No it’s not something out of Star Trek, it is in fact a robotic mower. Simple to set up and safe to use, robotic mowers are an authentic alternative to pushing a heavy petrol mower up and down the lawn once a week.
Leave aside any preconceptions you may have, these battery powered machines produce a consistent cut and a healthy lawn, leaving you time to do the things you enjoy.
When deciding which robotic mower to buy, don’t be swayed by price. Consider certain aspects of your lawn, such as size, flatness and obstacles. Robotic mowers can access those places impossible to reach with a walk-behind or ride-on mower, and are perfect for lawns obstructed by overhanging branches and low-lying bushes.
Smooth lawns of around 300m² can be cut by the cheaper mowers. These mowers are powered by lead batteries which have a shorter life span than lithium batteries and a longer charging time, as much as 24 hours. They also have to be charged manually, therefore if the cutting area is too large you’ll have to keep an eye on your mower and recharge it before the lawn has been completely cut. However, they can operate on a 30º slope and with adjustable cutting heights can trim grass from 20 to 60mm in length. In addition, robomower models have a cutting width which compares favourably with most other rotary lawnmowers. Although this does make them heavier the only time you need to lift the machine is before and after cutting sessions.
As price increases so does the area the mower can cut before recharging is necessary. They also incorporate more technology so you don’t have to monitor its progress. Models return to the charging port placed in your garden, once the lawn has been cut, when it’s raining or if it senses the lithium battery is getting low on power. These smarter models can also be programmed using a remote control to set cutting dates and times, allowing the mower to cut whilst you’re at work or on holiday. The most advanced model, the MowBot 200Evo, is a thinking machine and will learn when your grass needs cutting by monitoring its growth and length, adjusting mowing and charging time accordingly.
If you have a bumpy or sloping lawn, choose a model with grooved wheels for extra traction. Even though most models have an automatic blade speed which adjusts according to the height and thickness of the grass, there are still limitations. Ultimately they can’t produce as much power as a petrol mower, meaning they can’t deal with long, coarse or damp grass and unlike cylinder mowers they can’t produce striped lawns. Robotic mowers are recyclers, returning nourishing grass clippings to the soil surface, therefore maintaining a healthy lawn.
As you’d expect safety is paramount, with all models incorporating a system, which stops the blade immediately if the carry handle is touched or the mower lifted. Some models are equipped with an audible alarm and PIN security system to deter theft.
Robotic mowers are durable, time-saving devices. All you have to do is lay the border wire around the perimeter of your lawn, switch the mower on, sit back and relax as the mower systematically criss-crosses the lawn several times providing a complete cut.
The robotic mower senses the signal from the border wire thus avoiding ponds and flowerbeds. After three weeks the green border wire will be covered by grass and hidden from view. Should the mower come into contact with a tree or any other obstacle, it will reverse safely and select a new direction to mow.
These quiet, environmentally friendly machines are energy efficient with no petrol or oil emissions and as the cutting blade is reversible its life span is doubled.
They use the optimum cutting style; little and often, producing lawns to be proud of with minimal effort from you.
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