Robot mower — have you heard of it?
I am one of those women who remain unmoved by jewellery shop windows and other fripperies. My bank would be grateful if I weren't irresistibly drawn to the window of my local garden machinery shop. And among recent innovations, one in particular catches my attention: the robot mower.
To be honest, at first I looked at the machine with a touch of disdain, suspecting it was one of those gadgets that go mad and maim the cat at the first storm. But after watching demonstrations, my condescension faded. It even turned into genuine interest once I started seeing these robot mowers on some of my favourite blogs.
Since the purchase represents a sizeable outlay, I propose sharing my thoughts on the subject here.
Robot mower: advantages
- The robot is autonomous — it gets on with life… not exactly groundbreaking, that is the principle of a robot. What makes the difference is that it works even when you are not there (remember how your lawn looked after your last holiday…) and in almost any weather. You no longer need to wait for a favourable weather window to tidy the garden. The robot takes care of it, even in the rain.
- Under its shell, it’s Edward Scissorhands; its blades are honed like real razors. The cut quality has therefore nothing to do with that of our best conventional mowers.
- The appearance of the lawn improves quickly because the robot mower is the Queen of mulching. Combined with more frequent, and therefore lighter, cuts, mulching produces a greener turf. Grass blades break down in no time and feed the grasses. The result is rapid: less moss and adventive weeds... and no waste!
- Robot mowers are nearly silent. Their noise level is around 65 dB, roughly the sound of a normal conversation. They can therefore operate, even on a Sunday, without likely disturbance to immediate neighbours.
- The weight of robot mowers is reasonable, which makes them economical. They run on batteries charged from mains electricity. And even if that electricity partly comes from nuclear power, they do not emit polluting gases like our old petrol lawnmowers. Their running costs are far lower than fuel costs and they can almost be considered environmentally friendly.
- The robot mower is virtually maintenance-free: no oil changes or filters to replace… only regular blade changes and occasional cleaning are required.
Robot mower: drawbacks
- The robot mower is costly (between €1,299 and €3,999 including VAT for the smallest Husqvarna models) and the larger and more uneven the terrain, the higher the price…
- The robot mower is best suited to established gardens and gardeners set in their ways. More obedient than intelligent, the “cyber-sheep” needs boundaries laid out by a perimeter wire that is sometimes laid on the surface or buried. This installation, although simple, is nevertheless fiddly. This commissioning step is often offered when purchasing the mower. Once the wire is in place, expanding a flower bed requires careful thought…
- Although some models are now designed to mow very close to set limits, there is always a narrow strip of grass around beds and trees that will need attending with a strimmer. Depending on your garden’s layout, this small chore may take more or less time.
- While large obstacles (molehills) stop it dead, the mower is less discerning about small items (branches, neglected children's toys…) which it will slice through without mercy, or worse, which will damage its blades.
A cyber-sheep at my place soon?
Given the many advantages, it would almost be sensible to give in, right?
Well, no, not a robot mower for my garden! At least, not this year.
Because although objectively it’s a rather clever purchase, I say it loud and clear: I love mowing. In my meadow I have complete freedom: I let the grass grow and cut paths wherever I fancy. And perhaps because my parents refused me a moped, I admit I enjoy the spirited drive of my little ride-on mower. Hair in the wind, helmet on my ears, I don’t recognise anyone…
And you, is the robot mower catching your eye? Maybe you already own one... Tell us!
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