You may have fully embraced all that technology has to offer inside your home, but many homeowners aren’t yet taking advantage of using technology in their outdoor spaces. Smart landscaping is all about utilizing the technology now available to make your outdoor space more convenient, efficient, and sustainable. Many homeowners are already using technology in their homes. Smart thermostats, lighting systems, appliances, and security systems help automate tasks, work efficiently to conserve resources, and adjust as needed. This same technology can also be applied outside your home.
Irrigation systems have been around for quite some time, but advancements in innovative technology have made them even more efficient. Rather than simply watering on a pre-programmed schedule, intelligent irrigation systems have advanced capabilities, including sensors, access to weather data, and automated controls that adjust watering to meet changing needs. Smart irrigation systems will adjust watering schedules and amounts in real-time. This not only improves plant health but also reduces water waste. Traditional irrigation systems often overwater or underwater depending on the weather patterns, but by using active data, smart systems can be more efficient. Using the precise amount of water necessary keeps plants healthy without wasting resources. Although automation is a significant advantage of smart irrigation systems, another benefit of technological advancements is the ability for homeowners to control their systems remotely via their smartphones. If something out of the ordinary happens, like a sudden and unexpected rainstorm, you can easily turn the system off, even if you aren’t home at the time. Upgrading to a smart irrigation system is a wise decision for high-tech homeowners.
Landscape lighting has many different benefits. Good outdoor lighting design will make your property safer, more secure, and will significantly improve your curb appeal. Many lighting designs can effectively highlight landscaping features, allowing your property to truly shine. In contrast, other outdoor lighting systems focus on keeping paths easy to navigate for those who should be on the property after dark and illuminating the shadowy corners that hide those who shouldn’t. As technology advances, outdoor lighting is another possibility for technological upgrades. Homeowners have been relying on timers and motion sensors to illuminate their landscapes at night for some time, but advancements have significantly improved these capabilities. Schedules can be automated to adjust to the time of year as sunrise and sunset times change, and different areas can be set to activate at various times. Motion sensors have also been improved, with increased sensitivity in the regions that require it.
Motion sensor lighting can illuminate anyone who approaches your property after dark, but that’s not the only monitoring most homeowners want. You want to know who is on your property, why they’re there, and what they may have done when you were away. This can be as simple as knowing when your food delivery was dropped off or your package was delivered, but it can also inform you of the cause of any potential damage or if anyone was on your property who shouldn’t have been. App-based property monitoring can give you peace of mind. The sensors can be set up for different areas, allowing you to see what’s going on, no matter where you are.
Technology can help maintain your property and landscape, but it’s hard to think of incorporating technology directly into your landscaping. While it’s true that technology can’t, and shouldn’t, replace your landscaping, what it can do is help you make wise choices. Designing your exterior property can be overwhelming. Seeing the whole vision, especially on large properties, is difficult. 3D landscape design can provide a comprehensive view of all areas of your property, determine the sun/shade conditions in different areas, and create a landscape plan that works with your property layout.There are many user-friendly programs that can help you choose the right plants and shrubs for your needs, as well as provide a preview of the finished product. Many landscapers are familiar with these programs and will work with you to find the best options based on these 3D renderings.
One thing that many innovative technology choices for your exterior have in common is that they are environmentally friendly. Rather than wasting resources, whether that be the energy used for exterior lighting or monitoring, or the water used in an irrigation system, smart technology only uses exactly what you need when you need it. While timers are helpful, what really sets smart technology apart is the high-tech sensors that are ready to adapt to changing situations in real time. You won’t run the risk of running your irrigation system during a sudden thunderstorm, illuminating a pathway when the sun is still high in the sky during the summer, or running non-stop cameras to see nothing but rabbits running across your path. Both inside your home and out, smart technology is all about efficiency, and this efficiency is an environmentally conscious choice.
As you upgrade your home to embrace the new technology that is becoming readily available, think beyond the walls of your home and start exploring what smart technology can do for your property. Your landscaping team can help you find the best ways to utilize technology to your advantage and keep your property well-maintained, safe, and efficient.
Ready to bring your outdoor space into the future? Contact Twin Oaks Landscape to design a smart, efficient, and secure landscape today.