What you need to know about robotic lawn mowers

GRASSY MULCH. Your robotic lawn guy won’t be dragging a bag around. Instead, the mower cuts grass into small, fine clippings to decompose, allowing nutrients to return to the soil. The

mowers merely trim the top of the grass instead of giving it a big haircut. That’s why they work every day or every other day to stay on top of the job. TAKE LAWN SIZE, SHAPE, HILLS INTO

ACCOUNT Before you buy a robo-mower, consider what kind of yard you have, Rodriguez says. “All robot lawn mowers have a maximum yard size they can mow, so you want to make sure the model you

buy can cover the entire area,” he says. One robo-mower does the work; they can’t be choreographed to cut together in the same space. Assess your needs in the front, back and side yards to

find a solution that can handle those areas. The mowers run about $700 up to $3,000, and higher-priced models can handle larger properties, more complicated lawns and steeper slopes. For

example, Robomow says mowers such as its RK4000 PRO model can handle uneven terrain and slopes up to 45 percent; Husqvarna’s Automower machines, 435X AWD (all-wheel drive) and 535 AWD, can

tackle slopes up to 70 percent, nearly 35 degrees. Another brand, Mammotion, claims its AWD model, the LUBA 2 AWD 10000, can handle a slope up to more than 75 percent, or 38 degrees.

Residential models typically can cut 0.2 to 1.25 acres. Some can trim up to 2.5 acres, about 10,000 square meters. If you have more land, a professional lawn service or riding mower may be a

better option. PART OF THE DECISION WILL BE YOUR COMFORT WITH THE APP The simplicity of the software may be just as consequential for users as a mower’s hardware, says Lance Ulanoff, editor

at large of the digital publication TechRadar. “Along with accuracy of its mapping technology, the companion app’s ease of use is a very important consideration,” he says. Some mowers are

“smarter” than others, so you’ll be less reliant on the app.