I researched a LOT about moisture sensors and in the end settled on these.
My suggestions:
- Have you purchased a soil sensor to augment your irrigation? How do you use it?
Right now I use EcoWitt 915MHz WH51 moisture sensors as well as their rain sensor with their gateway. I have a sensor in the middle of each sprinkler zone.
- Does anyone track soil moisture on their own? How does this data help you make irrigation decisions?
This datai s then read into home assistant which I use to adjust Rachio watering times.
- If you had one soil moisture sensor that you could move around your yard, and it provided useful input to your zone watering, what zones would you put it in? Why?
I use them in all my zones since each zone is so different in terms of sun light and tree shade as well as slopes.
- For what specific use cases would you want to measure a zone with a moisture sensor (e.g. overseeding, new turf, growing tomatos, potted plants…)
I use the EcoWitts for overseeding, normal watering during the season, indoor plants, raised beds.
Other suggestions:
- Please no resistive sensors. They degrade by electrolisys of the electrodes.
- Low physical profile so that they don’t get hit by mowers
- Relatively affordable since adding a sensor for 12 zones and house plants and raised beds gets expensive fast.
- Incorporate these sensors into at minimum flex daily schedules.