Last Updated on October 2, 2023 by Kyle Whitley
Summer and spring bring sunshine and a host of treats – sounds of bees buzzing, fragrant flowers, happy faces of children playing in lawns and lawnmowers whining away. But if lawn mowing is something you would rather not hear and do, then you could consider investing in one of the many robot lawn mowers available today.
Yes, you heard it right – you can get a robot to mow the lawn for you. And not just any robot – a sleek unit that looks like a remote-controlled car and roams your lawn while you sit on the couch, enjoying hot coffee.
Are robot lawnmowers really worth the money? Are they any good? Some people might wonder if they can trust a robot that resembles a car to trim their lawn to perfection. These automated machines mow in a random pattern, so you can’t expect straight lines from them.
But robot mowers still perform pretty well. Being fully automatic, they are a boon for elderly gardeners or those who are too busy to mow their lawns. They are also compact and emission-free, which makes them environment-friendly.
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How does a Robot Lawn Mower Work?
Once you set up a robotic mower, it will work autonomously. This means that you don’t have to switch it on or keep an eye on it. The mower will start cutting the grass at a time scheduled by you and get back to its dock to recharge its battery for the next mow.
A Map of Your Lawn
A robot mower creates a map of your lawn, ensuring that it doesn’t go over the edges into the borders of your flower beds or other landscaped areas. The robotic lawn mower cuts in a random pattern, which may make it seem like your mower has lost control, but it won’t stop until it has completely cut every square inch of the lawn. The downside to the random cutting of a robotic mower is that you will not get a stripped lawn.
Cutting Within the Lines
Most robot lawnmowers have sensors so they can detect any obstacle in front of them. If they encounter an obstacle, they will change their course so it is best to remove any obstacles from the lawn. There is no need to empty these mowers because they don’t collect the cuttings. Rather, they leave them on the lawn as mulch to promote healthy grass growth.
Robot lawnmowers are kept from roaming off by an electric loop boundary wire planted around the edges of the lawn. You can install this boundary wire system yourself or arrange a specialist to complete the installation.
Install the perimeter wire or boundary wire isn’t a hard process, but you will want to do a little planning ahead of time to make the process either. A good installation is imperative for trouble-free performance so it’s best to hire an expert instead of going DIY perimeter wire install if you aren’t comfortable doing the install.
Why Robot Lawn Mowers are a Viable Investment?
A basic robot mower starts at around $650, but most models come with a hefty price tag – over four figures. With costs of getting a robotic mower might seem a little prohibitive.
This is the reason why these mowers aren’t as popular as conventional ones. However, there are some very good models on the market that are lower in price and will keep the costs down of purchasing a robotic mower.
While there certainly is a big initial investment, a robot mower will allow you to save a few bucks in operating costs every year. If you have been paying landscapers to keep your lawn in good shape, you will realize costs saving in a few years. On the other hand, if you have been mowing your lawn yourself, you would love to get rid of this weekly chore.
Safety First: Is Automated Mowing Safer?
The safety features of robot lawnmowers surpass conventional mowers. These mowers use smaller blades to cut grass. There isn’t any user interaction with these blades while they are in operation. Not only that but since robot lawnmowers sport tilt and lift sensors, the blades instantly shut down if the mower is lifted while in use. The safety record for regular lawnmowers is horrendous – each year across the U.S., 6,394 people sustain serious injuries in lawnmower accidents.
Continuous Mowing For a Greener Lawn
Robot lawnmowers are great at keeping your lawn looking like an emerald carpet. This is because they can be programmed to regularly cut your grass. You can set the mowing schedule so the robot mower mows continuously or only on certain days.
They only cut a small length of grass each time it cuts and as mentioned previously, the clippings aren’t collected but rather stay on the lawn as mulch, promoting the growth of healthier and green grass.
Cut Often to Avoid Issues with Robotic Mowers
One important thing to note about these autonomous mowers is that they aren’t designed to cut through tall grass. The blades of most of these mowers are more like small razor blades instead of the traditional mowers blade you are used to seeing.
So you will have to use them regularly so that the grass doesn’t get out of control. Most of these mowers have a rain sensor and return to their charging station when they sense rain.
If you let the grass get too tall you will have to cut the grass with a conventional lawnmower before you can unleash your robotic mower again.
What to Consider When You Are Buying a Robot Lawn Mower?
When you are buying a robot lawnmower, there are a few important things to consider. These include:
- size of your lawn
- the battery life of the mower
- pivoting or fixed blades
- whether you have slopes in your lawn or not
- whether or not you need a lawnmower that is capable of handling multiple cutting zones
Who Makes Robot Lawn Mowers?
Robot lawnmowers are produced by several of the same manufactures of traditional or battery operated lawnmowers. Below are some manufactures of robot lawn mowers
- Husqvarna
- Worx
- Robomow
- McCulloch
- Gardena
Robot Lawn Mower FAQ: Common Questions
Do robot lawn mowers really work?
Yes, robot mowers really work. While not as popular in the United States as in other countries, they do a great job cutting and maintaining small to medium-sized lawns.
Robotic mowers are making a push forward in the US with less expensive models, which cut the lawns as well as more expensive models. The constant cutting will keep your lawn at a consistent height while allowing you to other tasks around your home.
Are robotic mowers worth it?
The answer to this question depends on your mowing needs. If you have a very large lawn, it will take even the best robotic mowers a very long time to cut your lawn. The mowers may never actually catch up and keep the lawn at a consistent height.
If you are short on time, but still want your grass cut regularly and nicely, then a robotic mower could fit your needs.
Should I buy a robot lawnmower?
Sure if the robot mower meets your cutting needs. If you have a smaller to a medium-sized yard, you would be a great candidate for a robotic mower.
Also if you would rather not maintain your lawn, or maintaining your lawn has become problematic due to age or illness a robot mower could handle those tasks for you. In that case, a robotic lawnmower would be ideal for your situation.
Do robot lawn mowers get stolen?
Unfortunately yes robot lawnmowers have been stolen from people’s yards. While this is a rare occurrence it does happen. Luckily most newer robot lawn mowers come with anti-theft devices, and GPS tracking so if the mower does get taken, the mower can be tracked.
Most mowers also contain multiple anti-theft features, such as PIN numbers to access the robot, alarms to alert if the mower is lifted, and base station paring, so that your mower can not be used on another base station.
Do robotic lawnmowers work in the rain?
Yes, robot mowers will work in the rain. For many reasons, you might not want to do that though. Most new robotic mowers can handle a rain shower or two without issue. You wouldn’t want to run the mower in a torrential rainstorm.
The water resistance is generally intended to get the robotic mower back to its base station. Most newer robotic lawnmower models have rain sensors, that will send the mower back to it’s base station to allow the mower to recharge while it is raining.
Final Thoughts
Keeping your lawn healthy and green can be a lot of hard work. A robot lawn mower can do the work for you; round the clock, without any supervision. It can trim your lawn day and night to keep it looking at its best. So we believe that a robot lawnmower is a viable investment; one that you wouldn’t regret making.
Have you ever used a robot lawnmower or are you still stuck with a conventional battery operated lawn mower? Tell us and do share your experience with a robot lawnmower if you are currently using one or have used it in the past.
