Robot Lawnmowers

Robotic Lawnmowers: The Future of Lawn Care is Here

If you had told me fifteen years ago that a machine would be cutting my grass while I slept, I would have laughed. Today, Robotic Lawnmowers are the fastest-growing sector in our industry.

At Compass GM, we find that customers are initially skeptical. They worry about theft, complexity, or whether the robot can handle their “messy” garden. But after seeing models from Stiga, Segway, and Mountfield in action, the vast majority never look back. It isn’t just about saving time; in my experience, a robot actually gives you a better lawn than you can achieve by hand.

What Are They?

A robotic mower is a battery-operated, autonomous machine that lives in your garden. It sits on a charging station, wakes up on a schedule you set (via an app on your phone), cuts the grass, and returns to charge when its battery is low.

There are two main types we now stock:

1. Wired (Boundary Wire): You lay a wire around the edge of your lawn (pegged down or buried). The robot stays inside this “fence.” These are reliable and cost-effective.

2. Wireless (GPS/RTK): The new generation, like the Segway Navimow or Stiga A-Series. These use satellites to map your garden virtually. No wires to break, and you can change the mowing zone instantly on your phone.

Who Should Buy One?

Robots are for people who want a perfect lawn but don’t want to spend their Saturday mornings pushing a mower.

You will benefit most if:

• You have a busy lifestyle: You want the grass cut while you are at work or on holiday.

• You have hay fever: Because you aren’t walking behind a mower kicking up pollen, many of our customers find their allergies improve.

• You want a “carpet-like” finish: Robots don’t cut long grass; they trim tiny amounts every day. This “micro-mulching” feeds the lawn constantly, making it thicker, greener, and moss-free.

Advantages: Why Automation Wins

• The “Golf Course” Look: Because the robot cuts little and often (sometimes daily), the grass never gets stressed. It grows sideways rather than upwards, creating a dense mat that weeds struggle to penetrate.

• Silence: You can run these machines at 6 AM or 10 PM. They are whisper-quiet.

• Slope Handling: You might be surprised, but many robots are better at hills than you are. With sophisticated traction control, some models can handle 45% slopes that would be dangerous to tackle with a heavy petrol mower.

• Connectivity: Modern apps allow you to “park” the mower if you’re having a BBQ, or adjust the cutting height from your sofa.

Possible Disadvantages

• Initial Cost: A good robot setup is an investment. It is generally more expensive upfront than a standard petrol mower, though the running costs (electricity vs petrol) are minuscule.

• Setup Time: A wired system takes a few hours to install correctly (pegging the wire). Wireless systems are faster but require a clear view of the sky for GPS.

• Garden Cleanup: A robot cannot move your kids’ football, the dog’s toys, or a hosepipe. You have to keep the lawn clear of obstacles, or the robot will stop with an error message.

Suitability Checklist

Ideally Suited For:

• Open Lawns: Whether 300m² or 3000m², if the area is relatively clear, a robot excels.

• Complex Gardens (Wireless Models): If you have multiple lawn areas separated by a path, a wireless GPS robot can drive itself from one zone to another without needing a continuous wire loop.

• Tech-Savvy Gardeners: You get the most out of these machines if you are comfortable using a smartphone app.

Not Suitable For:

• Rough Paddocks: Robots need a relatively smooth surface. They will get stuck in deep ruts or rabbit holes.

• Very Long Grass: You cannot send a robot into 6-inch-high grass. You must cut it short with a normal mower first, then let the robot maintain it.

• Heavily Wooded Areas (Wireless Models): If your garden is under a dense canopy of oak trees, a GPS mower might lose its satellite signal. In this case, a wired model is the better choice.

Maintenance: Blades and Cleaning

Maintenance is minimal, but crucial for performance.

• Blade Changing: Robots use tiny, razor-like blades (similar to a scalpel). In our experience, these need changing every 4-8 weeks depending on usage. It takes 5 minutes and a screwdriver. If you don’t change them, they blunt and “shred” the grass tips, turning your lawn white/brown.

• Cleaning: Don’t use a pressure washer! Most robots are waterproof to rain, not high-pressure jets. Use a stiff brush to clean dried grass from the wheels and underside.

• Winter Hotel: Electronic batteries do not like freezing temperatures. We always advise customers to bring the robot (and its charging station if possible) indoors for the winter. Many of our customers use our Winter Service where we update the software, test the battery, and store it for them.