How Often And How Long Should The Robotic Mower Mow

A robotic mower is a sensible purchase. Especially in the spring and summer months, when the grass grows quickly, the robot takes a lot of work from the garden owner. This useful helper diligently makes its rounds. However, before the robotic mower can get started, the owner faces two important questions:

How often and how long should the robotic mower mow?

This question cannot be answered across the board. However, there are important guidelines. According to the European Lawn Society – which actually exists – it is best to mow every day.

How long the robot should mow depends on several factors. These are primarily the size of the garden and the area that the robotic lawnmower can cover in a given time.

How often should the robotic lawnmower mow?

A fine and dense lawn is created by daily mowing. This is because the cut creates branching on the blades. At the same time, the robot also lowers the blades that should form flowers. Both of these factors mean that the lawn is constantly in the growth phase as a result of daily mowing.

If it is too much for you to have the robot chugging through the garden for hours on end, you can also have the lawn mowed every two days. According to the European Lawn Association, the result is almost identical to a daily cut.

If the robot only has to get to work every other day, it must be able to mow the entire lawn.

How long should the robotic lawnmower mow?

The duration of the daily mowing time depends first of all on the area that the robot manages to mow per day. This value is specified by the manufacturers as area performance or area capacity. Here, however, the garden owner must pay attention. Because the performance refers to the fact that the mowing friend finds optimal conditions.

Shape of the lawn: The simpler the shape of the garden, the shorter the mowing time. In complex lawns, the robot often bumps into the sides, and takes more time to find its way. Therefore, a square area is the fastest to work on.
Terrain: Like a cyclist, a robotic mower needs more time and energy when going uphill. This drains the battery more quickly and the robot has to make more frequent trips to the charging station, which consumes a lot of time, including the charging process.

Clearance: Trees or other obstacles in the lawn also cost the robotic lawnmower time, as it has to dodge and maneuver. Every time it bumps into something, a robot stops briefly, backs up a bit before finally moving on. The more obstacles in the way, the lower the area performance.

Turf type: Various lawn mixtures exist in the trade for different requirements. With robust varieties, the robot requires more energy and has to recharge its battery more often.

Rain sensor: Robotic mowers with an integrated rain sensor pause as soon as the sky opens its floodgates. As a result, it misses mowing intervals. Rain sensors are mainly useful when the robot has a higher weight or has to cope with large slopes.
Maximum mowing time: in theory, but not always in practice, a robotic mower can work 24 hours a day. For example, software limits the mowing time to a maximum of twelve hours a day.

Tip

The daily mowing time can be halved by programming the garden helper to only manage half the lawn area during the day. For example, instead of mowing for ten hours every other day, the robot only has to mow for five hours every day.

This is particularly practical if the garden is used for relaxing or playing in the afternoon. In this case, the robot makes its rounds for five hours every morning and then pauses.

When should the robotic lawnmower mow?

Between the end of March and the beginning of April, the lawn can be mowed for the first time in the year, depending on the air temperature. At temperatures as low as six degrees Celsius, the blades of grass begin to grow slowly. From ten degrees, the growth phase begins for the lawn. This is the time to wake up the robotic lawnmower from its winter sleep.

The mowing times can be easily programmed. Some robotic mowers can be conveniently operated via an app and the smartphone, even with voice control. With the simple control, it is possible to change or adjust the mowing intervals at any time.

How can the mowing time be calculated?

For example, if the robotic lawnmower has an area capacity of 1000 square meters and can mow 24 hours a day, this information can be used to calculate how long it takes to mow a lawn of a different size.

For 400 square meters, the robotic lawnmower thus needs 2.5 hours, for 200 square meters five hours, if the lawn is level, square and there are no obstacles in the way.

A robotic lawnmower with a limited operating time of twelve hours a day can therefore cover 1000 square meters in twelve hours, i.e. in half the time.

Depending on the condition of the lawn, between ten and 20 percent more time must be allowed for.

The area performance figures given by the manufacturers are based on the robot finding optimum conditions. This is rarely the case. However, it is possible to calculate the time it takes the device to completely mow a patch of lawn once.

FAQ

How is the maximum area output of the robotic lawnmower specified?

The maximum area performance of a robotic lawnmower is specified in square meters, which it can mow in a certain time. Depending on the manufacturer, the running time is between twelve and 24 hours a day. There are also models that have a minimum number of daily hours of rest.

Is the maximum area output a real value?

The area output is based on optimal conditions. Optimal is a flat and square plot of land without obstacles, with a lawn that is easy to cut. The blades of the robot must also always be sharp.

Since the perfect conditions rarely exist, between ten and 20 percent more should be included in the real area performance.

How short should the robotic lawnmower cut the lawn?

The ideal cutting height is four centimeters. It can vary depending on the type of lawn, weather conditions and time of year. In autumn, for example, the best cutting height is five centimeters. Because the sun’s rays fall more shallowly on the lawn, the blades need more surface area to get enough sun.

Is frequent mowing harmful?

Daily mowing or mowing every other day is not harmful to the lawn. On the contrary. Frequent mowing stimulates the growth of grasses, which makes lawns denser. Even the well-known English lawn is formed only because it is taken care of every day.

Does the lawn mulch need to be removed?

Robotic mowers do not have a collection container, but mulch the lawn. The cut stalks simply remain lying and weather. This does not remove any nutrients from the greenery.

Mulching only works if the grass stays short. Stalks that are too long weather more slowly, which can cause the lawn to become matted.