Yahoo Movies The 8 best smart sprinkler controllers for keeping your grass green into the fall
As the heat rages on, you may be looking for easy ways to care for your lawn as fall draws near. A smart sprinkler controller can simplify the yard watering process, giving you control from anywhere (and even with voice assistants like Google and Alexa) over when, where and how frequently your irrigation system operates.
Get deals and shopping advice delivered straight to your phone. Sign up for text message alerts from the experts at Reviewed.
It's a modern day convenience that you'll soon come to appreciate—no more fiddling with old clunky dials or having the sprinkler system go off during a rainstorm. These intuitive controllers make life simpler.
We've tested each one in real homes and real yards with testers across the country, rounding up the eight best smart sprinkler controllers.
1. Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller (8-zone)
The Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller is our No. 1 pick for smart sprinkler controllers, because it's an all-around easy to use device. From installation to managing your system daily, the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller is the best of the best.
It comes in 8- and 16-zone options and has features like Weather Intelligence, which skips a watering cycle if rain is in the forecast, and Smart Cycle, which help break up watering sessions into shorter, more effective spurts.
You can also manage it via the Rachio app for iOS and Android.
2. Netro Sprite
If you're looking for a smart sprinkler controller full of value and low on price, check out the Netro sprite.
The fully automatic Wi-Fi-enabled smart sprinkler controller uses local weather data and information about your lawn to help craft the perfect yard watering schedule.
It works with Alexa and Google Assistant, and you can also manage the Netro Sprite in the Netro app for iOS and Android.
3. Wyze Smart Sprinkler Controller
The Wyze Sprinkler Controller is full of customizable and intuitive features that water your yard efficiently, helping to keep the grass green while saving you money.
It supports up to eight zones and you can manage the controller in the Wyze app, where you can set certain weather conditions to help the controller skip a watering cycle due to temperature, rain, wind and saturation levels.
A Wyze Sprinkler Plus subscription is required to access features like smart schedules and weather skips.
4. Orbit B-hyve Wi-Fi Sprinkler Timer
The Orbit B-hyve Wi-Fi Sprinkler Timer is available with support for six or 12 zones. It is can be installed outdoors and comes with a keyed lock to keep the LCD control panel covered.
The controller uses data about the amount of sunlight your yard gets, zip code, the type of plants in your yard and soil composition to determine the best watering plan for your lawn.
5. Hunter Hydrawise HC-600i
The Hunter HC-600i has adjustable settings may be a bit more involved than some folks may have bargained for, but it offers helpful features to keep your lawn looking great for fall. In the app, you can set watering schedules for the six-zone sprinkler controller, as well as start and pausing water cycles.
The Wi-Fi-enabled controller takes about five minutes to install using your existing wiring, and it needs to be installed in a covered location as it is not waterproof.
6. Netro Spark
The Netro Spark 8 is a smart sprinkler controller that works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, as well as IFTTT. The eight zone sprinkler controller can also be managed via the Netro app, where you can set smart schedules that factor in your local forecast when deciding whether or not to water your grass.
The intuitive sprinkler has a clear and easy to read display with buttons you can press to select a zone, duration of watering and the power controls.
7. Eve Aqua
The Eve Aqua is one of the only controllers that works with the Apple HomeKit ecosystem. In fact, it only works with iOS devices, but what it does, it does well. This smart sprinkler is designed to control garden hoses and can be set to varying schedules to meet your lawn watering needs.
The Eve Aqua makes a lot of sense for anyone who doesn't have an in-ground irrigation system or needs to water a specific area of the yard like a garden.
8. Scotts Miracle-Gro Smart Watering Controller
The Scotts Miracle-Gro smart watering controller is simple to install, but it is a bit limited in functionality.
It offers features like fixed or interval water schedules and a "hibernation" mode for when the sprinkler system isn't in use for long periods of time, like winter.
If you don't need advanced features and only want access to the basics, like turning the system on and off from your smart phone, then the Scotts Miracle-Gro Smart Watering Controller can help get the job done.
There’s a lot more where this came from. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get all our reviews, expert advice, deals and more.
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or Flipboard for the latest deals, product reviews and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
This article originally appeared on Reviewed: These are the 8 best smart sprinkler controllers for your fall grass
