This lawn was a former cow pasture. No fertilizers, no seeding, and no ammendments, except the mowing. The owners have stopped mowing the lawn – and let this robot mower keep it looking like a golf course. Photo: N. R. Mallery

By N.R. Mallery

According to the EPA, gas-powered mowers produce 5% of the US air pollution. Each weekend, nearly 54,000,000 Americans mow their lawn. They use 800 million gallons of gas per year, and produce millions tons of air pollutants, including 8.8 million tons of carbon dioxide. Just filling the mowers, they spill about 17 million gallons of oil and gas – more than the Exxon Valdez – each year. These pollutants include carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxide. A new gas-powered lawnmower produces as much in organic compounds and nitrogen oxide emissions of air pollution, per hour of operation, as eleven new cars.

Lawn mowing is a chore that would be a waste of time, if we did not find it necessary. We spend a lot of time on it that might be better spent working on the garden or our homes. In fact, most of us would much rather ride a bike, go swimming, go fishing, or relax at home.

Well, there is an awesome solution for all of these problems. And I can tell you a story about it.

It all started when I was given a gift of a robotic vacuum cleaner. I had used it for a year and a half, when a friend, watching my little robots clean, mentioned to me that they also make robotic lawnmowers.

This led two a lot of research, and I was amazed at what I found. In fact there are many models of robotic lawnmowers available today. Beyond that, however, they are not merely gimmicks. They have real value, in terms of health, economics, and for the environment.

I have a large lawn at my off-grid solar home. Reading through reviews, I could see that not all mowers would be suitable on my property. As I continued to do research, I found what looked like the best option for me, Robomow’s Friendly Home lawnmower.

The outcome is that I no longer mow my lawn. And my lawn always looks pristine – always! My lawn, which was once a cow pasture, looks like a golf course – all the time! All I did was to set up a perimeter wire, set the base charging station, select my parameters and press GO. And it is been mowing the lawn regularly ever since.

Q: What’s wrong with this picture?
A: No Handle!
Q: What else is missing from this picture?
A: No YOU!

Now, neighbors stop by to take pictures or just to watch my lawn being mowed. It seems they can’t believe their eyes. When they ask whether the little machine really did all of this nice work, I smile and nod yes!

The Robomow is quiet. It works 24/7, depending on the size of the lawn. I have mine set to run from 9 am to 5 pm and not if it is raining more than a drizzle. It can mow in the rain, but also has a rain sensor. There is no grass to rake because the clippings are mulched thoroughly, adding to a healthier lawn and less work for me, too. It goes around obstacles with no problems. It does the edges. And it does this without any help from you. It even knows when and where to charge itself, a job it also does without any assistance.

It uses no fossil fuels! The electricity it uses costs less than $15 per year (33 kWh/month), and the lithium-ion battery lasts for three to four years and designed for its daily use.

Robomow makes models for lawns ranging from 1/8 acre to 3/4 acre. Got a bigger yard? No problem. And if your lawn has multiple zones (up to seven of them), you can add another base for additional charging. Hills? The built in tilt-sensor works for up to a 35% slope, about a 20º incline.

There are a number of compelling reasons to use an electrically-powered robotic lawnmower. One is safety. Injuries caused by lawnmowers include contact burns and traumatic lacerations, but do not stop there. According to the Robomow, insect stings and exposure-related illness, such as heatstroke, prompt a significant number of medical interventions each year. Inhaling exhaust can lead to a number of health issues, including cancer. Another risk we can avoid is skin cancer from the sun exposure.

Robomow believes electricity-driven robotic lawns hold the answers to these problems. In fact, the company just announced a Drive to Cut Down Mowing Injuries.

Added Bonus: Got free-range chickens? No problem. They get along just fine. In fact, the mower might even scare off the occasional hungry fox or bird of prey.

Robomow has been making mowers since 1995. They have been widely used in Europe for many years. The mower has a one year warranty, and the support is awesome.

It is time to stop mowing your lawn! It’s time to save the planet and enjoy summer gatherings on a pristine lawn that YOU did not mow.