BUNNINGS September 2019

27
Plan it
Backyard tech
Smart space
Advances in new
technology are
bringing control
and convenience
into the backyard
The Australian garden
has become the centre
of entertaining and
relaxing, as well as
a place to get our hands dirty
and connect with nature. As
we spend more time outdoors,
we’re also looking for ways to
make our yards smarter, safer
and more efficient. Technology
for outdoors needs to be
uncomplicated, simple to use
and not necessarily dependent
on electricity. If you’re in DIY
mode, there are also great
additions to the yard you could
be installing this weekend.
Words Geoff Quattromani. Photography GAP Photos/Elke Borkowski
Irrigation on tap
Remembering to turn on your
watering system in the heat of
summer could be a matter
of life and death for plants.
Timers have been around for
a long time, but now are digital
and can be connected to your
smartphone. Try the Holman
‘BTX1’, which clips onto your tap
fitting and allows you to use an
app to set water times or turn it
on or off at any time, from the
office or the couch. From this
entry-level product, the price
of smart watering systems can
rise substantially, but with the
added cost comes the ability to
manage watering zones, water
according to the weather and
even integrate with your home
voice assistant (you can ask it
to water the back garden for 20
minutes!). Do ensure that your
watering system is compliant
with any water restrictions for
your area – check with your
local water authority.
Light ideas
As the sun sets into a sultry
summer evening, keeping
the party going with ambient
lighting and good tunes has
never been easier – it’s all
connected. If your house has
light bulbs under cover, it’s
relatively simple to upgrade
your bulbs. Sengled light bulbs
are LED, providing excellent
brightness and efficiency, and
some models also feature a
built-in speaker from JBL. Up
PRO
TIP
Set the mood
and control your
garden’s lighting
from your smartphone
to eight can work together to
really spread that party audio.
As lighting embraces the
internet-connected world,
Philips have extended their
‘Hue’ range to include outdoor
lighting. Their bollard lights are
weather resistant, can produce
more than 16 million colour }
Don’t forget your garage door – use
smart tech to monitor and control it
from anywhere using your smartphone
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