Does a robotic lawn mower also mow the lawn edges? Here's how to get neat edges
Your robotic lawn mower keeps your lawn neatly trimmed, but along the wall or around a flower bed, a strip of grass may sometimes remain. Why is that? And can you prevent it?
How neatly a robotic lawn mower trims the lawn edges depends on several factors: the position of the cutting disc, the type of edge, and the layout of your garden. Some models are equipped with a special edge-cutting function, such as EdgeCut from Husqvarna. Even with the right robotic lawn mower, the finishing of your lawn remains important.
Why can’t a robotic lawn mower always mow right up to the edge?
The blades of a robotic lawn mower are located underneath the housing. That makes sense from a safety perspective, but it also means that on some models the blades do not reach all the way to the outer edge of the machine.
Is the robot driving along a wall or a high curb? If so, the housing stops before the mowing disc reaches the very edge of the grass. As a result, a narrow strip of grass may remain uncut.
With a level patio or a mowing edge at the same height as the lawn, this is often different. In that case, the robot can drive partly onto the paving and therefore mow closer to the edge.
So how much grass remains uncut varies from one robotic lawn mower to another and from one garden to another.
EdgeCut mows closer along the edge
Some Husqvarna Automower models are equipped with EdgeCut. This technology uses an additional cutting disc at the rear of the robotic mower to cut the grass closer along the edge. As a result, less grass is left standing along suitable lawn edges and you need to use the grass trimmer less often.
EdgeCut is available on the Husqvarna Automower 305E NERA, 310E NERA, 405XE NERA, 410XE NERA, 405VE NERA and 410VE NERA, among others.
The result? Less work with the grass trimmer and a lawn that looks neat along the edges too.
Important to know: EdgeCut can reduce manual trimming work, but it cannot completely eliminate it in every situation. The shape of the edge and the space the robot has to drive over it remain decisive for the result.
Robotic lawn mowers with EdgeCut - edge mowing function
How to get neater lawn edges: 5 tips
Want to spend as little time as possible trimming the edges of your lawn? These five tips will make things a lot easier for your robotic mower.
1. Choose a level transition
A flat strip of paving or a mowing edge that matches the height of the lawn gives the robot more room to drive along the edge. This allows the mowing disc to get closer to the edge of the grass.
Are you landscaping or renovating your garden? If so, it pays to take this into account right away. A small adjustment beforehand can save you years of trimming work.
2. Watch out for walls and raised borders
A lawn that lies directly against a wall or raised border is harder to mow neatly all the way to the edge. After all, the robot cannot simply keep driving forward with its wheels there.
Where possible, provide a flat edge strip. That not only helps with mowing, but also makes maintaining your lawn easier.
3. Think about trees, poles and flower beds
Grass can also remain around trees, poles and other obstacles. The more small corners and hard-to-reach edges your garden has, the more manual maintenance may still be needed.
Clearly mark out flower beds and other zones so the robot knows where it is and isn’t allowed to mow. With a boundary wire system, this is done using physical wire; with a suitable EPOS model, you can set zones digitally.
4. Match your robotic lawn mower to your garden
Not every robotic lawn mower is equally suitable for every garden. So look not only at the size of your lawn, but also at its shape, the number of obstacles, and the finishing of the edges.
A model with a special edge-mowing function can be useful if you want to do less trimming. If in doubt, seek advice on the options and limitations of the models that suit your garden.
5. Keep in mind what you may still need to touch up yourself
Even with a suitable robotic lawn mower, some trimming may still be needed from time to time. Think, for example, of grass along a wall, around a tree trunk, or in places that the machine has difficulty reaching.
The simpler the lawn edges and the better the garden is adapted to the robotic lawn mower, the less likely it is that you will often need to touch things up yourself.
Which robotic mower gives your lawn the neatest finish?
Want to know which robotic mower can give your lawn the neatest finish? Discover the range in our webshop and compare the different models.
Would you rather see the robotic mowers in real life or would you like personal advice? Then feel free to drop by our showroom. We’ll be happy to help you find the right robotic mower for your garden.