Which robotic mower is suitable for 2,600 m²?

There are robotic mowers for almost every lawn size: while the compact class at the lower end of the scale is designed for 150 m², professional robotic mowers can handle 10,000 m² and more. For the home garden, there is a whole range of different models for small and large gardens alike. But area output alone is not enough. What other features should a robotic mower for 2,600 m² have?

The choice of area output for the robotic mower

When looking for a suitable robotic mower, one of the first things to look at is certainly area output. This tells you how many square meters the robot is designed for. With that being said, this figure should be carefully considered. Some manufacturers specify a maximum area output, which is usually achieved under truly ideal cutting conditions. This means a garden without slopes or a complex layout. In reality, this is rarely the case.

The manufacturers are also aware of this and sometimes give another value with the "recommended area output", which provides better orientation. This is up to 30% below the maximum output and thus takes into account those challenges that can reduce area output. This provides a first good guide value. The second is derived from the mowing time.

Consider mowing times

The question arises as to which mowing duration the calculation of the maximum area output is based on. Some robotic mowers only leave their charging stations for 12 hours a day due to software limitations. Others can make their rounds 24 hours a day. A device that mows the same area in less time is obviously more efficient.

Regardless of the potential mowing time, hardly any garden owner wants to have the robot working around the clock. Perhaps Sundays are the perfect day to take off, or nights so that the robot stays in its garage to protect nocturnal wildlife, or in the afternoons while the children are playing in the garden. Your garden helper is not the only one who deserves a break now and then. All of these should be taken into account when considering the area output you will need, and don't skimp on the maximum power based on your garden size. A model that is designed for somewhat larger areas will cut 2,600 m² in a short time.

Powerful battery power

The more power the battery brings, the faster the robotic lawnmower can completely mow the 2,600 m². When choosing a battery, a heavy duty Li-Ion battery is recommended. These batteries are characterized by an ideal ratio of weight and capacity. Mowing times of more than 90 minutes are no challenge for these battery types, while recharging takes just over an hour.

Consideration of terrain shape and layout

A lawn area of 2,600 m² is rarely rectangular and level. Rather, there are bumps and divots in the ground, slopes or corners in the garden that require skillful turning maneuvers. In order to cope with these challenges, other features are recommended for your new robotic lawnmower:

• In order to effortlessly manage mowing on slopes, it is advisable to pay attention to the maximum slope specified by the manufacturer when purchasing the robot. While some models are only designed for slopes of 20-25%, other robots will work their way effortlessly on slopes up to 45% or more.
• Not only for slopes, but also when navigating on wet lawns, a good wheel grip is also important. Robotic mowers with special traction wheels have an added measure of safety and function with a good grip of the lawn in any weather condition.
• Another criterion for a robotic mower to do its job to your complete satisfaction, in addition to efficiency, is a perfect cutting pattern. However, this can only be achieved if the robot detects unevenness in the terrain and thus ensures an even cutting height at every point. A model with a pendulum-suspended mowing deck that follows the landscape at all times promises an accurate cut.
• In a garden with an area of 2,600 m², efficiency is the key. What matters here is a large cutting width that allows the machine to mow a large area in a short time. However, to guarantee that this does not come at the expense of maneuverability, fine sensors are required to help the robot navigate elegantly around obstacles.

Simplified lawn care thanks to robotic mowers

Garden owners who purchase a robotic mower usually want to spend as little time as possible on lawn care. This leaves more free time to enjoy the garden to the fullest. To be successful at this and to eliminate time-consuming retouching that would be required of a - 2,600 m² lawn, other features of a robotic mower are helpful:

• The edge-cutting function of a robotic lawnmower guarantees that those annoying strips (sometimes several centimeters long) along the lawn edges are now reachable. Instead, the blades on models with this function extend beyond the wheelbase and capture blades right up to the edge. In most cases, your lawn trimmer can remain in the tool shed.
• Whether the first cut after winter, a long lawn after your vacation or a deep cut before thatching - the cutting length of a lawn varies within the year. To avoid having to reach for the classic manual lawn mower in between, a model with great flexibility in terms of cutting height is recommended.

Of course, on top of these functions, there are a whole range of other helpful features such as GPS navigation, app control or additional sensors that can further optimize handling. To what extent these are worthwhile depends on your personal preferences.