If you hate mowing the grass, let a robot do it for you. While IT made these mowers first commercially available in about 2015, a robot can mow your grass if you correctly set up the parameters. At least three different types of robot mowers are available, with new advances being introduced to the market annually. 

Benefits of a Robot Mower

In addition to requiring less work on your part, there are many advantages to using a robot mower. They use less energy than a regular lawn mower, which is excellent for the environment. They have incredibly sharp blades that turn quickly so that your lawn looks great. Most options are exceptionally durable and require little upkeep. Many come with additional features, like anti-theft devices, making them safer or more efficient to use. 

Front-Wheel-Drive Robot Mowers

Front-wheel-drive lawn mowers work well if you have a flat space to mow. They move in a forward direction after you tap the wheels with a light force. The drawback of this type of mower is that it does not handle slopes or rutted areas well. These mowers change directions very well, but the front wheels must always be in contact with the ground. 

Rear-Wheel-Drive Robot Mowers

If your yard is sloped or has ruts, then a rear-wheel-drive robot mower may be perfect for you. This type of robot mower creates a pristine looking yard. If your yard has rough spots in it, like rocky soil, this option handles those areas better than front-wheel-drive options. 

All-Wheel-Drive Robot Mowers

Since all-wheel-drive robot mowers must have all four wheels on the ground, weight is distributed more evenly. Therefore, this is an ideal mower for areas with thick grass or that have been allowed to get slightly out of control. This mower also does well on uneven terrain. While many robotic mowers require only to have their blades changed once a year, you can expect a little more maintenance cost with this option. 

Additional Features and Considerations

Manufacturers make robot mowers with many different features, including: 

• Minimum and maximum grass-cutting height
• Width of cutting strip
• Type of battery
• Run time
• Charging time
• Type of cutting blades
• Noise level
• Collision sensors
• Programmable
• Easy-to-use app
• Weather considerations

Take the work out of mowing your lawn by using a robot lawnmower. Choose the option that is right for your yard. Then, consider what additional features you want your lawnmower to have on it.

Grass should be easy to care for, shouldn’t it? All it needs is a little sun, water, and time. While this is true, as with all things, too much of a good thing can be damaging. Many people damage their grass by watering it too much.

When grass is overwatered, the lawn drowns. You can tell that a lawn has been watered too much because it is yellow or there are bare patches in the lawn. If you realize that you are overwatering your grass, take steps to fix it immediately.

How Do You Know If You Are Overwatering Your Grass?

The signs of an overwatered lawn are easy to spot. If you water your grass and then a few hours later walk on it and it feels squishy beneath your feet, this is a sign that you are overwatering.

Another sign of overwatered grass is dead patches. You might have a ton of weeds, like nutsedge and crabgrass. Overwatering can lead to the growth of mushrooms and other fungi. If you water your grass and see a lot of runoff or if you see yellow patches of grass, it is probable that you are giving your lawn too much water.

How You Can Fix an Overwatered Lawn

Once you realize that there is an issue, you need to take action. First, determine how much water your lawn actually requires. According to Popular Mechanics, as a general rule, you should water your lawn long enough so it will moisten the soil 6 inches down. This requires around 1 inch of water.

Each lawn is different. Some types of soil may require a little more water to reach down 6 inches. A simple way to test your lawn is to do the screwdriver test. Take a long flathead screwdriver and stick it into your lawn. It should be easy to stick the blade into a depth of 6 inches. If the soil is dry or hard, you are not watering the grass enough.

Determining the Amount of Water Needed for Your Lawn

You can determine the amount of water needed by multiplying the square footage of your lawn by .62 gallons. This gives you 1 inch of water per square foot. Determine your sprinkler's flow rate. Divide that by the amount of water needed for your lawn to determine how long you need to run the sprinkler.

If you don’t know your sprinkler's flow rate, set an empty receptacle in the watering zone, and monitor how long it takes for it to reach 1 inch deep of water.

If you have moved into a new housing development, the topsoil has likely been removed. It takes longer for water to soak in. This means you may need to water in stages to soften the ground so that the water can penetrate further down.

Taking care of grass is relatively easy. If you see signs of overwatering, take immediate steps to correct the problem.