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Proper mulching blades and stainless
fittings. These stayed clean throughout
the test. Simple console with intuitive
programming. Very neat. Simple manual
cutting height adjustment. You don’t
have to chase it around when you want
to charge it; there’s a home button on
the docking station, which makes it come
home on demand.”
7. Good first-time robot. Fair for small lawns Flymo 1200R £999
Replacement battery £99 (life expectancy
1-3 years); replacement blades £4.40 a
set, three sets included (0844 844 4558;
flymo.co.uk)
Suitable for lawns up to 400sq m.
Tester comments “This doesn’t fly but
it does mow and it’s very orange. The
programming system is reasonably
easy. It’s compact, but a bit ‘rinky dink’.
Suitable for small areas. There are
three independent ‘floating’ blades. The
cutting height is easy to adjust with the
manualscrew.”
The verdict
If you can afford the outlay, aren’t physically
able to mow, don’t have the time or simply
hate it, then a robot is worth considering.
But you could get someone in to do it for
you, providing local employment. For larger
areas, a robot can be a hi-tech solution, but
they need some attention. What’s more,
they don’t all cut up to or over the boundary
line, so you may still need to edge the lawn
manually. “You can’t buy one thinking you
will never have to worry about the grass
again,” says Charlotte Allen, head gardener
at Montacute. “You still have to clean it
and make sure it hasn’t found any mole
hills or twigs that have fallen on the ground
overnight. It is not something that you can
completely forget about.”
Visit Montacute and test a mower
Montacute is open daily, 10am-5pm, until
end October. The robot mowers will be left
working in situ over the Easter weekend
and beyond, so if you are thinking of buying
one, this is a great chance to see them
working (possibly the only place in the
world!). There are also six push-mowers to
try, weather permitting, if you visit on a
Tuesday or Thursday afternoon. Please
check with the garden before travelling to
avoid disappointment (01935 823289;
nationaltrust.org.uk)
Dozens of silent, streamlined pods are dawdling along domestic lawns, feeding on grass tips and returning to small kennels to recharge
their batteries before heading out to graze again. It’s not a new phenomenon and, like many of the aliens arriving on our shores, they spread like wildfire in Europe first and have been relatively slow to take hold in Britain. The first robots were launched in Britain in the mid Nineties, but this year it’s expected to be the largest-growing sector in the British lawnmower market. With spring still a figment of our imagination it’s easy to forget that the grass is raring to grow. But in a matter of weeks the cold weather will be a distant memory and you’ll wonder why you weren’t prepared. With concerns for the environment high on the agenda and green credentials a vital consideration, will your next lawnmower be one of these hi-tech battery-powered robots? Despite the the risk of snow, we asked seven manufacturers to set up their robots on the extensive lawns of the exquisite National Trust garden at Montacute House in Somerset. Head gardener Charlotte Allen and engineering and machinery volunteer John Perring, plus a team of four gardeners, rated their performance.
Robot basics
Robotic lawnmowers are designed predominately for simply shaped, level lawns. The mower is controlled by a boundary wire, which is either pegged or buried around the perimeter of the lawn.
The robot works within this space. Normally a docking station is positioned on the boundary, although a few basic models (not included in this test) don’t have docking stations and are simply recharged by the user elsewhere.
The docking station needs an electricity source. Most have a generous cable, but you may need to add an earthed extension lead for remote lawns.
The mower returns to and recharges in the docking station when the battery charge drops below a certain level. The mowers usually cut randomly, cutting the tips of the grass every time they pass over. Initially, the mower is set to a high cut to get the area even and then the cutting height is reduced gradually over several weeks. Most will cope with slopes. The clippings are cut finely and recycled back into the lawn in a mulching mower technique.
Most have pin codes and alarms to prevent theft (although that won’t stop someone picking them up and carrying them off). Auto stops, lift/tilt sensors, blade stops and bump sensors are fitted to prevent unauthorised operation and ensure child/pet safety. Compared with a petrol mower, servicing costs are minimal, although a new battery can cost between £100 and £300. Replacement blades are the usual consumables; their longevity depends on the lawn conditions and area of cut.
Running costs are minimal (between around £14 and £34 a year depending on the robot and your lawn size), especially compared with a petrol machine that could consume hundreds of pounds of fuel each season, as well as engine oil and an essential annual service. Robots need cleaning, a diagnostic check and possibly a software update. Few parts except replacement blades are required.
Their green credentials are pretty good too: no harmful emissions, low noise and low energy consumption. Robo-mowers recycle the grass clippings back to the lawn, which adds nutrients, reduces the need for chemical fertilisers and reduces composting gases.
The test
Seven of the latest robot lawnmowers were installed onto separate formal lawn areas at Montacute. They were left running for approximately two weeks.
Robots v lawn
Cut above: Jean Vernon, left, and Charlotte Allen put the latest robo-mowers to the test
CH
RIS
TO
PH
ER
JO
NE
S
1. Best for large lawns and rough grassRobomow RS630 £2,499
Replacement battery £239 (life expectancy
4-5 years); replacement blades £55 for set
of two (life expectancy two years). Smaller
models from £899 (0845 4588 905;
robomow.com; mail order mowdirect.co.uk)
Cuts lawns up to 3,000sq m and longer
grass up to 6in (15cm), so can be used for
first cut of season. Built-in temperature and
rain sensors that protect the battery. A
winter charger is included. Optional remote
control £49.
Tester comments “A chunky machine with
two solid cutters that give the widest cut
of those tested. It’s powerful and worked
through the early longer grass with ease
and coped well with the wet grass. This
mower didn’t go out during the colder
weather, which is a good feature — you don’t
want to cut frosty grass. The heaviest one
to transport (19kg) but has a good solid
handle. The user display is the least intuitive.
It can be rigged with a remote control, so
that you can use it on separate, smaller
areas of lawn.”
2. Good for large lawnsHusqvarna Automower 220AC
£1,999.99
Replacement battery £99 (life expectancy
2-4 seasons); replacement blades £4.40 a
set; three sets included (0844 243 5263;
husqvarna.com/uk)
Cuts lawns up to 1,800sq m. Optional
extras include GPS communication and
anti theft protection system (£399.99)
or two-way SMS text system to alter the
settings (£179.99). An iPhone app is also
available that lets you start, stop and
change the timer settings remotely.
Tester comments “This mower does
what it is supposed to do. The shell is
quite thin and plasticky. There is a
proper keypad for programming which
is fairly easy to use. Fitted with a good
stop button.”
3. Good, solid blades John Deere Tango E5 £2,090
Replacement battery £240 (life expectancy
5-10 years); replacement blades £25
(0800 085 2522; johndeere.co.uk)
Suitable for lawns up to 1,800sq m. High-
strength four-pronged star-shaped steel
blade. Double-wall construction for stability
and longevity.
Tester comments “Classic John Deere
livery that resembles a tractor bonnet. This
machine has a good solid blade that mows
the grass on the first cut reasonably well.
Manual cutting height adjustment is easy to
use. It is quite heavy (16kg) and bulky.”
4. Parallel cutting actionBosch Indego £1,299
Replacement battery £300 (life expectancy
5+ years); replacement blades £15.99
(0844 7360 109; bosch-garden.co.uk)
Suitable for lawns up to 1,000sq m.
Integrated parallel cutting strategy mows
in consecutive rows to ensure complete
coverage. Mower chooses the most
effective route to mow each time it goes
out and starts in a new position each time,
protecting against over-mowing.
Tester comments “Disappointingly noisy
in use. The deck on this machine clogged
up during use. It’s not very aesthetically
pleasing and a bit plasticky. It cuts in
parallel lines but it doesn’t cut the lines in
the same direction each time, so the lawn
looks untidy initially. The cutting height is
easily manually adjusted. It’s fiddly to
programme but the operating panel is
easy and intuitive. Ridiculously large
instruction manual and don’t like the
green colour; it’s fine for an electric drill
but not on the lawn.”
5.Joint favouriteHonda Miimo 500 £2,235
Replacement battery £140 (life expectancy
5-8 years); replacement blades £10 for
three (should last one season). A smaller
Miimo 300 costs £1,990 (0845 200 8000;
honda.co.uk/garden)
Suitable for larger, complex gardens with
several boundaries and obstacles. Cuts up
to 20cm from boundary. Three cutting
modes. Floating shatterproof blades.
Tester comments “This one is pretty fast
and hard to catch. It’s neat and it’s got the
fun factor. Good ergonomics and has a full
keyboard for easy programming. It has a
very narrow cut and initially the lawn looks
like a rabbit has run through it, but it soon
cuts to length. It’s cute and it beeps a lot.
The cutting height is easy to adjust manually
through five steps.”
6. Joint favourite (best for medium-sized lawns)AL-KO Robolinho 3000 £1,699
Replacement battery £195 (life expectancy
2-4 years); replacement blades £18.95 for
one set (01963 828055; al-ko.com/garden)
Cuts lawns up to 1,200sq m. Fitted with
unique double-blade mulching system.
Automatic recharging function and return-
home function. Rain sensor.
Tester comments “Small, neat,
compact and lightweight. Unobtrusive
on the lawn, the colour blends in better.
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G7TELEGRAPH GARDENING | Saturday, March 30, 2013