Imagine a garden where the grass is always greener and relaxation reigns supreme. A place where your new gardener is busy running around the garden, the soft hum of mowing barely audible as you admire the green view.
You don’t have to feel guilty about sipping your sundowner and not offering to help, because that gardener’s name is Miimo and he’s a robot. Put like that, it may sound like science fiction, but in fact, robotic lawn mowers are now well-established tools to help you love and live with your garden longer. Oh, and they’re quieter too.
Before Edwin Budding invented the lawn mower in 1830, cutting grass was a labor-intensive activity involving scythes, shears, or grazing animals. As suburbs emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the residential lawn became a symbol of status and prestige as homeowners sought to emulate the manicured lawns of public parks and golf courses, driving demand for smaller lawn mowers for domestic use emerged.
The demand for a lush lawn landscape, mowed weekly or fortnightly between March and October, has Britons spending hours – or, by some estimates, days – keeping their lawns neat and in good condition. But while the exercise that such efforts entail may be helpful for some, it is not possible for everyone.
Pam Whittle, former president of the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society, says mowing the lawn is her least favorite post-retirement job. “Now there are only the two of us and the entire site is one hectare in size. I hate mowing the lawn, my husband mows it, but he doesn’t like it either. I’m not a spring chicken anymore, but I don’t want to move,” she says.
While artificial grass may seem to offer a maintenance-free solution for anyone with limited mobility, it is not the solution – and comes with a list of problems. From the chemicals used in production to the microplastic pollution – not to mention throwing away grass that goes to landfill – this shouldn’t be your first visit.
A permeable ground cover, such as gravel or paving, on the other hand, will require little maintenance and can even be approached in no time. nature-friendly way. Planting small plants such as thyme in the holes can reduce the number of “volunteer” plants (or weeds).
However, if you are a dedicated lawn enthusiast and can’t bear to see it go, there are options. In recent years, robotic lawn mowers such as the Honda Miimo have emerged as the revolution in retirement gardening, adopting the backward physicality of lawn care. This autonomous mower uses advanced sensors and navigation technology, so you don’t even have to get up from your seat. This way you can enjoy a well-maintained lawn with absolutely minimal effort.
Miimo can navigate a range of garden topographies and handle slopes of up to 25 degrees, eliminating the tiring task of pushing a mower uphill. The HRM 4000 Live model can cover up to 4,000 square meters and – with robust rear wheels – can withstand challenging conditions such as heavy mud, leaves and abrasive soil.
Thanks to the Live part, you can connect it to your smart speaker – so that your outdoor space has the same convenience as at home – and also has a host of high-tech functionalities. Neil M White, author of The Self Provisioner: How to Grow Your Own Food and Live a Self-sustaining Life in the Digital Age, says he loves the set-and-forget features. “Although Miimo does the cutting, you have full control via the app on your smartphone. You can choose the times and days for mowing and even avoid the times when you want to enjoy the garden outside.”
Would you prefer the simplest possible life? The HRM 1000 has a simplified display with only three buttons: play, home and power.
Of course, not all gardening can be easy. Part of the fun can be getting your hands dirty and connecting with nature. If you want to continue doing some of the heavy lifting yourself, try raised beds at a height you can easily reach. To ensure that you and your guests can still move around them, the paths must be suitable for gardeners The blossoming garden club recommends a width of 1.2 meters for wheelchairs, with more for turning circles. If there is grass or other garden features in between, you need to be sure that your robotic lawnmower can work in tight spaces (the new Honda Miimo range can).
Not that every inch needs to be perfectly planted and cared for; There’s a lot to be said for letting go a little – both in the garden and in life. Consider setting your robotic lawnmower to avoid certain areas and ensure certain parts of your garden remain untouched, perhaps to promote biodiversity.
Honda Miimo also has a micro-mulching function: this reduces the clippings to a fine grain and then distributes it over the lawn, allowing valuable nutrients to flow back to the lawn. No more bending over to pick up clippings or figuring out how to dispose of them, which can quickly overwhelm even the most powerful composter.
With so many of us enjoying ourselves in our homes and gardens post-pandemic, it’s reassuring to know that having a beautiful garden doesn’t have to mean a lot of kneeling and digging. So like – like 67% of respondents A survey from home improvement community Houzz shows that you believe having a low-maintenance yard is important, and it may be time to make it a reality. So enjoy that sunset, let Miimo mow and relax.
Find out more about how the latest Honda Miimo robotic lawnmowers can transform your lawn