From UF/IFAS
In Summary:
Robotic mowers can effectively maintain warm-season Florida grasses while reducing manual labor and gasoline emissions, according to UF/IFAS research. Daily mowing produced denser, healthier turf than mowing once every seven days. Homeowners using autonomous mowers should take precautions to protect docking stations from fire ants and lightning.
Key Points:
- Research shows robotic mowers can maintain and improve Florida lawns, including St. Augustine grass, even at lower cutting heights.
- Frequent, light mowing by autonomous units produces denser, healthier turf that better resists pests and disease than weekly mowing.
- Robotic mowers cut labor and emissions but require precautions for fire ants and lightning around docking stations.
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For many Florida homeowners, lawn mowing can feel like a never-ending chore, especially in the heat of summer. New guidance from experts suggests autonomous or robotic lawn mowers can ease that burden while effectively managing Florida’s hardy lawns, including St. Augustine grass.
Related: The Growing Popularity of Roll-on Grass Across the Globe.
“The simple question was, can a robotic or autonomous mower’s lower cut height at 2.4 inches maintain hardy St. Augustine grass?” asked Bryan Unruh, UF/IFAS NFREC associate center director. That was a major concern because, for most warm-season grasses, an average height of three to four inches is recommended.
According to recently published UF/IFAS North Florida Research & Education Center (NFREC) research, the answer is yes. Autonomous mowers not only reduce manual labor and gas emissions but also improve the overall health of warm-season grasses.
“Our conventional mowing recommendations are basically every seven days to remove a third of the grass blade,” said Unruh. “Part of the success with the autonomous or robotic mowers is the difference that daily mowing makes by clipping off a small amount of grass repeatedly, which helps keep the grass healthier and denser.”
These findings are significant because most robotic or autonomous mowers were originally designed for European lawns and cool-season grasses. Typically, these types of grasses require less intensive maintenance and thrive at the lower cut height of 2.4 inches.
