{"id":46415,"date":"2025-08-06T08:59:00","date_gmt":"2025-08-06T07:59:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/?p=46415"},"modified":"2025-08-06T08:37:01","modified_gmt":"2025-08-06T07:37:01","slug":"pain-in-the-grass-time-for-a-new-robot-mower","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alananna.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/08\/pain-in-the-grass-time-for-a-new-robot-mower\/","title":{"rendered":"Pain in the Grass: Time for a New Robot Mower?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Going All-In on Robot Mowers (Again)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You may remember that we went all in<\/em> on robots during the Covid lockdown, adding robot mowers to our collection of robot vacuum cleaners. Since then, Hector<\/strong> (who mows the back garden) and Harriet<\/strong> (in the front) have done a great job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It started as a fun lockdown project \u2014 we weren\u2019t sure how well they\u2019d perform \u2014 but we\u2019ve been nothing but impressed. They go out on a set schedule several times a day, the lawn is always kept at the perfect length, and for the most part, they\u2019re no trouble at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We usually bring them in for the winter, give them a clean, and (if we remember) change their blades. Other than that \u2014 and the occasional rescue mission when one of them gets stuck \u2014 they quietly get on with it, freeing up time for me to focus on other things (in the garden or elsewhere).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boundary Woes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

However, this year, Hector has been struggling with a few boundary-wire issues. The models we got are fairly basic and rely on a physical boundary wire to define their mowing area \u2014 stopping them from wandering off into flower beds, the pond, or down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s worked well until now, but I think the wire is starting to degrade and has developed some breaks. They\u2019re easy enough to repair \u2014 and replacing sections isn\u2019t too difficult \u2014 but finding<\/strong> the break can be frustrating, especially in a large and convoluted garden like ours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We end up crawling around on hands and knees, digging up wire, using an AM radio or cable-finder to check how far the faint electrical signal travels. It\u2019s an awkward system \u2014 and while a clean break is findable, anything more subtle (like a partial break where the plastic coating is intact) becomes almost impossible to track down. We had one such issue at the weekend, and after digging up half the garden without any success, we were facing the prospect of re-laying the entire boundary wire. Not a task we were keen on \u2014 especially without adding extra precautions to make the fix more permanent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Time for an Upgrade?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

That said, we\u2019ve definitely had our money\u2019s worth from Hector \u2014 so maybe it was time for an upgrade. Newer models don\u2019t need a boundary wire at all. Instead, they use GPS, AI cameras, and advanced software to keep themselves within bounds and avoid mowing through flower beds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea of just leaving the old wire buried and starting afresh was very appealing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve always been a little sceptical about this type of mower \u2014 not entirely convinced that the tech would cope with a garden like ours. It\u2019ll be impressive if it can mow the whole area, get right up to the edges, navigate under overhanging shrubs, and still avoid falling into the pond or getting stuck behind something. There aren\u2019t many delicate plants it could destroy if it went off-piste, but the pond wouldn\u2019t do it much good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet the New Mower<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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New Robot!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We\u2019ve now ordered one of these newer models – A Mammotion Yuka mini 500<\/a> and should have it up and running soon (hopefully before the lawn gets completely out of hand).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The specs promise all sorts of wizardry:<\/p>\n\n\n\n