The smart technology revolutionising Australian gardens
A new report from Husqvarna Australia has found the majority of lawn-mowing Australians (73%) are missing out on doing the things that really matter, by spending over 100 hours a year mowing lawns, the equivalent of 12 days a year. The research was conducted with a representative sample of 1,003 lawn-mowing Australians and details not only our love of lawns but how there needs to be a shift in Australians' perceptions of time-saving, environmentally sustainable technology in our pursuit of ‘lawn pride’.
The number one smart technology solution in lawn care is automated, robotic lawn mowers, with Husqvarna having over 27 years of innovation experience in this space as the leading, proven provider with their Husqvarna Automower® range.
Geoff Quarttomani, technology expert explains, “It’s fascinating to see Google Home or Alexa systems being more widely adopted and seeing how mainstream robot vacuums have become. But when it comes to grass it’s expected to just be done on a Saturday morning - it’s a weird one!”
Quattromani predicts the next big trend in the smart home space is, in fact, not in the home at all, “Whether it’s inside or outside, smart home technology is giving us one major thing; time back in our day. It’s because of this time-saving benefits that we are going to see the rise of the smart garden.”
Quattromani explains the most important thing when choosing smart technology, is choosing something that truly offers convenience - ideally doing a task you’d rather not do, “Technology is so much more than just a new gadget, it’s an enabler. Instead of running around pushing a lawn mower, I’m running around with my kids, and quite simply, that gives me more joy”.
Smart gardens are better gardens. Many things get in the way of keeping the backyard in its best condition as Jason Hodges explains, “The biggest mistake I see is people leaving the lawn care to once a week or a fortnight and just trying to get in there and bash it out. When this happens, the grass growth gets long and nasty, grows upwards, instead of sideways, letting in weeds and often looks terrible when it’s finished.”
“Looking to technology, such as automated robotic lawnmowers, takes all of these variables out of the equation and makes lawn care a game changer; more time back in your life, whilst enhancing the quality of the lawn.” said Hodges.
When it comes to lawn care, it is important to be making the most sustainable choices possible. As Hodges explains, “We need to think carefully about the type of lawn we plant. Hardy grass varieties requiring less water and minimal fertiliser are going to help reduce your carbon footprint, as is watering more wisely. But using Automower is one of the most impactful ways for you to mow, as it returns the clippings back into the grass, returning all those nutrients to the soil, and improving the lawn quality. Plus it’s battery-powered with no direct emissions, so you are not emitting greenhouse gas into the air.” said Hodges.
The report research found 83% of busy, lawn-mowing Australians say play is important or very important in their lives. However, 4 in 10 feel lawn upkeep is getting in the way of them pursuing things they would rather be doing.
“One of the greatest benefits I can see with having more time, particularly if you have a garden, is the ability to spend more time actually enjoying it, rather than doing less enjoyable tasks like lawn mowing” concludes Australian registered psychologist Sahra O’Doherty.
At the end of the day, the majority of us want to enjoy our outdoor spaces and find more time for the moments that matter. Smart technology is a powerful tool that allows us to do just that.
