We all love spending time in our gardens, but so often it can feel as though you spend more time maintaining and tidying your garden than you actually do enjoying it! There is nothing wrong with wanting your garden to look “just right” with perfectly manicured lawns that look as though they have just been cut – but the time that it can take to achieve this can feel impossible! This is where a robot lawnmower can help!
Mowing your lawn can feel like a full time job, particularly through the summer months when it needs mowing easily once a week! A robot lawn mower is going to be there to take all of that stress away, by maintaining your lawn for you. The best robot lawn mowers will completely remove you of any duties in relation to maintaining your lawn – even starting themselves and charging themselves too! The main benefit to a robot lawnmower (as well as the fact you can stop mowing) is that they will be able to cut your lawn much more regularly than you can, so it will always be looking its best.
Best Pick – Gardena Smart Sileno Life Set
- Using the free GARDENA smart App for iOS, Android and Web, you always have your garden under control, wherever your location
- The precision blades cut the grass cleanly
- The fine cuttings remain on the lawn as a natural fertiliser
- The GARDENA smart SILENO life has been constructed so that simple spraying with the garden hose thoroughly frees the housing, blades and wheels of dirt, dust and residual grass
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
The Technology Behind A Robot Lawn Mower
Before you purchase a robot lawn mower, you will probably want to know how they work. We understand that you aren’t going to want your bedding areas churned up by the blades of the mower, nor are you going to want large patches of lawn missed! So we are here to reassure you that this won’t happen!
There are different components of a robot lawn mower that all work together to help you achieve the perfect lawn! The first is the actual mower itself, this uses a circuit board (the brain) and sensors (the eyes) to plan different routes and start to memorise the map of your garden. Some robot lawn mowers will allow you to programme in different routes around your garden, so that the mower will go exactly where you want it to go! Others will figure out routes for themselves.
Then you have the perimeter wire, which will come as part of the kit when you purchase most robot lawn mowers. This is to basically set “no go” zones around your garden, so that when one of the sensors on the mowers picks up the wire, it stops and turns to go the other way. This doesn’t only have to be used around the edge of your lawn but it can also be used to help the robotic lawn mower to avoid steps, bedding areas and paths!
Finally, you have the charging station! This is obviously used to recharge the robot lawn mower, but there are different types to consider. There are some which can be positioned outside so that your mower can take itself back to recharge when the batteries are running low, whereas others are going to need to be based inside with your physically “plugging in” the battery between uses!
This video provides a little more detail on exactly how they work.
In A Hurry?
Ready to spend more time relaxing in your garden and less time working? Wanting to have the perfect garden and technology that is the envy of all your neighbours? Keep reading for the key factors that you need to consider before you purchase a robot lawn mower!
Robot Lawn Mower Specifications
Different robot lawn mowers are going to be suitable for different sizes and styles of gardens – just like you would find with normal lawn mowers! You wouldn’t purchase a small, cheap lawn mower if you had a few acres of lawn to cut on a steep hill and the same goes when looking at robotic lawn mowers!
Most robot lawn mowers are going to specify the sizes of lawn that they will be able to work with. This is going to be dependent on the quality of the motor and machine but also on the battery life! Smaller robot lawn mowers are only going to be able to work with around 300mᒾ of lawn without you seeing an impact on the overall quality and finish of the cut. Larger, more heavy-duty robotic lawn mower will be able to cut up to around 45,000mᒾ but this is only found with the considerably larger models!
Once you have worked out the compatibility of the size of lawn that you need, your next job is to think about the gradient of your lawn. Different manufacturers will give limitations that their robot lawn mowers will be able to work to. Most will be able to cope with any variation from completely flat, up to a gradient of around 40%, which equates to just under 25 degrees.
You then need to look at the quality and length of cut that you are wanting to create. All robotic lawn mowers are going to work best on a lawn that has a neat, short cut as this makes it easier for them to churn up and create the mulch. Look at the length that the blades cut to, as this is going to determine the finish you will achieve with your mower.
TOP TIP: If you are unsure of the size and gradient of your garden then the best thing to do is measure this using a spirit level and a tape measure. We would always recommend airing on the side of caution and opting for a slightly more powerful option than you think you may need to be on the safe side!
Best Budget – Yard Force Compact 280R
- 280m² working area suitable for city gardens
- iRadar -Active Safety Ultrasonic Sensor technology, the most advanced feature in robotic mowing
- Brushless Motor with 20V Lithium-Ion Samsung battery and 16cm cutting width
- 3 easily adjustable cutting heights ranging from 20-55mm
- Rain sensor enables Compact 280R to go back to the charging station automatically
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Blade Rotations
There are two main types of blade rotations that you will be able to choose from when looking at different robot lawn mowers! These are fixed blades and pivoting blades. Fixed blades are what you will usually find on “normal” lawn mowers. These are where you have blades that are placed on a rotating bar that is fixed on an axis. Fixed blades help to make sure that there aren’t any parts of the lawn that are missed as they are much more consistent in the ways that they cut. However, they do have some downsides if you have a garden that is more varied in shape with additional obstacles.
If this is the case then you may be better looking for pivoting blades. This design involves using 3 or 4 razor blades which rotate around each other and themselves to cut the grass. The main downside to this is that they can miss bits of the grass when they are moving around the garden. However, they have the massive benefit of the way that they fold back into themselves if they come into contact with something harder that the sensors detect isn’t grass. This helps to avoid any damage to other parts of your garden but also the blades of the mower!
Charging The Robot Lawn Mower
Robot lawn mowers are all going to be wireless – without this you would find yourself getting into some tricky situations pretty quickly! Most are going to need charging through mains electricity but there are some models that are solar powered too. Solar powered models obviously have the benefit of saving you money and they are already outside so can power themselves whilst they are working. However, you do tend to find that these models offer less power!
For the most part, you will find that robot lawn mowers need connecting to the power source at your home to charge. Some cheaper models will require you to remove the battery (or take your mower inside) and simply plug into the wall as you would charge your phone. Others will come with charging stations, which need to be positioned in your garden somewhere within the perimeter line. These models do have the downside of requiring you to be able to extend power out to the charging station, but they make up for this by reducing the amount of effort that you need to put in otherwise. Robot lawn mowers that come with charging stations will take themselves back to the station when they are low on battery to recharge! So all you need to do is check on your mower occasionally – otherwise it can sort itself!
Programming Your Robot Lawn Mower
You want your robot lawn mower to be user friendly – that is the point of purchasing one….to make your life easier! This means you need to check how easy it is going to be to set up your robot lawn mower so that it knows where to go! The quickest option that you can go for are models that “self calibrate”. This process is completed using smart sensors that memorise your garden as they move around. This allows them to plot different parts of the garden that they can and cannot cover so that they know where to travel and work. This is going to save you a considerable amount of time and effort and reduce the chance of “user error” when setting up the mower.
However, there are downsides to these models…firstly, they tend to be more expensive. But not just this, you also also find that they struggle when working in more complicated gardens as they can “bounce” off rockeries and paths back into the same direction they have come. If you know that your garden has a lot of smaller grassy areas or a lot of obstacles you may be better off with a robot lawn mower that allows you to plot the route – as who knows your garden better than you do?
TOP TIP: Robot lawn mowers that allow you to create “zones” are great for if you have a number of smaller areas in your garden. This will allow you to place your mower and select the “zone” that it is in. Although this does slightly increase the amount of work that you have to do, it improves the accuracy of the overall cut!
Additional Robot Lawn Mower Features To Consider
Now that you know the main factors that you need to consider before purchasing a robot lawn mower, here are some of the additional features that we found in only the best robotic lawn mowers! If you are wanting the best value for money then these are definitely worth looking out for!
Safety Features
There are various safety features that will come with a robot lawn mower, not just to keep you and your loved ones safe, but also your garden and the mower itself. Look out for models that come with anti-theft technology such as GPS trackers, disabling systems, alarms or even password protection! These will all help to make your mower less of a target!
If you know that you have children or pets that are going to be in your garden then look out for safety guards and safety switch off features. The guards will help to avoid the blades coming into contact with things they shouldn’t and the safety switch will cut off the power to the robot lawn mower if it hits anything particularly hard that jams in the system!
Usability Features
If you want a robot lawn mower that is going to be easy to use then here are some of the features that we like. The first one is an automatic start – this is perfect for anyone that can be a little forgetful, or with a particularly busy schedule. Simply programme when you want your mower to start and how often in the week this will be and the rest is down to the mower itself!
We also like robotic lawn mowers that come with a rain sensor! These will detect when it is starting to rain and go back to the charging station to wait for the rain to pass – so you don’t need to worry about coming home to a churned up lawn!
Finally, make sure to check what actually comes with your robot lawn mower. For example, how much perimeter wire are you going to get and is this going to be enough for your garden? Plus, what are the wheels like that come with your mower – you need to make sure that these are large enough and with a thick enough tread to be able to cope with the uneven ground in your garden!
Best of the Rest
- EASY TO INSTALL - Easy one-time set-up of boundary wire, charging station and robot mower with fully comprehensive step-by-step instructions. Installation of an additional guide wire is not required. The charging station can not be fitted in the corner of the lawn. Please allow 1m of boundary wire at the front and the back of the charging station.
- LOW MAINTENANCE - Once set up, the LawnMaster L10 operates automatically and can be set to mow each day, or every other day depending on your lawn size, without the need for an app. It will charge itself and is so quiet you might even forget it's there.
- SOLID & RELIABLE - The LawnMaster L10 robotic lawn mower is from a brand you can trust. The L10 is tough, durable, IPX5 rated to be fully waterproof and comes with a 2 year manufacturer's warranty.
- ADJUSTABLE CUTTING HEIGHT: Choose from cutting heights of between 20mm and 60mm for a neat looking lawn. For best performance and to encourage healthy lawn growth use 60mm for longer grass and after regular mowing, gradually reduce the cutting height to your desired length.
- HIGH PERFORMING - The L10's mulching function returns tiny grass clippings and nutrients to the lawn, so your grass will look healthier, weeds will struggle to grow and there are no grass cuttings to dispose of. Navigates slopes of up to 35% (19°) inside the boundary area, and up to 17% (10°) at the boundary wire.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
- Ideal for medium gardens, the EasiLife 500 GO is a compact robotic lawn mower that automatically cuts up to 500m2 so you don’t have to – giving you a tidy lawn with zero effort.
- Mowing every corner of the lawn, the EasiLife 500 GO is packed with functions to suit your lifestyle and can automatically adapt its schedule based on the weather through LawnSense and FrostSense,
- No screens or complex programming, the LED indicators guide you for quick and easy control, with the Bluetooth app giving you full access to the robotic mowers extended settings - allowing you the set schedules and trouble shoot from the comfort of your home.
- Ultra quiet mowing at 58dB(A) means that you won’t disturb you or your neighbours when your robotic is mowing, allowing you to keep to a regular mowing schedule for a healthy greener lawn.
- The Intelligent guide wire allows for programmable start points for multiple cutting areas of lawn and efficiently guides the mower home without leading tracks. The PassageSense function also allows for the robotic mower to cut and navigate through narrow passages.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
- You only pay for the size you need. This model is designed for large gardens up to 500m2, and has a floating deck to deal with an undulating surface so it’s the perfect choice for more uneven lawns.
- Everything you need comes in the box, the mower has all the cables, wire and pegs you need for your size of lawn.
- The mower is plug and play. You don’t need to change settings if you don’t want to, it is pre-programmed with a schedule that suits your size of lawn but can be easily adjusted on the machine or via the App on your phone, from anywhere.
- Agile and smarter due to intelligent AIA technology, the turning pattern means it cuts your lawn 30% faster than other robot mowers, and doesn’t wear the edges of your lawn like others do with their continual reversing.
- All the cutting height adjustments you need for all grass conditions from 20-50mm for a neat and tidy lawn. Cutting width 180mm.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Alternative Options
If you have changed your mind and feel that a standard lawn mower may be better suited for you. If that is the case then why not check out some of our alternative buyers guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do robot lawn mowers come with a guarantee?
Yes! You will always find that robot lawn mowers come with a guarantee! This is usually between around 3 and 5 years for a good quality product. This won’t often include the blades though as these are usable parts that are going to wear over time.
How do robot lawn mowers collect the grass?
They don’t! Robot lawn mowers are known as mulching lawn mowers, which means that they cut up the grass cuttings into incredibly small pieces so that they can be spread back over the lawn without you even realising! This actually helps to improve the quality of your lawn, as all the nutrients from the grass goes back into the soil to be soaked up by the remaining grass roots!
How long does it take to charge a robot lawn mower?
This really depends on the brand of lawnmower and the battery that is included but it can range from around 3 hours to 8 hours for a full charge.
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