Innovations in Property Maintenance

by | Aug 12, 2024 | Property Maintenance

For many homeowners, their property is not only something they take pride in but also an extension of who they are. Thus, when maintaining their property, they want to ensure that it’s done right and efficiently. With the rise in popularity of garden spaces and high-tech maintenance procedures, there are now lots of opportunities for property maintenance that is sustainable, efficient, and yields unmatched results. Automated Garden Care for Property Maintenance With edible landscapes and themed gardens on the rise, a need for more accessible gardening has arisen. Now, you can garden efficiently in urban areas, small yards, or locations with unfavorable growing conditions with smart gardens and garden monitoring systems. Smart Garden Systems If you’ve been following the housing market at all, you know that urban areas are building up, and homes aren’t coming with large yards like they used to. Traditionally, these things have made gardening difficult, but with smart garden systems, you can garden in any environment. These include automated planters, hydroponic systems, and indoor gardens that manage watering, lighting, and nutrient delivery. They are ideal for small spaces and urban environments. Automated planters can come in the form of self-watering planters, farming robots like the FarmBot or the Salin 247, who do the planting for you, or transplanters like the Ferrari Futura. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using a nutrient-rich, water-based solution instead of soil. It requires less water, grows faster, and can be grown all year round. Hydroponics improves sustainability, as the water can be recycled for multiple plants. It’s typically grown inside but can be outside, too. Aquaponic (using aquaponics and hydroponics to grow plants and fish simultaneously) and soil-based (the traditional potted method commonly used for herbs) gardens are other examples of indoor gardens. Garden Monitoring Sensors Some of these systems have garden monitoring sensors, which measure soil moisture, temperature, light levels, and nutrient content to provide real-time data to help gardeners optimize plant care. Automated garden care is a notable property maintenance innovation. Sustainable Property Maintenance Solutions The emphasis on sustainability in property maintenance has been around for a long time and will continue to advance. Three priorities in this area are water conservation, using sustainable hardscaping materials, and encouraging wildlife. Water Conservation The most effective water conservation method is to install efficient irrigation systems. Gone are the days when you place a sprinkler in the middle of your yard and home for the best. Now, smart irrigation systems help you target your watering to your plant’s specific needs. There’s also an emphasis on rainwater harvesting. This low-cost, eco-friendly technique improves groundwater quality and controls soil erosion and flooding. There are several ways to do it: rain barrels, percolation tanks, surface runoff collection, recharge pits, dry systems, and rooftop harvesting. Sustainable Materials While it’s best to stick to natural or organic landscaping products like fertilizers, pesticides, and weed killers, it doesn’t stop there. There’s been a huge boom in the hardscaping and outdoor living industry, and using sustainable materials for these structures is crucial, too. Cork, bamboo, reclaimed wood, natural stone, and recycled materials are just some of the options. The goal is to build permeable hardscapes, which is just a hardscape that will allow water to filter into the ground, unlike traditional hardscaping. One effective and attractive solution for walkways and patios is to use pavers, as they’re sustainably made and highly customizable to work in any environment. Wildlife Essentially, sustainability translates to increased biodiversity. To do this, you want to encourage wildlife, from foxes to butterflies, to live in your space. But it’s also important to encourage wild plant growth. Planting wildflowers, clovers, or other groundcovers improves soil health, attracts pollinators, and discourages pests. Planting native plants also helps with soil health and plant fertility, and they require less fertilizer. Planting a wildlife garden can accomplish this. They’re known for improving water retention, reducing erosion, and managing stormwater runoff. They also filter contaminants in the groundwater, improve air quality, and increase local carbon sequestration. Sustainability is key to proper property maintenance. Smart Irrigation Systems for Property Maintenance Smart irrigation has probably seen the most technological advancement out of all the property maintenance methods. It now has weather-based controllers, soil moisture sensors, and remote control and monitoring. Weather-Based Controllers Water-based controller systems use local weather and climate data to adjust watering schedules according to your plant’s specific needs. Many will shut off during rainy or frozen weather and adjust according to daily temperature. This helps conserve water and prevents overwatering because these systems know exactly how much water your plant needs at any given time. Soil Moisture Sensors Soil moisture sensors are placed in the ground to monitor soil moisture levels and adjust irrigation schedules accordingly. This is another water conservation method that targets the exact needs of your plants. Smart irrigation has changed the property maintenance game. Remote Control and Monitoring The great thing about remote control and monitoring is that it can usually be done via a smartphone app, meaning you can adjust settings and receive notifications about system performance from anywhere. Many apps also allow you to input your own information about your plants, giving the system more data to use to adjust to an optimal watering schedule. It’s also important to note that every plant has different irrigation needs and must be watered at different times or even multiple times per day. Sometimes, this can even change depending on the season. So, not only is your irrigation system automated, but it’s also incredibly easy to change the settings to give your plants what they need. Conclusion Overall, innovations in landscape maintenance are making it easier and more fun to maintain beautiful, healthy, and sustainable outdoor spaces. From smart irrigation to robot farmers to wildlife gardens, advancements are transforming the industry. By embracing these innovations, homeowners can achieve more efficient, eco-friendly, and attractive landscapes.