Battery-powered equipment and green energy options are some of the biggest trends in landscape equipment today and have been for several years. One of the biggest trends within that category is unmanned robotic lawnmowers.
The idea of never having to mow again is appealing to many people. You just put a little robot in your yard and watch it do all the work for you. Ideally, once you do some initial setup a robot lawn mower keeps cutting the lawn and recharging its battery all on its own.
There are some limits to what robotic mowers can do and the technology is still relatively new. They’re not a perfect fit for everyone. However, if you’re looking for a high-tech, energy-efficient, and low-maintenance mowing solution, robot lawnmowers can be a great choice.
How Do They Work?
Robot lawnmowers work similarly to a robot vacuum cleaner. You put one outside and it travels around the yard cutting grass in a random pattern. You’ll also have a charging port in the yard where the unmanned lawn mower goes when the battery starts to run down. This port should be sheltered from the weather. You can place it in an outbuilding that has an opening for the mower to get in or build a small shed for the mower.
To keep the robot lawn mower in your yard, you use the same boundary wires used for invisible dog fences. The wires are easy to install. You don’t even need to bury the wire, at least at first. You can lay out the wire and stake it down, and start using the mower in just a few hours. Once you know you have the boundary wire in the right place, you can go back and bury it if you want to keep it from getting snagged on things like a rake or your feet.
Are There Any Downsides?
Robotic mowers are still a new technology, and they’re fairly expensive. The price is comparable to high-end walk-behind mowers. If you figure in the value of the time that you’re saving by not cutting the lawn yourself, though, the extra cost might not seem so bad.
Another thing that you should know is that the random cutting pattern means you won’t get clean lines on your freshly mowed lawn. The mowers are also lightweight enough to pick up, which makes theft a potential issue. Most manufacturers include anti-theft features, such as a PIN number that prevents anyone but the owner from using the mower.
Who Uses Unmanned Mowers?
Robot lawnmowers are a great choice for homeowners with small yards (typically less than one acre) who’d rather not mow the lawn themselves but don’t want to hire a mowing service. They can also be a big help for commercial lawn care businesses, especially ones that are short-staffed. A lawn mowing company can set up a robot mower for customers and focus their time in the yard on trimming and other lawn maintenance tasks.
Not every lawn will work with a robot mower, though. The grass cut by a robot mower all needs to fit inside the wire perimeter. A lawn divided into front and back yards without connecting grass, for example, would need separate robot mowers for each section. They also don’t cut well on steep hills. A flat lawn with continuous grass is the best fit for robot lawnmowers.
Is There Any Maintenance?
Unmanned mowers take care of recharging themselves. They also mulch the grass rather than bagging it, so you don’t need to worry about emptying a bag full of clippings. And since they’re battery-powered, there’s no engine maintenance to worry about.
Cleaning is the only regular maintenance task that you’ll need to do. It’s an easy chore. Simply shut the mower off, flip it over, and use a brush to clear off dirt and dead grass. Just like any other lawn equipment, cleaning helps keep moving parts from getting clogged up and extends the life of your robotic lawn mower.
Another maintenance task, which you’ll do far less often than cleaning, is replacing the cutting blades. This is typically very simple; just follow the instructions in the owner’s manual. Honda’s Miimo, for example, has three rotating razor-type blades that change spin direction to make them last longer. When they do wear down, simply unscrew the blades and replace them.
Which Brands Are Involved?
Currently, Husqvarna is leading the robotic mower movement. Richardson Saw & Lawn Mower does not carry Husqvarna, but we do carry a couple of other brands that offer automated, battery-powered robotic lawnmowers. Both STIHL and Honda’s robotic lawnmowers efficiently cut grass within the guides you lay out in a lawn and include sensor technology to safely navigate obstacles in the yard.
STIHL’s iMow robotic mowers cut lawns up to 0.42 or 1.24 acres in size, depending on the model. LTE connectivity supports smart features including customized mowing schedules and reporting on service issues and performance. You can adjust the cutting height between 0.8 and 2.4 inches. Security features alert you if someone removes the iMow from your yard and your custom PIN prevents others from using the mower.
Honda offers several models of their Miimo robotic mowers, though not all are available in the USA. You get to customize the mower’s patterns and cut schedules (such as choosing day or night mowing) to match your preferences. It also features adjustable cutting heights from 0.8 to 2.4 inches. Anti-theft features set off an alarm and lock Miimo if someone picks it up.
Here at Richardson Saw, we carry both STIHL and Honda lawnmowers. We can work with you to find a mowing solution that works best for your yard. Stop by or contact us today to learn more about robot lawnmowers and other mowing options.
