My robot mower has changed my life!
“My robot mower has changed my life!”
This is what our customers tell us on a very regular basis. They unlock hours and hours of free time. Instead of mowing the lawn, you can spend time with your family and friends and engage in activities that are more enjoyable. What more could you want? And all the while, your lawn is kept in perfect shape by your robotic mower. Quietly and effortlessly, in rain or shine.
The conversation starts something like this.
Customer: I need a new mower.
Salesman: What size garden do you have?
Customer: About a quarter of an acre (the size of the garden is irrelevant really, but bear with me!)
Salesman: OK. Are you considering a large walk behind mower or a ride-on mower or have you considered an automower?
Customer: An auto-what?!!.....
As a salesman, it’s my job to try to fathom out what my customers want, what they need, and what they are prepared to spend (the sensitive bit that we try not to mention – too much!) and work out what the ideal mower for them is.
Introducing the concept of a robotic mower to a customer is always a tricky one. We know they’re great, save time, save money (lower running costs, cheaper servicing etc) and will give the customer their weekends back. Not to mention your lawn will look much better than your neighbour’s and automatic mowing is the future!
But not every customer is receptive to the idea. I don’t really know why but I suspect that it is down to familiarity. Most of us don’t like change. We all prefer to stick with what we know. If a salesman suggests we should be doing it differently, then that’s a challenging situation! If I do my job right and the customer is prepared to be open to the suggestion of change, then we can move forward.
I always try to explain the basics of automatic mowing.
Contrary to popular belief, most robotic mowers don’t mow in straight lines. Thanks to their free movement pattern the lawn is perfectly cut, achieving a beautiful and carpet-like look.
The analogy is of a sheep grazing, head down, apparently moving randomly around the lawn. In fact this was the analogy used when the original Husqvarna automower was originally designed. The razor-sharp blades cut the grass gently from all directions, helping it to grow strong, and after a relatively short period of time, all of the grass will get cut.
The one proviso is that you buy a mower with a large enough capacity to cope with the grassed area in the required time. As a salesman, I can help with this. We offer a free, no obligation site survey and will then make our recommendation regarding which mower would be most suitable.
Our recommendation not only relates to which mower would be best, but we will also discuss the installation itself.
Most importantly, we’ll discuss which boundary wire to use. Robotic mowers rely on a boundary wire. Technology is emerging that will eventually negate the need for them, but at the moment the concept is generally only recommended for commercial settings or very large gardens. Boundary wires are usually buried in the ground to a depth of about 25mm’ish. Choosing the right one might sound straightforward but there are lots to choose from.
If you don’t get much trouble with animals digging in the lawn, then the standard wire will normally do. If you have problems with moles, badgers, squirrels or rabbits for example, then it’s definitely worth considering a more heavy duty wire. There are lots to choose from. For instance Husqvarna produce a heavy duty wire that is basically a standard wire with an extra “rodent proof” outer sheath. And we also offer Bossmom’s Bossmow armoured cable; the crème de la crème of the robotic mower cable world. This is guaranteed to prevent even a spade chopping through it, so “Mr Ratty” should be kept at bay!
When considering whether a robotic mower might be for you, it’s worth thinking a little bit more about how they work, their features and the benefits that having one might give you.
MULCHING
They cut just a little at a time, but frequently, returning all the micronized, mulched clippings back to the lawn as a nutrient and moisture rich natural fertiliser. Moss growth is effectively prevented as moss prefers poor ground that is low in nutrients - an added bonus! This will ensure a beautiful and healthy lawn.
QUIET
They are very quiet and can be used day or night without disturbance to you or your neighbours.
LOW POWER
They have very low power consumption and as such are much more economical to run than a conventional mower.
ZERO EMISSIONS
They have no direct emissions as they are entirely electrical.
AUTOMATIC CHARGING
When they need more power, they will automatically find their way back to the charging station.
WEATHERPROOF
They are weatherproof and designed to live outdoors quite happily. They can mow in rain or shine! However, it is recommended that they be taken indoors over winter for servicing and winter storage.
SAFETY
If they are lifted off the ground or tip over, their cutting blades automatically shut off. In addition, the blades are rotating far from the outer edge of the machine. If they meet an obstacle they will stop and change direction without causing any damage.
SECURITY
Theft protection by alarm/PIN code. Different levels of protection can be set. If the mower is lifted or carried away a high-sounding alarm starts and can only be deactivated with the mower's unique PIN code.
RELIABILITY
Robotic lawn mowing is all about reliability. The mowers are very reliable and combined with a well thought out, professional installation, you should get many years of efficient operation with a minimum of owner intervention.
----------------------------------------
So if you like the sound of all or even some of the above, robotic lawn mowing could be for you. Contact us to discuss the options. We are agents for Husqvarna, Stihl and Bigmow so will be able to find the right mower for you. Our fully trained sales team will be happy to advise!
Or if you prefer you can browse the robotic mowers that we have to offer here...
----------------------------------------