses. With a subscription (from 2.99 euros) you can use all functions. Available for Android and iOS.
robotic lawnmower
One thing in advance: the selection is huge! Which model you should choose depends primarily on the size of your garden and the nature of the lawn. The price also varies depending on this. The Worx Landroid (image) is a popular choice.
irrigation
Timers have been around for a long time – irrigation valves can now be controlled even more conveniently via an app. So you can water your plants at any time, even when you are not at home. A complete set is available from Gardena, for example. This consists of a smart irrigation valve, a gateway that enables control via an app, and a sensor, and costs 269.99 euros.
sensor
The sensor measures how dry or wet the soil is. If the soil has not yet dried up after a rainfall, the system can automatically save on a planned irrigation.
Source: Nachrichten
