Owning a property with lawns means that mowing the yard is, at some point, going to be a hassle, especially during peak growing months, such as summer, when grass is at its fastest-growing and you can think of way too many tasks you have to do instead of mowing on a sunny afternoon.
That’s not the case anymore. Welcome to the era of the smart home, with an expanding catalogue of gadgets and technology to provide a break from daily chores, like the task of cutting your grass.
The robot-mower is a brilliant device which is currently gaining in popularity among our homes. These little guys will take care of most of the hard work of mowing while you relax with another iced drink.
These clever little mowers can also be controlled and tracked via smartphone apps for added convenience.
But, naturally, with technology, comes increased costs, so the question is, are robot-mowers worth it?
In this article, we are going to break down the advantages of having a robotic mower at home with helpful tips and advice to help you decide if robotic lawnmowers are worth spending your money on.
There are all sorts of reasons why a robotic mower is ‘worth it’
In order to expect value from purchasing a robotic mower, the robot needs to really impact your lifestyle. This means that a new automatic mower is going to fit in well with you, if:
- You take care of a large garden or property.
- You have manual difficulties and struggle with your own mobility, and would appreciate a machine to perform the actual yard work.
- Mowing the lawn is a chore you hate and wish a machine would do this for you.
- You are a very technical capable (smart devices) person and want to add more devices to your smart home.
- You would benefit from having a lawn that is low maintenance and managed by a robot.
But it is possible you do enjoy mowing your lawn, you own a mower that you have been very satisfied with, or perhaps you have a garden with difficult surfaces. In that case, you may not be able to have the best value in buying a robotic lawn mower.
Robotic mowers are a really useful invention
If you think about it, robot mowers make total sense as an invention.
They are basically robotic vacuum cleaners, except, instead of sucking up your dust and dirt, they have blades to cut your grass.
These robots can roam around your garden whilst they’re cutting your grass. You have complete control over the areas they mow and the timings at which they mow, day, or night.
Though they are the future of garden care, robotic mowers have a long history
Do you know that robots mowers were one of the first types of robot to be developed and marketed to be used to compete domestic tasks. In 1969, the MowBot, the worlds first robotic mower was conceptualised.
Advancement in the automation technology and cutting engineering made them more attractive to householders and by the early 21st century, robotic mowers had become the 2nd largest category of domestic robots.
So, what are the benefits of a robotic lawn mower?
Robot lawn mowers are gaining popularity due to their impressive benefits for busy families. They rank among the most practical smart home appliances! Here is a selection of just some of the many benefits:
Robotic mowers are energy efficient
Although they may appear to be expensive up front, expect them to run at an inexpensive operating cost over time. The mowers are battery-powered, and their electric motors are built to be very efficient.
Robotic mowers save you time
One of the key features of these robots is the time savings they present, running autonomously around the clock to maintain your lawn at its peak. You can then use that time to enjoy your yard vs. maintaining it.
Robots are probably the safest mowers you can own
Compared to some manual mowers, scythes, and shears, robotic mowers are ultimately safer for your kids and animals. They have the most current safety technology and features available which will shut down the mower if it is touched, tilted, or lifted.
Multiple security features protect robotic mowers from theft
Robberies already know that these mowers are GPS-enabled and can be tracked easily.
In addition, most robotic mowers have a PIN lock on their control panel and may be alarmed.
Save storage space
You won’t need to find clumsy storage for large machines, and you won’t have to navigate miles of cables. These robotic mowers can live and work outside year-round, returning to an outdoor charging station to reset their batteries.
If you need to bring them in over the winter, robots are small enough to be kept in a size similar to a standard lawn mower.
Zero grass cuttings
Robotic mowers cut your grass into a fine mulch that you won’t need to bag and pick up.
These grass clippings will eventually fertilize the ground around your lawn and improve the health of ornamentals and trees.
Robotic mowers can handle a variety of terrain
Day-to-day robotic mowers these days are able to mow grass at an angle of up to 40%. They will have sturdily constructed wheels to grip the ground, and a mowing deck that will levels the blade as the mower moves.
Robotic mowers do have their drawbacks too…
Robotic mowers are a simple solution for maintaining your garden, but they do have their faults. Here are a few disadvantages of owning a robotic mower:
It’s going to cost you
You can expect a solid quality mower to cost you not less than $500. With this level of technology and engineering, it is going to be costly, and of course, the costs go up once you start looking at the features and specifications that make them so easy to use.
You may still find yourself reaching for the strimmer
The design of robotic mowers makes it difficult for them to cut the edges of your lawn. While they are effective in open areas, they struggle with narrow areas, corners and thick brush.
Robotic mowers are not fast
These mowers will cover the whole lawn in a random, algorithmic, calculated mowing pattern and it will take a while to cover your entire lawn. Don’t expect a fast job, as these mowers are always working in your garden to keep your grass at a programmed height.
Batteries have a finite lifespan
A downside to modern technology in general is the battery. Robotic mowers are no different in this aspect.
This can cause a concern especially for some people with very large yards. The robot has to recharge itself and then mow again which prolongs mowing the yard.
Another thing to consider is the battery life of the robotic mower you purchase. Like most smart devices, after about a year or two it will need to be replaced.
Rounding up
These intelligent devices can be exceptional if you have a substantial amount of grass to mow.
They allow you to do something else rather than push a mower around the yard, and they are safe and low maintenance.
Why not explore some other conversational pieces on robotic mowers so you can familiarize yourself with what they can do for your garden and some of the great models available?