Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Gardeners, rejoice: GreenIQ has created a Nest for the garden

By Krystle Vermes Published May 5, 2015

You may have already fallen in love with Nest, the smart home controller of the future, but what if you could bring this level of control to your garden?

Israel-based GreenIQ is trying to do just that with its new invention, the Smart Garden Hub. The product was originally unveiled at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, and it is now available to consumers at Home Depot for $249. Can it really revolutionize gardening as we know it?

First, it’s worth noting that current irrigation systems (think lawn sprinklers) aren’t the best, and up to 50 percent of the water Americans use outdoors is wasted due to evaporation, wind, and other factors, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This inefficiency inspired GreenIQ to develop its Smart Garden Hub, which is specifically designed to eliminate unnecessary waste.

You can control the Wi-Fi-enabled Smart Garden Hub via iPhone, iPad, Android, or the Internet. Through the GreenIQ app, users can remotely adjust irrigation settings and lighting at any time. The product also works with a large number of third-party sensors, such as the Weather Station and Rain Gauge from Netatmo. These sensors provide localized weather information, as well as forecasts, so sprinklers won’t turn on when it’s raining. Other notable sensors that work with the Smart Garden Hub include Flower Power from Parrot and Koubachi, which measure soil moisture levels.

Currently, GreenIQ is working with IFTTT to enhance the Smart Garden Hub and make it easier to control items such as sprinklers. The overall goal is to help users put connected devices on autopilot, creating a smarter garden with less work. The company claims it’s already helped users save over two million gallons of water since last summer’s the beta launch.

“We are aiming to be the ‘Nest for the garden,’” said Odi Dahan, the founder and CEO of GreenIQ.

Available at: Home Depot

Krystle Vermes is a professional writer, blogger and podcaster with a background in both online and print journalism. Her…

Topics

Smart Home

Ultraloq showcases the first-ever ultra-wideband smart lock at CES 2025

Bolt Mission UWB + NFC installed on a white door.

Ultraloq showed off two smart locks at CES 2025 -- one of which is the first smart lock to ever offer ultra-wideband (UWB) support. The Ultraloq Bolt Mission UWB + NFC uses UWB technology to unlock automatically as you approach your front door. Similar functionality already exists on other smart locks, but UWB should allow the Ultraloq Bolt Mission to be more accurate than the competition.

The Bolt Mission uses technology similar to digital car keys, and Ultraloq says it can track the keyholder’s phone location with “centimeter-level” accuracy. As your phone gets closer to the front door, the Bolt Mission can be programmed to automatically unlock, giving you a hands-free way to get inside. Better yet, because the smart lock can detect both your distance and direction from the front door, it should prevent you from accidentally unlocking the smart lock while inside your home.

Smart Home

Ulticam shows off three AI-powered security cameras at CES 2025

The Ulticam IQ installed outside a home.

Ulticam, the new security camera brand of Xthings, revealed a lineup of three AI-powered cameras at CES 2025. The Ulticam IQ, Ulticam IQ Floodlight, and Ulticam Dot offer not just cool AI capabilities, but also free seven-day cloud storage -- which could make them a solid choice for value-minded shoppers leery about signing up for monthly storage plans.

The Ulticam IQ and IQ Floodlight are the main attractions, as they're packed with features that should pose solid competition for the best smart security cameras from Arlo, Nest, and Ring. The duo uses edge AI to quickly identify people, vehicles, and packages without needing to upload the video for server-side processing. This onboard processing should result in faster performance -- it’s also great for privacy and security, as your footage doesn’t have to leave your device.

Smart Home

Home Depot expands Hubspace smart home lineup at CES 2025

Hubspace, Home Depot’s smart home platform, has seen impressive growth over the past few years, and that growth continued at CES 2025. Three new gadgets were revealed at the event, including a wireless power switch to control Hubspace products, a portable air conditioner, and a window-mounted air conditioner. All three are unique additions to the catalog -- and since there’s not much like them on the market, they should quickly become popular options in their respective niches.

The Hubspace Remote Switch is arguably the most useful of the three gadgets. Designed to look like a light switch, but with a removable remote controller, it works with select Hubspace light bulbs, fixtures, plugs, power sockets, surge protectors, and more. You’ll get standard on and off functions, plus access to brightness controls. Its sleek looks and versatility should make it a great choice for shoppers seeking an entry-level smart switch.