Are you considering purchasing a robotic lawn mower? Check out my latest review of the Gardena Sileno Minimo.
Why I Bought A Robotic Lawn Mower
About two weeks ago, I had a falling out with my landscaper. I won’t bore you with the details, but we parted ways, and I needed to find a new person to mow the lawn. I called around, but since it is near the end of summer, most other landscapers in town already have a full calendar.
So there I was, with no one to cut the grass.
I no longer own a lawn mower since I had a weekly service. And while I am completely capable of doing it myself, I am a single woman with a full-time job. I have plenty of other home maintenance tasks to do already.
I love spending time outdoors in my garden, but mowing the lawn has always been one of my least favorite chores. It’s sweaty, tedious work, and I’d much rather spend my time tending to the flower beds where a bit of finesse is required.
Do You Enjoy Mowing the Lawn?
Before you consider buying a robot lawn mover, first think about whether you really enjoy mowing the lawn yourself. If you do, then by all means, keep at it.
There are plenty of folks who take great pride in mowing their lawns. Some consider having a perfectly manicured lawn a badge of honor. And there are lots of traditional lawnmowers that can make your job easier.
However, if you are like me and there are other ways you’d prefer to spend your Saturdays, a robot lawn mower may be the solution.
What Can A Robotic Mower Do For you?
Here are a few of my favorite things About the Gardena Sileno Robotic Lawnmower.
Mows Your Lawn, so You Don’t Have To
The beauty of a robotic lawn mower is it does the tedious work for you.
You are immediately promoted from laborer to supervisor. So you get to sit back with your favorite beverage and watch as your new robot friend does all the hard work.
They Are Quiet
One of the most annoying things about lawnmowers is they are loud. The robot lawnmower, by comparison, was super quiet. While you can hear it cutting, it is closer to white noise than a power tool.
The Gardena Sileno in action sounds more like a soothing hum versus an ear-piercing motor roaring outside your window, disrupting the entire neighborhood.
It’s Really Fun to Watch
I never thought I would have so much fun watching this little guy work.
A cup of coffee in hand, I strolled around my yard as the mower slowly drove from corner to corner, cutting the grass. It was very relaxing.
You Set the Schedule
I work from home, and my landscaper always seemed to show up as I was on a conference call. Nothing is more distracting than the whipping sound of the edger hitting the house just as it is my turn to speak.
With the Gardena Sileno, you pick the time and frequency of the lawnmower. You can automate this function or push a button to manually activate the mower when you want the grass cut.
Privacy & Security
I value my privacy, and having workers on my property always makes me a little uneasy, even if I know them. The robotic lawnmower will never peek in your windows as you prepare for the day or forget to close the gate.
You are in Control
You designate the working areas for the Gardena Sileno to mow in your yard. You can set up to three working areas and tell the robot how much time to spend in each area.
If you want the mower to return to an area and do a little more work, no problem. You can activate the SpotCut, and off it goes.
How Does the Gardena Sileno Minimo Work?
First, you map your yard and determine the correct placement of 4 things. It’s best to do this on paper, but it can just be a rough drawing.
- Mower Charging Stations: Locate a flat sheltered area close to the house and a power source.
- Yard Boundary: Draw a line to mark the perimeter of your property.
- Islands or Obstacles: Identify any large areas you want the mower to skip, such as patios, driveways, trees, or garden areas.
- Guide Wire Placement: Plan a path for your mower from its charging base to the main areas of your lawn. This gives your robot an easy-to-follow trail to return home when it has completed its job or if the battery is running low.
Next, set the perimeter of your yard with boundary wire. Connect the guide wire to the boundary wire at the far end of your yard. Then connect both the boundary and guide wire to the mower’s charging station.
And finally comes the fun part of turning on the mower and watching it work. For more details on this process, check out my post – How I Replaced my Landscaper with a Robot.
Once the wires are in place, your new robotic mower will work through the defined working area and cut your grass. It’s as easy as that.
The Verdict
Hands down – the robot gets my vote! I love this little guy. I’ve had so much fun watching it mow my lawn. And overall, it did a great job.
There were a few bumps during my installation. And does it mow a perfect lawn? No. There are a few areas where I’ll need to adjust the boundary wire for a closer cut. And I may need to edge along the tighter corners.
But the robot cut 95% of my grass, which is pretty impressive. And it did the job quietly with no complaints or commentary. Buying a robotic mower is one of the best purchases I’ve made in a long time. It was worth the investment.
I can easily recommend the Gardena Robotic Mower to anyone who wants to skip the hassle of dealing with landscapers or cutting their own grass.
And better yet, it really is fun to watch!