The features you need to consider before buying a robotic mower

Interested in buying a robotic mower, but not sure where to start? Here are some helpful tips...

How to choose the best robotic mower for you

1. How big is your lawn? Choose a mower according to the upper limit on the size it can cut. Ideally you also want it to cover the area quickly and efficiently, so this means choosing one that turns instead of wasting time reversing, stopping and then moving off (this stop/start action can wear the edges of the lawn too). So, for instance, Worx claims that due to the Landroid’s unique turning pattern, it’s actually 30% faster than the competition.
2. The closer the mower can cut up to the edge of the lawn, the less time you have to spend cutting the fringe it leaves behind. The best robotic mowers on the market are the ones that cut up to the edge, leaving the smallest possible edge to trim that can be quickly and easily finished with a grass trimmer.
3. If you have a back and a front lawn, you need a mower that you can set up in zones to cover more than one area. It also needs to be able to move between them easily. If, for example, you have a narrow passage or strip of grass between the lawns, also look for a mower that won’t get stuck and will still cut that strip of grass as it travels between the zones.
4. It’s a good idea to choose a mower that has a weather sensor, as cutting a wet lawn is bad for the grass and the mower’s wheels can damage it if they slip in the mud. A rain sensor means your mower will automatically decide when to go out and cut the lawn, ceasing when it begins to rain, and then waiting for a time to allow the grass to dry before going out again.
5. Does your lawn have slopes, and if so, how steep are they? Make sure your mower can handle the gradients in your garden without slippage.
6. Charging stations are another consideration. Most robotic mowers have a large flat dock they sit on. These can take up a lot of room and look untidy in the garden, but the most advanced mowers will have more discrete docks on a grid-base that allows the grass to grow through them, almost hiding it.
7. If you have a garden of 300m2, your mower will be going out for 2 hours a day, 5 days a week (it will go out less if you have a smaller garden), so it needs durable blades that can cope with the continuous cutting. Look for a robotic mower that has a deck that rotates both ways while cutting. This optimises both sides of the double-sided cutting blades and reduces maintenance by half.
8. Some mowers work with an app, which provides an easy way to set it up and programme it, or adjust the schedule from anywhere, at any time. An app is also a great way to keep tabs on how much mowing your mower is doing and how many hours the blades have been in use, so you know when it’s time for a service or to replace the blades.
9. Is the mower future proof, or will you need to buy a new model if your needs change or you move? Look out for mowers that allow you to easily upgrade or add features. This also means you’re not paying for features you don’t need, but you have the option to add should you need them in the future.
10. Accident Collision Sensors are important. Most robotic mowers will bump into objects in front of them such as trees and garden furniture. This can cause damage to the mower or to the object it hits, plus it will have to stop, reverse and start over again, making it less efficient. Most mowers get around this by having you physically exclude them when you’re laying the boundary wire – but some mowers, like the Worx Landroid, can be fitted with ACS sensors that allow them to go towards the object and then curve around it. This saves time during cutting, as well as installation.