The 10 Best Irrigation Controllers
Editor's Notes
March 15, 2019:
Convenience, automation, zone control, and savings are all ideas I kept in the back of my mind when working on this topic. These WiFi-enabled devices have the ability to leverage real-time weather data to create dynamic schedules that ensure plenty of water gets delivered to various forms of vegetation without wasting resources. The RainMachine Touch HD-16, for example, offers nearly all of these values, thanks to its use of NOAA data to calculate water output levels. It's also compatible with Amazon Alexa. I thought the Rachio 3 was an intuitive option because of its ability to interpret plant types and overall sun exposure as a means of determining optimal irrigation time. Also added the Aeon Matrix Yardian for its integrated security camera, surge protection, and motion detection functionality. Included the Rain Bird ESP-Me for the 14-day activation delay feature. Although it might not be as high-tech as some of the other options, the valet key feature built into the design of the NxEco HWN12-200 makes it perfect for use when professional gardeners and other non-family members may be on the property. I also thought the Netro Sprite was a worthy contender, thanks to its internal database of over 1,000 common plant species, which makes it easy to create customized schedules based on the contents of a particular garden. Also added the Hunter I-Core, as it can monitor flow patterns and automatically shut off specific zones that don't conform to predetermined water delivery levels. Added the Blossom 7 for its ease of installation and lightweight design. Finally, I included the Rain Bird SST900IN for its convenient dial-based operation.