![EcoFlow robot lawn mower](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DHQXYeX7UdohaJwsAdhUeY-415-80.jpg)
There are few excuses for letting your garden get out of hand. No-mow May has been and gone, fallow years are really only for arable farmers, and while we'll accept a little wildflower patch to keep the bumblebees happy, the rest is in your hands.
But maybe it doesn't have to be? Employ the right tech and you can get away with putting in the absolute minimum of effort while still keeping that outdoor space utterly up to scratch. We've found 5 smart gardening devices that'll take care of all the boring jobs around your garden for you, from sprinklers to compost systems.
Master the grass with Worx & EcoFlow
Robot mowers have come a long way. At the moment, we think the best robot lawnmower is the Worx Landroid M500 Plus, which can manage a slope up to 35 degrees and cover around 500 square meters; give it a few rounds on your lawn, and it'll start looking perfect.
The even lazier choice, though, might be to pick a mower which doesn't require a perimeter wire. The EcoFlow Blade has us pretty excited, employing a super-sensitive GPS locator to know where it is on your lawn. Setup is about as quick an easy as it can be after you've remote controlled it around the edges of your grass once. Make sure you get the waste collection module, too, and ask someone else to empty it for the ultimate in feet-up lawn maintenance.
Remember the water with Eve
During what are likely to be increasingly parched summer months, giving your plants the water they need (and doing so responsibly, without forgetting to turn off the tap) is an increasingly tedious task. So don't do it: put an Eve Aqua between your outside tap and the hose heading to a cleverly placed sprinkler, and you'll be able to give those blooms a drenching precisely when they need it, without any further input from you.
The newest version of the Eve Aqua, its third generation, even expands its capabilities beyond HomeKit to run on the Matter platform, opening up new possibilities for weather-based automations which ensure you won't be letting the water flow in the middle of a storm.
P.S. Make sure you use your water right by avoiding these common sprinkler mistakes.
Upgrade to smarter living
Get the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products straight to your inbox.
Make marvellous mulch with Sage
Dealing with a compost bin – and creating the conditions which result in compost rather than horrible rotted slime – is one of the least pleasant jobs the garden has to offer. If you really want to cook up some nutritious extras to mix with your topsoil, you don't even need to leave the house: the Sage FoodCycler (internationally branded by Vitamix and Breville, so check your local listings) can do it, and it takes the grossness out of your kitchen food waste while it's at it.
Basically, the FoodCycler desiccates whatever waste you put into it, vastly reducing its volume. It then grinds it up into tiny chips, and you get an odourless substance which can (after letting it sit for a few weeks) give your soil a boost of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. It's not a replacement for compost, but it's absolutely a handy extra – and it'll keep the flies out of your bin.
Check out our full experience pulverising scraps with the FoodCycler.
Grow glorious food with Harvst
Greenhouses are great, but they demand a lot of space and a surprising amount of effort to keep them watered and get their temperature right. Smart greenhouses, though? None of that.
Harvst's Sprout range offers a number of sizes and a selection of options which can get you growing all year round, if you're so inclined. They'll automatically ventilate to keep the ideal temperature, drip or spray your plants so they don't dry out, and you can link everything to an app so you can feel like a proper gardener even when sat on your couch. Sounds like a plan to us.
T3 magazine's own Gadget Guru is a 25-year veteran of the tech writing wars, and has the scars to prove it. He's written for the UK's biggest technology publications, and knows everything from smart doorbell voltage needs to how to bend Windows to his every whim.
-
What are gorilla rows: the underrated strength exercise you’re not doing for a stronger back
It will also give your core a run for its money
By Bryony Firth-Bernard Published
-
iPhone 17 slated for one massive camera upgrade which photographers will love
The question is, will it be too technical for non-photographers?
By Britta O'Boyle Published
-
3 signs you need to replace your garden tools, according to an expert
Have you checked your garden tools recently?
By Lizzie Wilmot Published
-
Eve Systems upgrades its Smart Weather Station with new Matter support
Eve adds Matter to its Smart Weather Station – and it won’t cost you any extra
By Bethan Girdler-Maslen Published
-
Get a full SimpliSafe home security system for half price in the Prime Day sale
SimpliSafe home security kits are 50% off for Amazon Prime Day
By Bethan Girdler-Maslen Published
-
Forget pricey installation costs – Era's smart lock can fit on any door in under an hour
It's compatible with most PVCu, composite, aluminium and timber doors
By Lizzie Wilmot Published
-
This LG freezer lets you see what’s inside without even opening the door
LG launches its first two-door fridge freezer with InstaView and MoodUP technology
By Bethan Girdler-Maslen Published
-
5 ways to extend the lifespan of your outdoor smart home gadgets
If you use your outdoor gadgets on a day-to-day basis, you should be doing these five things
By Lizzie Wilmot Published
-
The Aqara smart lock supports Apple Home Key – and it’s finally available in the UK
Apple users are going to love the Aqara U200 retrofit smart lock
By Bethan Girdler-Maslen Published
-
Gardening jobs for July: 10 tasks that'll keep your garden thriving under the sun
Here’s a gardening to-do list that will keep your outside space looking great during higher temperatures
By Lizzie Wilmot Published