How Often Should a Robotic Lawn Mower Mow?

Your robotic lawn mower should mow your lawn fairly regularly, at least once every day or every other day. This is backed by research from the German Lawn Society, which has shown that a mowing frequency that follows this pattern offers the best results. In truth, though, answering the question, “How often should a robotic lawn mower mow?” isn't entirely straightforward — there are many different elements to consider.

Every model of robotic mower or Mowrator's own remote control lawn mower has different blade heights, blade RPMs, and capacities that can influence how often it should conduct its lawn maintenance. We understand that this can be overwhelming, especially for newcomers among robotic lawn users. We've written this value-packed guide so you can understand when you should mow and when you shouldn't.

Mowing frequency can depend on whether you choose a remote-controlled or autonomous mower. Check out our detailed breakdown of Remote Control Mowers Vs Autonomous Robot Mowers to make an informed decision.

Key Takeaways

• Your robot lawn mower should mow your lawn every day or every second day.
• The type of grass, the size of your lawn, the weather and seasons, as well as the capabilities of your mower can impact how frequently you mow your lawn.
• The best time to mow your lawn is mid-morning.

Understanding mowing frequency is important for maintaining a healthy lawn. Our findings in Our Experiment: The Best Robot Lawn Mower and Remote Control Mower reveal insights on optimal mowing schedules for different types.

What Factors Influence Your Robot Mowing Frequency?

While it's generally accepted that you should let your robot lawn mower mow your lawn every 1 to 2 days, several factors can influence how often the robotic lawn mower can mow your lawn. Here are some of the most common reasons to increase or decrease the frequency with which you let your robot lawn companion mow the lawn.

• Type of Grass: The type of grass can influence how often your robot mower should mow your lawn. For example, Bermuda grass is generally kept shorter than Kentucky bluegrass by 1 to 2.5 inches. An automatic lawn mower robot often has several settings to determine cut height and offers a better cut quality compared to traditional mowers for certain types of grass according to HortTechnology.
• Lawn Size: The bigger your lawn, the more often you can expect a robot lawn mower to mow it. If the size of your lawn dwarfs the robotic lawn mower's output range, you need to mow more often to cover each section of the lawn. To reduce how often the robotic mower mows your lawn, look for a robot lawn mower that has a wide cutting width or larger battery capacity. The Mowrator S1 4WD, for example, can cover up to 1.125 acres on a single charge.
• Season: Certain grasses will grow quicker during different seasons of the year. For instance, Kentucky bluegrass is a cool-season grass, which means it grows quickly in spring and fall. As a result, you'll find that your garden robot mower will need to mow more often during these seasons.
• Mower's Mulching Ability: It's not only the grass that can impact how often your robot lawn mower helps you with your lawn care, but it can be the limitations of its features too. Robot lawn mowers tend to only clip the tips of grass, creating mulch that helps fertilize your lawn. If your grass is left too long without being cut, the overgrown grass can impact the mower's mulching ability and lead to matting.
• Weather Conditions: The weather will impact the frequency of your lawn mowing as well. Some robot lawn mowers don't operate during rainy weather, as it can cause clumping or cause the mowing robot to get stuck in soft soil. Thankfully, top robot lawn mowers on the market can take the weather into account and mow more or less to account for it.

Understanding the ideal mowing frequency can enhance lawn health. Additionally, be sure to review our insights on Robot Lawn Mower Maintenance for best practices to prolong your mower’s life.

When is the Best Time of Day to Mow Your Lawn?

The best time of day to mow your lawn with a robot lawn mower is mid-morning, between 8:00 and 10:00. Not only will the grass usually be dry at this point after morning dew, but it also offers the longest time for your mower to cut your lawn. Most robot lawn mowers will take several hours to mow your lawn, so giving your mower adequate time will be to your benefit.

It’s also worth noting that you should avoid mowing during peak sun hours (12:00 to 15:00). Mowing when the sun is strongest can stress the grass, as it's more vulnerable to heat and evaporation. Your mower’s battery may also drain faster in the heat. On the other hand, mowing after 18:00 also has its risks. Evening mowing can leave your lawn damp overnight, which raises the risk of fungal diseases. Always give your grass time to dry before the cooler evening temperatures set in.

Understanding the optimal mowing frequency can greatly enhance your lawn's health. For insights on another important feature of robotic mowers, refer to our article on How Smart Lawn Mowers Automatically Dispose of Grass.

What Robot Lawn Mower Should You Buy?

Are you struggling to decide which is the best robot mower to introduce to your home? We've completed the research to let you know our picks for the robot lawn mowers you should consider.

To ensure your robotic lawn mower operates at its best, it's important to stay updated with the latest software. For guidance on keeping your mower current, check our article on How to Perform OTA Updates on Smart Lawn Mowers.

Mowrator S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower 2WD — $2,499

The Mowrator S1 2WD remote is a powerful remote control lawn mower that’s perfect for lawns with overgrown, thick grass. While not a true robotic lawn mower, the S1 2WD can be handled using an intuitive remote control that offers total control over every edge of your lawn. It is equipped with a 12Ah LiFePO4 battery, which provides it with the powerful capacity to cut 20-inch grass and manage up to 45% slopes (37°). The Mowrator S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower 2WD retails for $2,499.

EcoFlow Blade — $2,899

The EcoFlow Blade is an industrial robotic sweeping mower that can manage both the turf and the leaves from surrounding foliage. This robotic lawn mower offers several unique features that make setting up and managing how often your mower mows the lawn easy. Wire-free boundaries, obstacle avoidance sensors, and rainfall sensors allow the EcoFlow Blade to be a truly autonomous mower that can mow the area without human input.

It boasts a modest slope handling of 27° and a generous working time of 4 hours thanks to its 21.6-volt lithium-ion battery. To recharge the EcoFlow, you need a charging station set up that can fully recharge the mower in just over 2 hours.

Husqvarna 430XH — $2,499

Our final pick is the Husqvarna Automower 430XH, a residential robotic lawn mower that can comfortably manage 0.8 acres and slopes up to 45% (37°). This automower does require that you set up boundary wires around its charging station and your lawn to help guide the mower around your lawn, but it offers a wealth of features that deliver a quality cut consistently. Most notably, you can control many of the features like scheduling, sensors, and more through an app on your phone.

Have you found a robotic or remote control lawn mower you like? Take a look at Mowrator's extensive collection for the next latest and greatest addition to your lawn care equipment.

How Often Should Your Robot Lawn Mower Mow FAQs

Do Robot Lawn Mowers Work in the Rain?

Yes, some robot lawn mowers are weatherproof and can mow your lawn in rainy conditions. Most weatherproof models are only able to handle light or moderate rainfall, as heavier rain can penetrate their casing and damage the electronics that power the robot mower.

Can a Robot Lawn Mower Handle Leaves?

Yes, the grass blades of a robot lawn mower should be able to mulch any leaves that it comes across. Some mowers are even equipped with a sensor that allows them to navigate through piles of leaves, avoiding piles that are too thick for their blades to cut through.

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