Everyone has seen and gotten a good chuckle out of those futuristic cartoons and movies where robotic gardeners take care of landscaping chores. Well now, the joke is finally on us. While yard work, gardening, and landscaping services haven't become fully automated yet, technology and techniques are transforming it in ways unheard of just 30 years ago. Read on to learn more about how automation is radically changing lawn care.

Why Landscaping Companies Need Automation More Than Ever
While homeowners love beautiful lawns and gardens, many of them are simply too busy to care for them. They therefore turn to professional landscaping companies. As a result, these companies are busier than ever. This would normally be good news, except that these companies are finding it increasingly difficult to fill their employee rolls. As a result, these firms are turning more frequently to automation to fill positions once held by humans.

Specific Administrative Software
Like other businesses, landscaping companies probably spend more time on paperwork than any other aspect of the job. Paperwork doesn't just consist of invoices. It also involves everything from payroll to inventory. Until just a few years ago, landscapers had to rely on multiple and often incompatible software packages to complete multiple administrative tasks. Now, specific software packages are available for professional lawn service companies that do everything from creating quotations and invoices to allowing supervisors to fill out daily reports. Cloud technology also allows for easier updating, more remote meetings, and more participation and quicker feedback from clients.

Robotics
Automated lawn mowers can be controlled by applications on devices. Landscapers can give a client's lawn a drink with smart sprinklers that don't just turn themselves on and off. They calculate just exactly how much and where lawns need moisture with a built in weather station. If clients want pool cleaning to be part of lawn chores, there are robot cleaners that both collect debris and bag it. Lawn care companies can also utilize robots that weed gardens and spread grass seed on lawns. In addition to raking leaves and picking up tree limbs, many landscaping companies are increasingly being called on in the autumn to clean out gutters and storm drains. A robot cleaner is available to do this without fear of ladder accidents. All of these robots require "supervision" in the form of at least one handler, and some mowers need fences. But if operated properly, all of these robots are efficient, don't cause injury unless abused, and operate using "green" systems.

Drones
They're already being used by landscape architects to map out projects. Other lawn care providers are now using them for everything from making professional videos to finding the best sites to set up irrigation systems.

So while homeowners shouldn't expect to see Robbie the Robot raking leaves just yet, they shouldn't be surprised to learn that their lawn care service provider is increasingly being assisted by automation.

Do You Need to Water Your Plants and Lawn in the Winter?
Taking care of your lawn and garden is a challenging yet rewarding task, requiring attention year round to keep everything healthy and beautiful. However, many people assume winter is the one time of year when you can get a break from having to tend your yard, but is this really true? Should you really be watering your plants and lawn in the winter, or is it okay to leave them alone when the weather gets coldest?

The answer is: It depends. Whether or not your lawn needs to be watered in the winter can depend on several factors, just like in any other season. Though the grass on top of your lawn is dormant due to the cold, the roots will still remain active and growing the whole time. This goes for other types of plants, too. With this in mind, your plants will certainly require moisture to stay alive, but does this mean you'll need to water them manually?

For the most part, natural precipitation should take care of your plants' watering needs during the winter months. Whether it rains, snows, or even hails, the moisture will slowly soak into the ground and saturate your plants' roots. So long as this happens, you shouldn't need to do much of anything to care for your lawn during this time.

You won't always be this lucky, though. If you live in an area with a dry winter or simply suspect the precipitation you're getting to not be enough to support your greenery, it may be necessary to take action. To be sure, you could test the soil condition by stabbing the ground with a shovel or spade to feel how moist the ground is. If the soil is persistently very dry, this is a good indicator that you will need to water your lawn.

Even so, you likely won't have to water it often. While the plants' roots are still growing during the winter, they are growing very slowly and will require less watering than is typical in warmer months. Because of this, it's likely only going to be necessary to water once a month or so for the duration of winter, with additional watering as necessary to accommodate for different kinds of soil (clay-based soil will retain water longer than sand-based soil, for example).

In order to ensure the health of your lawn, it's a good idea to avoid mowing too vigorously leading up to winter. Cutting too short in the fall can lead grass to drying out quicker, as can routine mowing during winter. If you find that you must mow your lawn during the winter, be sure to water it accordingly to avoid damaging it as a result.

While not quite as low maintenance as people would assume, winter is still a much easier time overall for lawn and garden owners when it comes to maintenance. Simply remember to monitor the status of your lawn and water if it needs it, as well as doing what's necessary to ensure the health of your plants year round.