Which robot lawn mower cuts grass the best?
Keeping a lawn healthy and perfectly manicured requires several hours of maintenance every week. Usually on the weekend. That’s time you could spend pursuing more enjoyable activities. With a robot lawn mower that does the work for you, you can sit back, relax and enjoy the look and smell of fresh-cut grass.
How robot lawn mowers work
An autonomous mower uses a battery-operated motor with cutting blades and a simple mapping system that guides it over a lawn. Sensors and a low-voltage wire placed around the edge of the mowing area create a boundary it won’t cross. This keeps the mower from entering flower beds, garden paths, your neighbor’s lawn and the street. After it has finished, it returns to the charging dock.
Robotic lawn mowers move in a random pattern. Some have adjustable heights, but most work best when they operate more than once a week and cut only small amounts of grass.
Most mowers feature an onboard control panel. Here you can schedule cutting times, configure edges, create zones, troubleshoot and see your cutting history. The best robot mowers operate with apps for remote management, offering support for GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
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Robotic mowers are quieter than their gas-powered counterparts. Some operate in the 55 to 60 decibel range, while a typical gas-powered lawn mower generates 80 to 90 decibels.
What to look for in a robot lawn mower
Get the right size
Select a robot lawn mower designed for the size of your lawn. Larger mowers cut a wider path and cover more ground in less time. An undersized mower with less battery power may not finish the job on one charge.
Check the slope
Measure or estimate the gradient of your lawn. Most mowers work well on flat surfaces, but inclines can reduce performance and consume battery charge. Check the manufacturer’s rated gradient. Some claim up to a slope of 40 percent.
Deal with uneven land
If your lawn contains holes, divots or depressions, choose a mower designed to handle those impediments. Filling the depressions or routing the boundary wire around them may be an alternative.
Keep it sharp
Robot mowers don’t need oil, gas or spark plug changes. Instead, the cutting blades need changing every three to 12 months, depending on your use.
Best robot lawn mowers
Gardena Robotic Mower Sileno City
This mower is designed for lawns of up to 2,700 square feet and offers good cutting performance at an affordable price. It is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and lasts up to 65 minutes between charges. Sensors in the front bumper send a signal to stop the mower if it encounters any objects. The blades cut a 6.3-inch-wide path, adjustable to a height of between .8 and 2 inches. It handles lawns with a slope up to 35%.
Worx WR147 Robot Mower
If you have a lawn full of obstacles, Worx offers a sonar accessory for this mower that diverts it so it won’t hit anything. Its high-efficiency brushless motor is more powerful and runs longer than comparable mowers with brushed motors. A wide 8-inch cutting width helps mow up to a quarter acre. A floating blade disc raises the blades to prevent getting stuck or trapped when the mower encounters uneven terrain.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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