Robotic Lawn Mowers
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Three tips for buying a robotic lawn mower
Robotic mowers are recommended based on different sizes and complexities of lawns.
Size of lawn - In order to avoid having to mow around the clock, you should choose a robotic mower that is able to cope with the size of your lawn, and even preferably a little larger. The larger the lawn it is adapted for, the faster it will get your lawn cut.
Lawn slope - If you have a steep slope on your lawn, or a slope at all, this can be a challenge for your robotic mower. Examine both how steep of a slope the mower can handle within an open area, and its maximum limit on slope at the boundary wire.
The great advantage of robotic mowers is their flexibility. To optimise this, it may be a good idea to ensure that the mower is compatible with other parts of your home, i.e. Smart systems, such as Google and Alexa, and mobile apps. This makes the installation, programming and control of your robotic mower easy.
Robotic mowers are notorious for being dangerous to certain animals, especially those that are active at night. Of course, you want to care for wild animals, pets, and small family members.
Although all robotic mowers have the necessary safety functions and sensors, their sensitivity can vary, and their sensors can be slightly differently positioned. Moreover, you should be aware that the mower should preferably only operate during the day, especially to protect hedgehogs, which are usually most active at night.
Need some more tips on how to get that perfect lawn? The Royal Horticultural Society has some points you might want to consider.
FAQ
The robotic lawnmower cuts the grass through mulching, which means that the grass is cut into very small pieces and disappears back into the lawn. There is a mower motor underneath the lawnmower where blades rotate at high speed and cut off the grass. Through a built-in computer, the robot controls itself to navigate right on your lawn, and it uses associated hardware. For example, it can be with GPS and through the restriction loop that you put around your lawn. When the robot starts to get tired and run out of battery, it goes back to its charging station and charges itself.
- Start by pulling a boundary cable around the area where you want the robotic lawnmower to cut; the cable should be attached with staplers to the ground.
- Then connect the cable to the robot's charging station, which you place flat on the ground somewhere within the mowing area.
- Once the wiring is done, it's time to program a mowing schedule and possibly download the associated app. Then you just have to let the robot do the rest!
If you want to avoid the lawnmower going into bushes and flower beds, it may be useful to pull the cable around these as well. However, remember that it is the same cable that should go around the entire area. So if you want to surround an obstacle, pull the cable from the edge of the lawn into the area to surround the obstacle, then pull the cable out to the border again and continue around. The robotic lawnmower is programmed so that if the cable is double, it will only pass it, while it perceives a single cable as a fence and then turns.
You will get to know both your robot and learn when the time comes, but usually, it is around September-October. So it's time to pack up your robotic lawnmower when the grass stops growing, which happens when autumn comes. This also makes the lawn softer, so if you have a heavier robotic lawnmower, it risks damaging the grass. Don't forget to clean the robot with a damp cloth and take the opportunity to replace the blades so that the robot is ready for next the season. To keep it in good condition, the lawnmower should be stored in a heated storage area.
When choosing robotic lawnmowers, you should consider the size of your lawn. It can be difficult to estimate the size exactly, but if you are unsure, it is better to choose one that can cope with a larger lawn. The larger the lawn the robot is adapted for, the faster your lawn will be finished mowed. The models adapted for larger lawns are also usually equipped with a larger battery, which means that they can cut longer batches on one charge.
Which robotic lawnmower is the best depends entirely on the type of robot you need, and it is all about how your garden is built and what size it is. It's a good idea to read reviews and see what others think, so if you want to get some help along the way, you can read our robotic lawnmower test.
If the mowed grass becomes yellow at the top or a bit jagged, it is a sign that it is time to change the blades on the lawnmower. How often this needs to happen depends, of course, on how often you use the lawnmower, but usually, the blades need to be replaced about 2–3 times per season.