Robotic Lawn Mowers Review
Searching for new, innovative gardening equipment has led me to, amongst other things, Robotic Lawn Mowers.
As a professional gardener I am always on the look out for ways to improve my work day and to also provide a better service to my clients. I also try to be as environmentally friendly as I possibly can within my work.
I have invested in cordless, rechargeable mowers in order to cut down on fuel usage and noise pollution. As well as cordless tools being more beneficial to my surrounding environment they also benefit me personally in terms of gaining time.
They are, more importantly, not so heavy to use as petrol mowers, therefore prove better for me physically too.
This latest garden trend is gaining interest rapidly as more and more people come into contact with them at garden shows, fairs and exhibitions.
I am going to take a further look at which brands are making the cut and give you my take on robot mowers…their usability, capabilities and value for money. My article is a robot lawn mowers comparison, featuring five most well known manufacturers.
I may earn commission by qualifying purchases when you shop via the links in this article.
I have included robotic lawn mowers reviews on the following 5 manufacturers products:
- Husqvarna
- Flymo
- McCulloch
- Bosch
- Gardena
How Do Robotic Lawn Mowers Work?
They work in much the same way as a robotic vacuum cleaner. Once set up a robot vacuum does the carpet vacuuming for you. A robotic mower does the same by cutting your lawn for you.
It works on a computerised memory of the size and shape of your lawn.
A perimeter wire has to be installed around the edges of your lawn to tell the robot mower where it has to go. The mower needs to know where the edges of your lawn are.
Robotic lawn mowers are mulching mowers, they do not collect the grass clippings but instead cut them very fine and scatters them as it goes. The clippings decompose and nutrients go back into the soil. You don’t have a grass box to empty.
Some more advanced mowers have the capability to map out your lawn, then use the most efficient route.
More advanced models will manoeuvre around flower beds, furniture, toys, structures etc with ease and don’t even require perimeter lines. You just turn them on and off they go, while you sit back and enjoy a nice drink or two…wine in my case.
Or, indeed, you have time to deal with other chores in the garden.
What You Need to Consider Before Choosing your Robotic Mower
First of all…what is the size of your lawn?
Some robotic mowers are ideal for small lawns, but you may have a larger space that would generally need a ride on mower, there are robotic lawn mowers designed for lawns up to 3600sq meters, which is nearly an acre.
Also consider whether your lawn is flat, the basic, less expensive models are sufficient for flat lawns, however, we don’t all have a perfectly flat, straight lawn so you may need a more substantial device that can handle slopes.
Robotic mowers require a docking/recharging station, you need to think where this going to be situated. Somewhere secure that is on a level with your lawn so that the mower can come and go un-aided. Also, if you have children or pets then safety considerations apply too in terms of making sure children or pets don’t come into contact with your robot mower when it is in operation.
Some mowers require you to physically replace them back in the docking station after use, others will make their own way back.
All these considerations will determine the type of mower you may need and at what cost they are to purchase.
I would recommend some basic care and maintenance before storing your robotic lawn mowers during winter.
They should be cleaned and wiped dry
Store in dry, frost-free conditions.
Also store their docking station indoors over the winter.
The wire installation can remain in the lawn.
All I need is one of these mowers to cook my dinner, pour me a glass of wine after it’s cut the lawn and then trundle back to its docking station. Perfect.
Husqvarna Automatic Robotic Lawn Mower
Best Place to Buy: Amazon
Husqvarna are one of the worlds leading manufacturers of robotic lawnmowers. A three year warranty ensures confidence in this products ability to perform. It can cut on slopes up to 45% gradient with a cutting height of 20-60mm. The height is controlled via an electric height adjustment mechanism.
Easy to instal and programme, these mowers are a great buy and remain one of the most reliable.
Quality design means the Husqvarna can negotiate the challenges of large and complex lawns. Multiple narrow passages, obstacles, tough terrain and slopes are no problem for this little machine. Navigation is GPS assisted and, with a host of other features including Automower® Connect it the intelligent choice to keep your lawn green, healthy and perfectly maintained. Remote Object Detection enables higher mowing speed and area capacity.
Specifications
- Cutting height 20-60mm
- 45% incline within programmed cutting area
Flymo 1200R
Also available from Tooled-Up
The Flymo Robotic Lawnmower 1200R does the lawn for you.
Effective and reliable.
As and when required, the robotic mower recharges itself at the charging station.
The easy to place boundary wire shows the 1200R where to mow.
The cutting height ranges from 2cm to 5cm and is adjusted with the settings knob.
Programming is quick and simple to do.
Different mowing times or days can also be programmed with the large selection panel.
After programming, the 1200R starts on its own at the set times.
The powerful, maintenance free lithium-ion 18 V /1.6 Ah battery ensures reliable and energy-saving operation.
The 1200 R
Highly sensitive collision sensors along with correctly installed boundary wire help the 1200R to avoid obstacles.
Safety features include a lift and tilt sensor, so if the mower is lifted, the blades automatically stop, preventing injuries.
There is a large, easy-access STOP button, which enables you to override the auto programme should you need to stop the mower.
The 1200R is suited for most garden types.
Pack includes:
- Docking Station
- Battery
- Power cable
- Perimeter wire
- Pegs
- Couplers and connectors
- Instructions Manual
Specifications
- Area 400sq meters
- 25% incline
McCulloch Rob 1000
Also available from Tooled-Up
Ideal for gardens up to 1000sq meters, the McCulloch ROB R1000 is fully automatic.
Simple to install and program.
ROB will automatically navigate the garden.
Can be programmed to run day or night.
When the battery is low the ROB R1000 returns to the docking station to recharge.
The “guide wire technology” ensures correct navigation of lawns, providing an even finish’s and cut.
Pack includes
- Docking Station
- Battery
- 200m of boundary wire
- 400 staples
- All necessary connectors for a quick and easy installation.
- Instructions Manual
Specifications
- Battery charge time 50 minutes
- Run time 65 minutes
- Area 1000sq meters
- 25% incline
Bosch Indego S+350
Also available from Tooled-Up
Bosch Indego S+ maps your lawn and cuts it in efficient parallel lines, it’s smart technology decides the optimum time to mow your lawn.
The Bosch Indego S+350 also has app control for convenience, making it easy to maintain beautiful lawns. It covers multiple areas with ease.
Pack includes
- Docking Station
- Docking Station fix screws
- Battery
- 125m perimeter wire
- 180 Fixing pegs
- Power supply unit
- Instructions Manual
Specifications
- Battery charge time 45 minutes
- Run time minutes 45minutes
- Area 350sq meters
- 27% incline
Gardena Smart Sileno
Gardena 4069 R80Li Robotic Lawnmower
Also available from Tooled-Up
The Gardena 4069 R80Li Robotic Lawnmower
It handles corridors and passages with ease, providing it is set up correctly initially. The Gardena Robotic Lawnmower can be operated in all weathers.
Pack includes
- Docking station
- Battery
- Fixing Pegs
- Perimeter wire
- Smart App
- Instructions
Specifications
- Battery charge time 60 minutes
- Battery run time 65 minutes
- Area 1250sq meters
- 35% incline
Free up some of your valuable time today and invest in one of these innovative robotic lawn mowers. They needn’t be the future, they can be your present. With a mower to suit most budgets and certainly every lawn type, isn’t it time to give yourself more freedom to do the garden jobs that you love the most? Or simply allow you to do nothing at all, sit back with a Gin and Tonic, or an ice-cold beer and let technology do the work. For further labour-saving, eco-friendly garden maintenance tools, go to my reviews page.
For more gardening know how, hints and tips regarding caring for you lawn go to my Garden Calendar page.
Get in touch via the comments box or contact details and let me know your thoughts on these great time-saving products.
Happy Gardening
hello, excellent reviews of the robotic lawn mowers. I got to know about this new mowers and the advance in technological development and I must say I love this a lot. I particularly like the fact that you can leave them to their selves while they engage in the cutting without putting too much work in unlike the manual mowers. Though ive never seen any in action before but definitely, I will get one of these to aid in maintaining my grass lawn. I like the Gardena Smart Sileno more on the list and I think it suits my specs well. Cheers
Hi there,
I’m pleased that you found the review useful. Gardens is a good choice, they have a range of them, as do Bosch.
I think they are great and they do what it says on the tin.
Put your feet up and enjoy hanging with a little robot.
People name them you know…😄
Thank you for taking time to leave a comment.
Best Wishes
Louise
Wow what a very interesting post, I have to admit, I had never heard of robotic lawn mowers till I read this post, thank you for not only introducing me to these lawn mowers but also your in depth description of them, they are also quite affordable, I may be purchasing one actually, thank you again for sharing this post Louise.
Russ
Hello Russ,
Quite a few folk have said they had not heard about them.
I believe too that they are a reasonable price. Some mowers, cordless, petrol or electric are similar prices but you have to do the work!. Better to let a robot do it for you.
Thank you for your interest
Louise
Hello admin, great post you put up here. My mum has always been gushing over this innovative robots and always said she wanted them for her lawn too. I too have personally seen them work and I think they’re great so I’ll be buying one. Thanks k you for reviewing, I’ll be getting the Gardena Smart Sileno since they work for larger gardens and I can use a simple app.
Hello,
Thank you for your comments.
I know it will save you time and I hope that you will be very satisfied with your purchase. Amazing isn’t it that you can maintain your lawn with a robot and App.
Best wishes
Louise
Thank you for reviewing these lawn mowers. I am actually in the market for one and I am interested in the Bosch Indigo and Flymo. Will look into these and review it further. Will click on your link once Im ready to purchase. I understand that you have to calibrate it and let the mower know where the corners are, but what if I have like stones set up in our lawn? Like the ones you step on? Is that going to be ok? What do you personally use though? and what would you recommend for a 55 sqm lawn? Thank you!
Hello,
Thank you for your interest. Either the flymo or the Bosch will be ideal for your size lawn. The stepping stones are not a problem if they lie level with the lawn.
I don’t use one at home, I work in gardening maintenance so I need mowers that I can take and use for various clients.
I have however, set up robotic mowers for those of my clients who purchased one, I have set up a variety of them for different size lawns.
Best wishes
Louise
Thank you for this article. I must admit I had no idea robotic lawnmowers existed at all. Not sure how has this invention passed me altogether; still very glad to find out about it. How fab they cut the grass so fine we don’t have to bother with emptying the box (my least favorite part of cutting the lawn), so only for that, the robotic lawnmowers will get my attention and one of them their place in my shed very, very soon.
Hello Alenka,
I am happy to have introduced you to these great time saving lawn mowers.
I love that we don’t have to empty a grass box too.
I hope one will be very happy in your shed! Although the docking station is placed outside, somewhere level with the lawn, once you have it all set up, the mower goes off and cuts your lawn then returns home to its docking station. You don’t even have to get it in and out of a shed. Brilliant
Best Wishes
Louise
I was actually talking with my neighbor and he told me about this a few days ago and I did not believe that something like this actually existed until after reading this post and seeing it with my own eyes. Really amazing. This would take a lot of load of my hands as I normally do this chore on a regular basis.
The size of my lawn is pretty large and making use of this robotic mower would be perfect although they are a bit pricey they would definitely be a good investment.
Hello Jay,
I believe they are a good investment too.
They free up a lot of your time, especially if you have a large lawn area.
I’ve been surprised how many people say they haven’t heard about them.
Best wishes and happy mowing.
Louise
I saw one of these at my local hardware store! I was wondering what they did and how they did it. Thank you for answering my question. I really appreciate knowing that you need to watch kids and pets (which I have a lot of both!) around them.
Hi Karen, Thankyou for taking time to read and comment on my review.
These robotic mowers are clever in that you can program them to mow the lawn whenever you want it to.
So in regard to children and pets, it could do the lawn at night, early morning or any time convenient to you when there are no children or pets around.
All the best
Louise
Hello; your information about robotic lawnmower proves helpful to me one who is always pressed for time. Among the four listed LawnMowers, don’t you think it advisable for me to choose the one that fits the size of my lawn?
I think it would save on something, whatever, so for a match to my not so large lawn, I decide on buying the Flymo1200R. Thanks for helping
DorcasW
Hello Dorcas, yes indeed you would choose the one suitable for your lawn size.
They really are a time saver.
Thank you for popping by and commenting
Best Wishes
Louise
Thank you for the education on Robotic Lawn Mowers! I saw one briefly at Home Depot and was wondering how they work. How much trouble is it to place the outer wire around your lawn? Can you leave it, or does it need supervision?
I’m not sure my lawn is a candidate for this because I have a lot of brush and trees, but I can see how someone in a sub division could really use it!
Hello,
The wire is straight forward to install and once done, can be left, nothing needs to be done with it.
I understand what you mean about trees. The wire could be placed around them too though, but if you have a lot it would take awhile to do that.
Thank you for your interest.
All the best
Louise
Wow what brilliant informative blog, I have always wanted one of these but been unsure which one to get, I love the app you can get to control the mower. The fine cut you get from these mowers will keep the lawn looking pristine all summer long .
They are great products, very easy to set up.
The two with apps are the Bosch Indego S+350 and the Gardena SmART Sileno so now you have narrowed your choice down to two robotic lawn mowers. Let me know which you decide on and how you get on with it.
Louise
My dads been looking at these for sometime now, will direct him to your blog, hopefully this will encourage him to buy one soon. Keep telling him they are easily set up.
Hi there,
Yes they are very easy to set up and once done you don’t have to do so again. In winter store the mower and the docking station in a dry, safe storage area, i.e. garage or shed but the guide lines can stay in
the garden. Easy!
Thank you
Louise
Wow, we sure has come a long way in terms of lawn mowing and it is great. Now my only concern is that someone might just snatch it when I am not looking. Anyways, I have to do other yard’s work then 😉 Gardena 19064-68 Smart Sileno+ Set Robotic Lawnmower and Flymo caught my attention. Thank you so much for your review, will have to talk to my husband about this.
Cheers!
Hello Nuttanee,
Thank you for your comments, technology for garden equipment and household equipment certainly has come a long way. In regard to your concerns over security, I would advise that the docking station is placed out of view in an area that is as secure as possible, providing that the mower can still manoeuvre to the lawn area. Unfortunately garden tools are just as vulnerable to thieves as any other valuable equipment.
Louise
Hi Louise! My garden is complex and I was wondering, as I read your post, if there would be a robotic lawn mower for me. I’m excited to find that Gardena Smart Sileno is what I had in mind. My garden is 1400 sq meters.
And I must also say that the design of this lawn mower is simply awesome. Seems like a robotic car from outter space. Thanks for reviewing it!
Hello Paolo,
Thank you for your comments.
I always think they look like little cars too, I think they are an amazing piece of equipment, the Gardena Smart Sileno would be ideal for your garden. If there are separate lawns with paths to them it can handle these with ease too, if it is set up correctly.
Thank you for sharing your article with us. I must admit I had no idea robotic lawn mowers existed. Still very glad to find out about it on your article the way they cut the grass is amazing. If l may ask one question are those robotic lawn mowers available in all the countries yet? If not yet how does one get it when based in South Africa. I have asked around from my close friends if they knew robotic lawn mowers none of them knows they even exist. I am very sure not a lot of people in my country knows about it. Great post!
Hello Fiona, thank you for commenting on my post about robotic lawn mowers, I checked on Amazon and I am sure that you can get them in South Africa from their site but I couldn’t find any details of shipping and import fees. Take a look on there.
Thank you
Louise
Hi, Louise.
Thanks for sharing your review of robotic lawnmowers. To own one as my personal equipment has always been my dream while working tediously in my garden. All the four variants you described are having stunning looks and excellent features. The points you described to consider before purchase made the whole article very useful. I liked the McCulloch Rob 1000 model in particular.
Warm Regards,
Gaurav Gaur
Hello Gaurav, thank you for your comments, not many people know about robotic mowers yet so I thought it best to provide as much information possible so that everyone who reads my robotic lawn mowers review have a better idea of one would be suitable for them.
I am happy that you found the information useful.
Thank you
Louise
Robotic lawn mowers maintain a consistent grass height by mowing more often. They obey the 1/3 rule of grass cutting. That is, only one third of the height of your grass should be cut at each mowing. This is the healthiest way to mow your lawn.
Hello,
Thank you for your comments. Indeed, robotic mowers make maintaining a healthy lawn all the easier!
Hello Louise,
I have been wondering about getting one of these robotic lawn mowers for my lawn. It would save a lot of time and effort. As with all your garden product reviews this article has a lot of information and details which I appreciate. I think I will get the Bosch indego S+350 because I have bought other Bosch garden tools following your recommendations and I am extremely happy with their performance.
Thank you very much
Alison
Hello Alison,
Thank you for visiting PlantsBulbsSeeds.com again. I am pleased to hear that you are thinking of investing in the Bosch Indego S+350 I believe you will be very happy with it.
Especially when you are watching cut your lawn while you’re relaxing.
Best Wishes
Louise