Robot Lawnmowers: The Future of Lawn Care?
Australians take great pride in their lawns. Pushing a chugging mower up and down the yard in a quest for neat and perfectly clipped grass is basically a national pastime; the hum of an old-school Victa against a backdrop of thrumming cicadas, one of the iconic sounds of summer.
But could this all be a thing of the past? Robot lawnmowers are relatively new to Australia and the market is small when compared to places in Europe, but there’s still a decent range of models available from well-known mower brands such as Husqvarna, Stihl, Gardena, and Worx.
While many of us have embraced robot vacuums for cleaning up inside our houses, what happens when you take the tech outside?
Pros of Robot Lawnmowers
You’ll never have to mow again
If the argument over whose turn it is to mow the lawn is a regular tiff in your house, a robot lawnmower could be the answer. The convenience of a bot that literally cuts your grass for you is the ultimate ‘pro’.
They’re quiet and fairly low maintenance
Mowing the lawn is traditionally quite a noisy business, but not with this new tech. Robot lawnmowers are also fairly low maintenance – you’ll need to keep your machine relatively clean and give it a service every now and again, but mostly you can just leave it to get the job done.
You can control them with your smartphone
Most of the newer robot lawnmower models have apps which allow you to control and schedule your mowing from your smartphone. Some apps are better than others, so check our reviews before you commit to a certain model to find out how easy the associated app is to use.
They’re safe to use
Robot lawnmowers do have a number of in-built safety features, such as blades that stop automatically when the mower is lifted, which means that they’re safe to use when the guidelines are followed.
Cons of Robot Lawnmowers
They’re expensive
If you have a robot lawnmower on your wish list, be prepared to outlay anywhere from $1200 up to tens of thousands of dollars. The models we’ve tested range in price from $1299 to $3639.
They can get stolen
While they have anti-theft security features, robot lawnmowers are portable machines that someone can certainly pick up off your lawn and carry away.
You’ll still have to rake or clear your lawn
If you have heavy leaf cover or lots of sticks or twigs about, you’ll have to rake these up first before letting your robot loose to ensure effective operation.
No neat lines like you get from a mower
Robot lawnmowers work randomly, so you won’t get those neat, satisfying lines we traditionally associate with freshly cut grass.
Should You Buy a Robot Lawnmower?
While robot lawnmowers can be an excellent and convenient option if you hate doing the lawn and you have the cash to spend, we’re not quite ready to relegate traditional mowers to the backseat just yet. Be sure to measure your lawn first to ensure you don’t buy a pricier model than you need, and check our expert robot lawnmower reviews to compare performance and features.
Overall, robot lawnmowers offer a convenient and futuristic solution to lawn care, but they come with a hefty price tag and some limitations. Whether or not they’re worth the investment depends on your lawn size, budget, and personal preferences.