What Is a Smart Lawn Irrigation System?

Have you ever seen sprinkler systems running in the middle of a rainstorm? That's because traditional water sprinkler systems work like clockwork, turning off and on based on a predetermined schedule. Routine can be a good thing, but when it comes to irrigation, it can be wasteful. Variables including recent rainfall, temperatures and humidity all play a role in how often your lawn and landscaping need to be watered.

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What Is a Smart Lawn Watering or Automated Irrigation System?

A smart irrigation system uses sensors to monitor conditions and helps you control your irrigation from an app. It gives you information about the conditions and provides recommendations on how to adjust your irrigation based on the current conditions. There are different types of smart lawn watering systems with different types of sensors. You may be able to add on sensors that work with your existing irrigation system, or you can install a complete irrigation system that uses smart technology to control it.

How Does Smart Irrigation Work?

High-tech sensors keep an eye on the conditions in your yard. Weather-based systems use sensors to monitor the temperature, humidity, wind and solar radiation in your neighborhood to make changes to your irrigation schedule. There are other types of sensors that use historical water usage information or publicly available meteorological data to make adjustments to when and how long the sprinklers run. For example, the sensors might use the weather forecast to plan an irrigation schedule.

Another option is a system with soil moisture sensors, which you bury under the ground. The sensors adjust watering based on the moisture levels they detect in the soil. Suspended cycle irrigation systems that use soil monitors run on a regular irrigation schedule, but they skip cycles if your soil still has enough moisture in it. With water-on-demand irrigation systems, you choose an acceptable soil moisture range. The system decides when to run to keep the soil moisture levels within that range.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Smart Irrigation Technology

Comparing the pros and cons of a smart lawn watering system helps you decide if it's a good investment for your lawn and garden.

Advantages of Smart Irrigation

What is smart irrigation doing to benefit your life? Some of the perks include:

• Less wasted water: The system only runs when your lawn needs to be watered. That means you're not wasting water by having your sprinklers running during damp periods.

• Lower water bills: You're benefiting the environment as well as saving money with smart irrigation by lowering your water bills.

• Convenient control: With the smart irrigation app, you can check in on your lawn anytime. Most systems automatically adjust irrigation based on the conditions picked up by the sensors. However, you can override those changes in the app from anywhere.

• Healthier lawn: Getting the right amount of water keeps your grass and landscaping healthier. Too much water makes plants more susceptible to disease and could damage roots. A lack of water during dry spells could cause shallow root growth or even kill your lawn.

Disadvantages of Smart Irrigation

A smart irrigation system also comes with some drawbacks, including:

• Initial investment: Installing a smart sprinkler system often comes with a large up-front cost. You might not recoup the savings quickly if you have a small lawn.

• Professional installation: While you may be able to undertake the installation yourself, having a professional install the smart system is often easier. However, it's also more expensive, which adds to the overall costs of the system.

• Potential for technical difficulties: As with anything that uses technology, the smart irrigation control system could malfunction at times. If you can't troubleshoot and correct the problem yourself, you may need to call for professional help to correct the problem.

• Complicated setup: Some smart systems can be difficult to set up. It may take you time to master the system and use it efficiently.