Watering with precision: "Aqua Precise" from Gardena tested

Martin Jungfer

13.6.2025

Translation: machine translated

Pictures: Martin Jungfer

If you want to save your lawn during the hot summer, you can't avoid watering it. The new "Aqua Precise" lawn sprinkler from Gardena helps to save water.

Of course, before anyone has to write that in the first comment: Lawn watering is one of the least of our worries when there is an acute water shortage - and a luxury for agglo homeowners. If the man in the street, in this case me as the tester, is going to do it, he should do it in the most water-efficient way possible. The test device of the new «Aqua Precise» from Gardena, which was launched this season, is just what I need.

When unpacking, I don't get much out of the box: the watering device, a base plate and instructions. I find out where to connect the garden hose myself. There is only one connection. Even a layman can recognise where the water spurts out at first glance.

The tricky part follows immediately: setting up the device via the app and finally creating the irrigation zones.

The «Aqua Precise» is controlled via the Gardena Bluetooth app. This means that you can only operate the lawn sprinkler if you are within Bluetooth range with your smartphone, the «Aqua Precise» is not accessible via an internet connection. However, you don't have to be at home to start watering. You can set up a schedule in the Gardena app. This is then saved on the device itself.

Beforehand, however, «Aqua Precise» needs to know where to direct its jet. The app provides step-by-step instructions for this, some of which explain too much for my liking. Firstly, you need to set a location. I chose a spot on the wall of the house next to the tap for the test. From here, the six nozzles in the sprinkler head can spray the water over the entire western part of the lawn.

Gardena writes in the press release about a maximum area of 320 square metres that can be watered. I have around 70 square metres to offer and therefore can't test this in practice.

At least I found in the test that the information on the maximum «throw distance» is correct. With the tap fully turned on, the lawn sprinkler sprays up to just over ten metres. The largest area is achieved with a circle. Calculated with the number of circles Pi, this would result in just over 316 square metres. Gardena has therefore generously rounded up to 320 metres. Of course, the result also depends a little on the water pressure in your home; especially in older houses, this is not always high enough. To work properly, the «Aqua Precise» needs two bars.

Area is determined with boundary points

Size is not so important to me anyway, it's the technology that counts. I want to know how precisely the «Aqua Precise» works. My lawn has a rectangle as its basic shape. A small staircase and a seating area with natural stones are to be left out.

To do this, I use the app and set up boundary points. I define the angle of the sprinkler head and the jet width, set a point, adjust the angle and jet width for a second point, and so on. In the end, I have enough points so that I mainly water lawns and not stones. It works amazingly well and is easy to understand. Subsequent adjustments are also possible.

To compensate for fluctuations in water pressure at the tap, the «Aqua Precise» also has a built-in valve. This prevents the appliance from splashing if too much or too little pressure comes out of the pipe for a short time.

I notice that the water jet is shot quite flat towards the target. Unlike classic lawn sprinklers, which work with a high semi-circular arc. There's a good reason for this: a flat jet is less susceptible to wind.

A quickie is harmful when watering

A lawn is often watered too often, but too briefly. However, a quickie, for example a 15-minute watering, achieves little. Grass blades need up to 20 mm of water per watering. It should reach the roots, which are up to 15 centimetres deep. If you only water briefly, you will encourage shallow roots that are resistant to heat and weeds. The best time of day for watering is early in the morning. This allows the lawn to dry out as the sun rises, which prevents fungal diseases.

Flexible choice of location

The lawn in the western part of the garden is easy to reach from the chosen location. However, the lawn extends in an L-shape around our house. And unfortunately, the «Aqua Precise» cannot spray around the corner, despite the hefty price tag.

The solution is a second location. I could set up as many as five if things do eventually work out with the spacious villa in Herrliberg above the lake. A second location is enough for me to define the area of the remaining lawn. I simply carry the «Aqua Precise» back and forth between the two locations, connect the hose and let it water. It's still a lot less employees than travelling with the garden hose and multi-sprayer. Unlike with a classic lawn sprinkler, with the «Aqua Precise» no corners remain unwatered or areas are watered pointlessly where nothing grows anyway. Sorry, dear cyclists and pedestrians - there is no more cooling on the pavement due to poorly adjusted lawn sprinklers.

Power from the sun

The «Aqua Precise» should be able to work independently from spring to autumn without any problems. It contains a rechargeable battery that is charged by solar cells on the top of the device. However, if the device is in a very shady spot in your home, you can also charge it with a USB-C cable.

No integration with Gardena Smart System

It is somewhat disappointing that the «Aqua Precise» cannot be integrated into the Gardena Smart System - at least not without expensive accessories. How nice would it be to use the measurements from the humidity sensor to set up an IFTTT rule (automation based on the «If this then that» principle) when it gets too dry? Or to use the weather information to pause a schedule when a rain front is forecast? Gardena has cut corners here.

At least there are a few good tools in the app that can be used to create a sensible watering schedule. And a schedule can be paused manually at the touch of a button in rainy weather.

In a nutshell

Clever irrigation, but not really smart

At a price of just under 300 francs, it takes a while for the "Aqua Precise" to earn its money because you use less water when watering. The device is solidly built, quick to set up and ready for use in no time at all. Thanks to a valve in the "Aqua Precise", the set limits are maintained very well. Compared to the predecessor model "Aqua Contour", operation via app is much easier. Unfortunately, Gardena has missed the opportunity to integrate the "Aqua Precise" into its own smart home world. This means that a number of opportunities remain unutilised.

Pro

• Model available for use with underground hose system
• Self-sufficient power supply with solar cell and battery
• Simple set-up of the lawns via app
• Reduced water consumption through targeted irrigation

Contra

• cannot be integrated into Gardena Smart App
• Only Bluetooth control possible

Irrigation system

EUR315,16

Gardena AquaPrecise

Irrigation computer

12

Martin Jungfer

Head of Content

Martin.Jungfer@digitecgalaxus.ch

Journalist since 1997. Stopovers in Franconia (or the Franken region), Lake Constance, Obwalden, Nidwalden and Zurich. Father since 2014. Expert in editorial organisation and motivation. Focus on sustainability, home office tools, beautiful things for the home, creative toys and sports equipment. more

These articles might also interest you