For many Florida homeowners, lawn mowing can feel like a never-ending chore, especially in the heat of summer.
Join our family of readers for as little as $10 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Already have an account? Log in to continue. Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
Please log in to continue |
![A Honda Mimo automatic robotic lawnmower at the West Florida Research and Education Center in Jay, Florida. [Photo courtesy UF/IFAS Communications]](/uploads/original/20260615-113951-a2f-robotic mowers.jpg)
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 by using frequent, low-impact mowing that produces denser, healthier turf more resistant to pests and disease.
“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 West Florida Research & Education Center (UF/IFAS WFREC) associate center director. According to the recently published UF/IFAS WFREC research, the answer is yes.
That was a major concern since for most warm season grasses a height average between three and four inches is recommended.
Autonomous mowers not only reduce manual labor and gas emissions but also improve the overall health of warm-season grasses. While they reduce labor and emissions, proper precautions are needed to manage fire ants and protect docking stations from lightning.
To learn more, visit: UF News.
