What if your lawn could run itself and you wouldn’t have to ever touch a lawnmower again?
This is the dream of a robot lawn mower, an efficient and completely hands-off device that will trim your lawn even when you’re sipping on coffee, doing work, or just sitting around. Almost too perfect to be true? Well, many Americans are asking themselves that very question as they consider buying new, self-driving mowers that resemble tiny ATVs.
In this blog post, I’m going to try and answer the question of whether robot lawn mowers are worth purchasing for the typical American homeowner.
How a Robot Lawn Mower Works
A robot lawn mower is simply a small machine with batteries which cuts your grass automatically. It does its work according to a predetermined schedule programmed in either an app or a remote control, and does its job while making low buzzing sounds.
The standard method by which robot lawn mowers determine their boundaries consists of setting up boundary wires beneath the surface of your lawn. The robot follows the boundary wires as per its programming and avoids any areas outside of the predetermined boundaries, such as flowerbeds, driveways, and streets.
The Big Selling Point: Time and Effort
In case you live in America and have the common lawn in the suburbs, lawn mowing is something that will take a couple of hours each weekend for you to do. With the robotic mowers, you save this much time since their cuttings tend to be shorter, sometimes even daily, thus keeping your lawn well-maintained without requiring lots of effort.
The fact that the mowers are portable, lightweight, and operate quietly means that it will be possible to use them while working from home or when children are out playing.
What They’re Great At
There are some special instances where robot mowers excel. For example, if you have a small or moderate-sized yard (under one acre), on a flat or mildly sloped property, it will be able to provide you with excellent coverage. The best robot mower is capable of providing a better result compared to many manually operated walk-behind mowers since it cuts regularly and at a light rate, with nothing but small clumps left behind.
Another surprising benefit of robotic lawn mowers is their ability to handle slopes. They are often designed to cope with slopes ranging between 30-35 degrees, which is significantly higher than many other types of mowers can offer.
The Hidden Drawbacks
However convenient, the robot lawnmower is not without its flaws. Firstly, robot lawn mowers don’t come with grass catchers, and therefore the cuttings end up on the ground. This could prove beneficial in terms of fertilization, but in case you trim too much, you might have some bunches.
Secondly, the setup process is quite demanding. Installing boundary wires on a large plot takes several hours, and many prefer to entrust the task to professionals. Thirdly, if your plot is covered in toys, gardening tools, and other obstacles, chances are the mower will run into trouble frequently.
Cost vs. Value
Robot mowers are quite expensive machines. The entry level ones begin from about 500 to 800 dollars. The advanced models with a set of additional functions cost between 1,000 and 2,500 dollars. Such money would also be enough for buying a decent ride-on lawn mower or a premium push mower.
In conclusion, one should wonder whether he is buying time or comfort. For those who are always busy or are simply sick and tired of mowing, the additional expense may seem reasonable. In the case when money matters, it will be better to settle for the ordinary mower.
When They’re Worth It
It makes sense to purchase a robotic mower for those cases when you have a small garden that is fenced and does not contain many obstacles. If you happen to live in an area where gardens are not large, and you want everything in a neat condition without any extra effort, then buying such a product is a rational choice.
Moreover, robotic mowers are also suitable for people who have gardens on the slopes or those who have problems walking. Besides, if you just dislike loud noisy gasoline lawn mowers, then such an invention will suit you perfectly.
When They’re Not Worth It
A robot lawn mower will not prove to be effective if you have a really big plot of land, say one acre or above. Consumer-grade robots can cover only about an acre of land while commercial-grade units can cost a fortune. The better choice would be a riding mower or zero-turn mower for large plots.
Another instance where a robot mower won’t work well is when your garden features many potholes and holes, tree roots, so on. You may waste much effort fixing the issue which defeats the whole purpose.
Final Thoughts
Robotic mowers will not completely replace conventional lawn mowers, although for certain Americans, they represent an excellent purchase. Those who appreciate a well-maintained and manicured lawn, have average-sized yards, and do not mind investing time into installation and maintenance of such devices will definitely benefit from using robotic mowers.
In order to figure out whether a robot lawn mower is the best purchase for you, ask yourself: “How do I feel about the activity of mowing lawns, and how valuable is my time?”
FAQs
1. Will the robot mower mow my huge yard?
Consumer-grade robot mowers are designed for small or moderately sized lawns. Traditional ride-on or zero-turn mowers may be more appropriate for larger properties.
2. Are these mowers pet and kid-friendly?
These mowers are equipped with sensors which detect any tipping of the device and stop the blades, but they won’t recognize your children’s or pets’ toys or presence on the lawn. Try to keep the lawn free and be present during the operation of your lawn mower.
3. Will these devices mow equally well as a conventional mower?
If your lawn is relatively small and evenly grown, then robot lawn mowers will definitely do the job as well as conventional mowers due to their ability to cut grass repeatedly and lightly, resulting in lush grass cover. However, on large and uneven terrains, their performance may be lower than that of push or ride-on mowers.
4. What is the lifespan of these products?
The battery and motors used in robot lawn mowers should easily last you up to 6-10 years of intensive use and regular charging before you will need to replace them.
5. Can they climb hills and slopes?
Most machines are suitable for working on slopes with inclines of 20-35 degrees, which is great since the United States has plenty of hilly gardens. Be sure to verify the specifications of the model you have purchased.
