3 Jun 2025 | Updated: 23 Jun 2025
By: Alex D'arcy-Orga

THE FUTURE OF GARDENING – HOW IS NEW TECHNOLOGY CHANGING THE WAY WE TEND TO OUR GARDENS

What is the future of gardening? As new technologies emerge week after week, let’s a deep dive into how new technology is transforming the way we tend to our gardens and look at what the future may hold in the way of gardening.

Let’s get the grow-down from gardening expert Harry Bodell at PriceYourJob.co.uk

Robot mowers

One of the most popular new technologies to enter the world of gardening are robot mowers. These devices have taken one of the most repetitive and time consuming jobs that you need to do in the garden and made it a non-task.

Of course, there are many different types and models of robot mowers, and they are constantly evolving to become more efficient, effective and affordable. The latest models are replete with futuristic features, including:

Auto mapping with AI vision
Enhanced object recognition and safety enabled by AI algorithms
All wheel drive for steep slopes
Automatic recharging
Zero-distance edge cutting

Many mowers can cut over 1,000 square metres on a single charge, while others are capable of much more, up to 3,000 or 5,000 square metres. This type of technology frees up a huge amount of time for gardeners and allows them to get on with other work that cannot be automated, such as planting, pruning and weeding.

Smart irrigation systems

Another gardening task that takes up a lot of time is watering. Happily, smart irrigation systems are here to rescue your plants and save you from this tedious but necessary chore. This technology gives you peace of mind when you’re on holiday as you can operate it remotely, ensuring you don’t return to dead or drooping plants.

Using a smart watering system also reduces the amount of water you use in your garden. Unlike a simple timed sprinkler, an automated watering system is capable of monitoring soil moisture levels and local weather conditions. This means that they only water the garden when it’s needed rather than following a timer. Smart irrigation gives you the control and convenience of an automated system but also allows you to save on your water bill over time and reduce your consumption. A major plus for this technology.

Soil monitoring sensors

Soil sensors can do more than play a supporting, albeit essential, role as part of a smart irrigation system. Parrot Flower Power is a soil monitor and works as a standalone system, allowing you to measure and analyse:

Soil temperature
Air temperature
Amount of light
pH data
Moisture content
Nutrient levels

That in itself is quite impressive. However, when you understand that this analysis is all done in real-time, it demonstrates how this kind of data can transform how we garden. This soil monitor can be used either in houseplants, patio containers or outside in your garden. It lets you carry out precision gardening, and the database contains more than 6000 plants. Data from your plants is sent to a web server, and you will be updated via the app on your phone on the condition of your plant(s).

Automated greenhouses

Garden technology, on a large scale, comes in the form of an automated greenhouse. This sophisticated system utilises smart sensors, hardware and software to optimise and control watering, fertiliser levels and growing conditions. The sensors pick up on pH, temperature, humidity, and even electrical conductivity to regulate the greenhouse environment. Remote monitoring is available through a computer or mobile device.

Most often an automated greenhouse is partnered with a hydroponic system making a more efficient use of resources. By removing a lot of the manual input, this approach seeks to improve efficiency, sustainability and success in growing plants as well as reducing waste and increasing yields. Crop quality can also be improved with this level of precise control, thanks to technology.

With less need for human intervention, an automated greenhouse allows gardeners and growers to focus on other activities including planning and developing their business.

Gardening apps

On a slightly smaller scale, gardeners often now turn to gardening apps to help them manage their outside space. From sun mapping to plant selection, pest identification to garden design, there’s an app for just about every aspect of gardening.

This way of leveraging AI can help those who know little or nothing about gardening to take their first steps into growing flowers or even their own food. The advice that the app gives can be localised to where you live, taking note of local climate, soil types and hours of daylight at different times of year.

Many planning apps let you lay out your garden virtually before you ever put a spade in the ground. This can give you confidence to take the plunge into gardening while also providing advice on what to grow, companion planting, pests and diseases to look out for, etc. It’s like having a mini gardener in your pocket.

Smart lighting

When you’ve used all this new technology to make your garden look amazing, you’ll want to spend some time sitting back and enjoying it. Installing smart lighting in your outside space let’s you do just that.

As with indoor smart lighting, you can control your garden lighting from your phone, tablet or via your smart speaker. You can create different looks and levels of lighting in various areas of the garden. For example, lights to highlight steps for safety, creating ambiance on a patio or deck or to highlight a feature in your garden.

Robot gardeners

Although a robot gardener who mows the lawn, kills the weeds, and even cleans the patio may seem unlikely, prepare to meet Willow. This is an autonomous multi-functional robot that takes over the gardening chores for you. It keeps your home under surveillance at night with night vision of up to 30 metres. If it spots a person, it will take a photo and send it to your smartphone.

EEVE was the first company to build a garden robot that operates without a perimeter cable. And there are plans to add to the robot’s abilities with a leaf shredder and a precision brush to clean up your exterior space. The innovation includes an open platform which allows developers to customise each robot for specific gardens and personalised service.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR… HARRY BODELL: Harry Bodell is a UK-based landscaper with over 10 years of experience in the industry. As a gardening expert for PriceYourJob, Harry offers his expert advice to tradespeople and homeowners around the world. He has also been featured as a gardening expert in a wide range of reputable publications.