Goodbye Manual Labor: These Hands-Free Tools Make Yard Work Easier

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Yard work can eat into the time you have to relax and spend with your family. Even homeowners who enjoy tackling tasks around their property can feel a little burnt out by the repetitive nature of activities like mowing, leaf blowing, and watering plants. An influx of hands-free tools, including smart technology and robotic helpers, can reduce some of the time spent maintaining your yard. Other hands-free tools, like lawn aerator shoes, help you multitask to get your chores done quicker.

Lawn tools that help you do less manual labor may mean more set-up time or initial costs than traditional options. Keep in mind that many of the robotic lawn mowers on the market today range in price from around $600 to over $2,000. And setting up a smart hose watering timer or smart sprinkler controller will take time and patience before the technology can handle some of the work for you.

If you're looking for an aerator from Amazon under $50 that you can use while completing other work around the yard, consider a pair of adjustable aerator shoes to aerate your yard as you walk. The Brilliantwerk Lawn Aerator Shoes, which fasten to your shoes with Velcro straps, sell for $22.95 at Amazon and feature both 2-inch and 1 ½-inch spikes. With an overall rating of 4.2 stars across more than 1,700 reviews, one reviewer shares that they are "easy to use, very practical and they get the job done."

Nowadays, the lawn actually will mow itself. But only if you program a robotic lawn mower tool, like the Mammotion Luba 3 AWD Robotic Lawn Mower from Lowe's. Available for $2,109, this rechargeable mower is designed to cut the grass autonomously. It comes with a six-blade cutting system and uses AI technology to navigate different terrain and obstacles. With an overall rating of 4.6 stars, some reviewers talk about the time they save using this mower. One user especially liked the app controls, saying, "The app is convenient because I can start the mower even when I'm out of town for a few days."

A heavy garden hose can be a hindrance when watering your new trees or shrubs. For a more hands-off approach, a tree watering ring delivers water straight to the plants that need it regularly. The Heytimi 360° Tree Water System Watering Ring, available for $42.99 at Amazon, comes with 4 rings, 4 plastic valves, and 2 Y hose splitters. With an overall rating of 4.7 stars, this tool requires some initial setup. Afterward, the rings can stay in place until you need to move them. As one reviewer shares, they are "a real time saver, set them up, walk away till it's time to move them to another area."

Smart technology has been making its way into the lawn and garden. Smart sprinklers and sprinkler controllers connect your irrigation system to an app, allowing you to control watering without having to make manual adjustments. One option is the Orbit B-hyve Smart Sprinkler Controller, a 4.5-star-rated tool with over 9,400 reviews on Amazon. This tool, available for $119, connects to your sprinkler system, and reviewers often praise its installation process and performance. One user highlights the ability to water different areas of their yard separately, saying, "Using the phone app, I can ask it to water any specific zone at any moment for any length of time from the comfort of my sofa — sweet!"

Regularly watering plants, whether they are in your flower beds or raised bed garden, can be time-consuming. Self-watering tools that keep your plants hydrated longer can help reduce some of your manual labor. One option for a homeowner is to install spike drip irrigators like this 3 Pack of Deep Drip 14 in. Watering Stakes from Home Depot. These 4.7-star-rated tools are shaped like spikes and are designed to be pushed into the ground near your plants. Drip lines can then be connected directly to the spikes. Across 485 reviews, users note the durability of this hands-free tool, with one reviewer stating, "They are very durable [and] quite effective for watering."

Robots might not be taking over the world just yet, but you can let them take charge of some of your yard work. A robotic leaf blower provides a hands-free option for tackling yard cleanup in the fall. The Yarbo Y40 Core Robot Leaf Blower with Modular Design, selling at Walmart for $5,099, is equipped with a 2000W motor and is designed to clear heavy leaves and debris. This tool also uses a modular design that lets the base of the robot work with snow blower and lawn mower attachments (which are sold separately). On the Yarbo site, several reviewers comment positively on its leaf-clearing performance, with one user commenting that his robot is "a big help around here. clears leaves on 1 acre+"

With a smart hose faucet timer, you can now automate your watering schedule without leaving the house or even getting off the couch or out of bed. If that sounds convenient to you, the Orbit B-hyve Gen 2 Smart Hose Watering Timer with Wi-Fi Hub allows you to customize a watering schedule to match your yard's needs. This timer connects directly to a hose and is designed with weatherproof housing. Available for $87.37 on Amazon, reviewers appreciate the usability and watering control of this device, although some report issues with its Wi-Fi connectivity. Several users do mention being able to manage watering while away from home, with one person sharing, "I make sure the plants are watered anywhere I'm at."

The lawn essential you need to chase wild turkeys away, plus a variety of other unwanted guests, is a motion-sensor sprinkler designed to repel pests. This type of tool may help you keep bunnies from nibbling your tomatoes or raccoons from claiming your bird feeders without requiring you to constantly water your yard. The Orbit Yard Enforcer Motion-Activated Sprinkler, available for $89.99, is one option that hooks up to a hose and uses infrared sensing technology to detect critters. With over 11,300 reviews and a 3.8-star rating, reviewers mention using this motion-activated sprinkler to deter animals including deer, stray cats, and raccoons.