How to Start a Smart Garden

Technology is undoubtedly a part of our everyday lives. We use applications and devices for work, convenience, and leisure. Have you ever considered creating a smart garden? Applying technology to your garden can be immensely beneficial and efficient. 

In a garden, technology can solve your problems and save you time and money. Whether you have two green thumbs or are a complete beginner, technology can assist you in realizing the garden of your dreams.

Different kinds of gardens

Raised beds allow the best of both worlds: you can control and contain your plants, but you can also take advantage of sunlight and natural drainage. Raised beds are a wonderful choice for someone looking to create something aesthetic but organized. You can control variables like the soil mix and the container. Plus, elevating the plants means you don’t have to bend over each time you care for them. 

A hydroponic garden is grown exclusively in water, which eliminates the need for soil. Certain plants thrive in these conditions as their roots can absorb nutrients that you add to the water. One advantage of a hydroponic garden is that it actually uses less water than a conventional soil-grown garden. You can also grow a wide variety of plants in a hydroponic setup, ranging from flowers to herbs and vegetables. 

3. Container Gardens 

Container gardens are a great choice for someone starting out. You have ultimate control over container plants; you can move them into or out of direct sunlight, and you can bring them inside when it freezes. Containers can be used for both indoor and outdoor plants. You can also incorporate expandable containers, which grow with the plant and eliminate the need for repotting. 

4. Flower Gardens 

Flower gardens are the ultimate aesthetic. They are a wonderful way to show off how colorful and vibrant nature can be. Flowers can be used in landscaping, containers, raised beds, and more. You can customize your choice of flowers to meet your goals. Do you want a beautiful pink and fuchsia flower box outside of your window? How about butterflies and hummingbirds in your backyard? Planting the right flowers can yield all kinds of exciting results. 

5. Herb Gardens 

You could have your own plant for less than the price of refrigerated basil! Herb gardens are especially popular with those who cook fresh meals. They can be grown in small spaces, indoors or outside. Many people grow herbs along the windowsill of their own kitchens, grabbing a few leaves each time they want to add flavor to their favorite dish. This is an excellent choice for an entry-level garden, with added utility. 

6. Fruit and Vegetable Gardens 

Growing fruit and vegetables is the next logical step for someone who has already mastered the art of growing herbs. Being able to grow your own food is resourceful and empowering. You get to control which fruits and vegetables you grow, as well as the conditions they are raised in. Rather than leave decisions about pesticides and fertilizers to large corporations and grocery stores, you decide it all. Make sure to research growing seasons and which vegetables thrive in your microclimate. 

7. Indoor Gardens

Do you live in an urban area with no yard or patio? Or do you just love the aesthetic of a sprawling Pothos next to a majestic Monstera? Either way, indoor gardens can provide your home with beautiful organic decor by opting for indoor plants. 

8. Community Gardens 

Many apartment complexes, neighborhoods, and cooperatives have implemented community gardens; perhaps you and some friends wish to do the same. Sometimes, community gardens include shared labor and shared crops. Other iterations allow users to tend to their own plot, and keep what they grow. Community gardens are a great way to bring people together in a wholesome, rewarding environment. 

9. Patio Gardens

Patio Gardens can be as simple or complex as you would like. Do you have an area where you and your companions like to sit outside? Why not brighten the space with some plants? Patio gardens can be as simple as a few containers or as complex as fountains and fish. The idea is to reconsider your previously bland patio as something that can be full of life and color! 

Where to begin?

Are you brand new to gardening? Starting a garden does not have to be a daunting process. First, decide two things: what kind of garden do you envision, and what is your budget? Think about your available indoor and outdoor gardening space. It’s ok to start small; when you get the hang of things, you can always expand and innovate. The most important thing is to get going.

Smart garden tech: What every garden needs

So, you have decided to create a garden or to upgrade your existing one. Incorporating smart garden technology is a must to create a modern, manageable garden. One key way technology can help is by providing information about your garden and the conditions surrounding it. Smart garden monitors allow you to measure key variables like rainfall, light, and humidity, while soil moisture meters can give insight into watering needs. (This is especially important given how various types of soil absorb moisture very differently). The Tempest weather system is an excellent choice for monitoring weather conditions, and it is compatible with most popular third-party services, including Weather Underground, Rachio, IFTTT, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Siri.

Integrating your weather data with smart sprinklers can further help you save water. Tempest’s integration with the Rachio smart sprinkler controller allows users to skip watering when it has rained or pause sprinklers during high winds. Many smart garden devices, including the Tempest, are compatible with the devices you already own, as well as other smart garden tools. 

There are also many helpful gardening applications that you can download onto your cell phone, including apps to help you identify plants, track your plant calendar, and even help treat plant health issues. For many gardeners, the traditional gardening journal has been largely replaced by such apps, which make it easier than ever to help your plants thrive and organize your garden to-do's!

Gardening for your environment

When creating a garden, your environment, microclimate, and weather are important considerations. Knowing your environment is most important for outdoor gardens, as they are subjected to variables like temperature, sunlight, humidity, and rainfall. Every beginning gardener should research their location’s growing seasons. Depending on where you live, you may have earlier or later frosts. Shade, sunlight, and rainfall will vary. Some plants are hardier than others, so learning about your own climate should play into which plants you choose. You may also consider encouraging biodiversity in your garden and planting native species, a concept known as rewilding.