Are Robotic Lawn Mowers Effective?

With all kinds of automated tech available for inside your home, is it time to invest in some automation for your outdoor spaces?

Automation is everywhere , promising to make our lives easier and more fat . When it comes tomowingour lawn , the traditional time - saver has been get someone else to do the piece of work . Engaging the inspection and repair of aprofessional lawn careprovider is unremarkably the most reliable method acting to save our Energy Department and metre . However , technologyhas develop and now provides another choice . Robotic lawn mower , or “ mow - bots , ” mow lawns all by themselves while you sit back and watch .

Learn more : Are Low - Mow Grasses the Way to Go ?

First introduced in 1995 , automaton mower have come a long elbow room . At first , there was only one producer with a unmarried solar - powered fashion model , but now they are produced internationally . you’re able to find both battery and solar - powered options , and various models capable of mowing a broad range of property size . When appear at automatic mowers , believe these factors before purchase .

The size of your lawn

Lawn size is one of the master factors when choosing a robotic mower . Small mowers will keep a quarter of an acre , medium mower up to a half - acre , and big mowers up to one acre . measure out your lawn space by bring your lot sizing and subtracting the square footage of your house , all paved areas , landscaping , and any other spaces that do not require cut down . extortionate slope , obstacles , and highly temporary bod will diminish your mower ’s efficiency and ability . If your lawn has a slope , match to see the tolerance a mower has for that side before buy .

Sound level and convenience

Convenience and quiet are two significant reasons for purchase one of these small wonderment . As quiet as a icebox , they can sour overnight while you and your neighbors kip undisturbed . As these are self-reliant , once programmed it can severally countersink off from its charging post at the appoint times to keep your lawn at the perfect height . The lawn does need to be clear of obstruction , such as hose , plaything , and enceinte twigs . Unlike a lawn service , the mower does not plunk up after you .

Up-front cost versus operating costs

Operating costs are depleted over the foresightful term , only requiring electrical energy to recharge ; you ’ll no longer have to make trip to purchase gaseous state to refuel your mower . There is also no more prison term expend supplant filters , spark plugs , broken cords , and other familiar items .

However , the initial investment can be greater than the cost of a traditional gas - powered mower . Residential models start as low as $ 700 , going up to $ 5,000 or more depending upon the eccentric and issue of features include . As mentioned above , be indisputable the mower can deal the size of it , terrain , and complexness of your lawn . Larger lawn may also profit from being part into multiple orbit , with the mower working in specific geographical zone on certain days .

Easy storage versus increased maintenance

robotlike mowers are easy to lay in , as they will put themselves away on their charging unit of measurement . If you are in a situation where you must pick it up and move it to a storage area , you may want to check the exercising weight of various models for one that is manageable . A survey of several brands show weights ranging from 26 to 34 quid . Their sizes are varying , but they are often form like a large , chunky footstool . Since they are generally smaller than most traditional mowers , it can be easier to incur space to hive away robotlike mower during winter months .

The charging post or sorrel is plugged into a standard 120V powerfulness provision way out , which supply the electricity to recharge the battery . have a bun in the oven to get one to two and a one-half hr of cut down sentence from a single charge , depending upon the mowing conditions and mannikin of lawn mower . The recharging time is an hour , with batteries typically needing to be replaced after three years of purpose .

Maintenance is important , as they are in use more often , requiring cleaning on a regular basis . Grass clipping and clumps must not be allowed to pile up . Due to its frequent employment , the blades and blade disk must be interchange every three month . Repairs can be challenging and may ask professional assistance .

get the model with the correct feature at a damage point you are easy with will take some research into the usable choices . It does n’t matter if you require a perfect - look lawn or just an sluttish agency to mow the grass on time — it can be good to buy a robotic lawn mower if it fit your land and demand .

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Marti Neely , FAPLD , owns and operates Marti Neely Design and Associates in Omaha , Nebraska .

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robotic lawn mower in use

Like a Roomba®, but for your backyard. Do the pros of automation and convenience make this investment worth some of its pitfalls?Photo: Smiley.toerist,CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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mowing a small patch of grass

Even if your lawn is small, consider if plants or other obstacles will give robotic mowers difficulty.Photo: courtesy of Mt. Cuba Center

sprinkler on lawn

Aside from the size and terrain of your lawn, consider your lifestyle and other garden needs. If you have sprinklers across your lawn that are often running, or lots of toys left out from playing children or pets, robotic mowers might be more work than intended.Photo: arenaphotouk/dreamstime.com

robotic mower on charging station

Instead of having to maneuver a lawn mower into a shed or garage after use, robotic mowers put themselves away on their charging unit. Some people even decide to build little structures to protect their mow-bots from the elements.Photo: Mike Peel,CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

chair on lawn