An autonomous mower is a significant upgrade on a time-consuming walk-behind petrol-powered mower, but as with all investments, there are practicalities that every homeowner needs to consider before taking the plunge. Here, we run through all the essential pre-purchase decision-making that will help you make the smartest possible investment.
The first thing to consider is size. The Honda Miimo range includes a variety of different autonomous mowers, ensuring there’s a model to suit every lawn. For those with medium-sized gardens, the HRM 1000 can handle lawns up to 1,000 m2 and can cut for up to 40 minutes on a single charge. The range runs right up to the HRM 4000, which, as the name suggests, can mow lawns up to 4,000 m2, ensuring that even country dwellers with epic expanses of grass have a model to suit their needs. If you’re not sure which model is best for you, visit the Honda website’s lawn planner page. By entering your postcode, it will work out which machine best meets your needs and calculate roughly how much electricity your Miimo will use each year showing you how inexpensive they are to run.
Tailoring the setup to your garden
Then there is your specific garden shape. Prospective buyers might be concerned that an unusual layout – with hills, ponds, or curving borders – might be too complicated for autonomous mowers. However, the beauty of the Miimo is that you can peg in its perimeter wire in whatever shape you see fit. Got a rockery or a tree in the middle of your lawn? You can create a “free zone” within your wider lawn that the Miimo will avoid.
Setting it up is a simple process: the Miimo comes with a perimeter wire and supplied pegs which you can install in as little as half an hour for smaller gardens. If you’re still feeling unsure, talk to your local dealer about their installation packages; they’ll have an expert on hand who can come round and take care of everything for you.
Smart features for all-weather performance
Concerned that you travel too frequently to monitor an autonomous mower? Don’t be. Robotic lawnmowers like the Honda Miimo are installed with 4G SIM cards, so you can operate them from anywhere in the world via an app on your phone. Those living in the wetter parts of the UK can also rest assured that the Miimo is fully weatherproof. Its connectivity means it can be synced with weather apps to reduce its cut time if the lawn is sodden, while the adjustable cut height can be adapted to suit periods of prolonged rain or summer droughts.
Safety and convenience are also built-in. Abandoned pet toys and forgotten frisbees shouldn’t give you pause, the 360 degree sensors mean that Miimo immediately stops and changes direction after coming into contact with any object. Finally, there is the benefit of the “little and often” approach; each session only takes off the very top of each blade, returning the clippings to the soil as mulch. This cuts down on the need for fertiliser and improves the look of the grass. Ultimately, a Honda Miimo is a fast-track shortcut to reclaiming your weekend. Time to fire up that barbeque!
