Your Guide to Automatic Lawn Mowers

What are Automatic Mowers?

Robotic Lawn Mowers typically have a built-in navigation system that allows them to move around your lawn, day or night.  

Some will mow in a specific pattern, while others cut randomly to avoid forming tracks. 

They use sensors to recognise the boundaries of your lawn and avoid obstacles such as trees and flowerbeds, swimming pools and children’s play equipment. The sensors also detect how long your grass is and adjust the cutting height accordingly.  

Once their battery starts getting low, they use radio signals and guide wires to go back to the charging station, returning to work once the battery has been recharged. 

Automatic Lawn Mowers are suitable for use on most types of grass – best results are found on finer grasses, such as Zoysia or Couch – but may not be as effective on thick and dense grass types.  

If there’s any doubt, check with the dealer or manufacturer to see if their mower is suitable for your grass type. 

You might also need to check whether a particular make and model can cope with the size of your lawn. 

Some machines are designed for small to medium-sized lawns, while others can handle larger lawns. 

Terrain is also an important consideration. Automatic lawn mowers are suitable for most types of lawns, including flat and hilly terrain, but they may not be as effective on uneven or rocky ground. 

Choosing the Best Automatic Mower Features

When buying an Automatic Lawn Mower, there are a few features that you should look out for.  

• Navigation: One of the most important is the navigation system. A GPS navigation system will allow the mower to navigate different zones, moving around your lawn in either a specific or random pattern and avoiding obstacles.  
• Ease of use: When choosing a robotic mower, make sure it has a good cutting system, as well as being easy to use and maintain. Expect to replace the blades each year and the battery about every four years. 
• Battery: Lithium-ion batteries are considered more robust than NiMH batteries. They can usually be fully charged in less than an hour. Make sure you don’t skimp on battery size – a battery that is too small for the size of your lawn means it will have to recharge more often, reducing its life. 
• Security: Anti-theft protection is useful for deterring thieves. Some machines will sound an alarm if the mower is stopped or picked up without a PIN code and can’t be matched to other charging stations. Once reported stolen to the manufacturer, they can be tracked via GPS and red-listed for support.
• Extras: Other features you might also want to consider include a built-in camera, remote control, or a mobile phone app that allows you to program the mower to operate at specific times. 

The main advantages of Robotic Lawn Mowers are convenience, efficiency and safety.  

They are perfect for busy people who don’t have the time or energy to manually mow the lawn when it needs to be done.  

Programming them to mow the lawn at specific times of the day, means you can have a freshly mowed lawn whenever you want. Set the mower to operate overnight – as long as the grass doesn’t get too wet or dewy – or while you’re at work and it will be ready when you wake up or get home. 

They can also be programmed to keep your lawn under control while you’re away from home on holiday or a business trip. 

Automatic Mowers are more environmentally friendly than petrol-powered mowers, generating no direct emissions and making much less noise.  

They’re equipped with a range of safety features to prevent them from causing damage to your property, with sensors that can detect when they are approaching a tree, flowerbed or other area you don’t want them to mow. 

However, Robotic Lawn Mowers do have some disadvantages. One of the biggest is the upfront cost, which can start at $1200 for basic models and go up to as much as $25,000 for all the bells and whistles. 

Those who are not technically inclined might be put off by the initial set up, which involves installing an electric boundary wire in the soil, and regular maintenance and cleaning, which can be time-consuming.  

But if you have the budget, there are lawn care professionals who can look after these tasks for you.

Conclusion

Automatic Lawn Mowers are a quiet, convenient and efficient way to maintain your lawn. 

There are models suitable for most types of grass and a range of lawn sizes and terrain. However, they may not be as effective on thick and dense grass types or uneven ground.  

While they are more expensive than manual petrol-powered rotary lawn mowers, they offer the convenience of automatic mowing, and can save you time and effort in the long run.  

As with any purchase, it is important to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages and decide what works best for your specific needs, preferences and budget.