From fuel-free mowing to freeing up time, we look at how autonomous

There’s no doubt that a robotic mower is a significant investment with a higher initial outlay than most of the petrol-powered walk-behind lawnmowers on the UK market.

But despite the upfront costs, are they actually the smarter move in the long term?

We look at the wider return on investment from going autonomous.

In terms of cost savings down the line, switching to an autonomous mower like Honda’s Miimo range means you’ll never need to worry about sourcing fuel again, however big your garden.

These fully electric robot mowers come in a variety of different models, each one designed to suit different garden sizes, and all are economical to run.

You can visit the Honda website and put your postcode into their bespoke lawn planner – it will measure your garden, advise you which of the Miimos is most appropriate for you, and tell you roughly how much electricity it will take to run it each year.

As well as the cost saving, there’s also the reduction in hassle.

Modern E10 petrol has additives in it to make it cleaner, but they impact its longevity, meaning that it goes stale surprisingly quickly, lumbering users of walk-behind mowers with the extra chore of having to restock on fuel frequently.

In terms of running costs, the Miimo requires little maintenance compared to walk-behind lawnmowers with their complex moving parts.

In fact, the battery management system means that the battery never fully depletes, unless manually programmed otherwise, and remains at around 60% whilst in its charging dock, with maximum capacity only being reached immediately prior to the next scheduled cut.

This keeps the battery at its optimum level, and is included within the Honda Miimo five-year warranty.

When it comes to lawn health and fertiliser use, robotic mowers also look like a good bet.

Owners of standard walk-behind mowers tend to cut the grass every week or two, whereas a robotic lawnmower can go out every day if desired.

This "little and often" cutting approach means that the Miimo only trims the very top off the grass and then returns the tiny clippings into the soil as mulch, which helps to reduce moss, improve colour, and maintain robust growth without the need for expensive fertiliser.

It also means you don’t have to worry about tidying away the clippings.

Another important factor when assessing the Miimo’s long-term value for money is its sophisticated anti-theft protection, which includes an alarm that sounds when the machine is lifted off the ground and can only be silenced with a unique PIN.

Some models also include geofencing security, which sends an alert to your mobile phone should the Miimo ever leave a pre-set area and enables GPS tracking of the mower.

And, of course, there’s the green dividend: autonomous mowers are zero-emission, which means that they reduce your carbon footprint, particularly if you’re using a green energy supplier.

Going autonomous also means there will be no local pollutants in your garden.

But the real cost benefit of autonomous mowers like the Honda Miimo is that they take on a weekly chore for you, freeing up your weekend and bestowing you with that invaluable asset: time.

Whether it’s more time to work on the creative parts of gardening – the planting, planning, and pruning – or an opportunity to roll out a picnic blanket and enjoy the splendour of your immaculately mowed lawn, it’s an investment that pays back summer after summer.