Will a robot mower cut the edge? Check the boundary detail
Sources awaiting check
Ask about the edge finish before installation. A mower's ability to follow a boundary does not automatically describe how close its cutting system can reach a wall, bed or drop.
Draw each edge type
Mark walls, fences, flush paving, raised borders and vulnerable areas separately. Photograph the actual detail, including changes in level.
Give this information to the installer and ask what finish the proposed model can achieve at each edge. Husqvarna UK: robotic mower FAQ describes a model-dependent range; do not treat a feature on one machine as standard across all robotic mowers.
Distinguish travel from cutting
Ask where the machine may safely travel and where the blades can cut. Request the installation dimensions from the exact manual, including the boundary method used.
Do not reduce a prescribed clearance to remove an uncut strip. Near ponds, retaining edges or drops, safety and the approved layout take priority over an entirely automatic finish.
Price the remaining work
If edging still needs another tool, include that equipment, storage and time in the ownership comparison. Ask how frequently the finish is likely to need attention for your preferred lawn style, while keeping any estimate clearly attributed.
Consider whether a planned border redesign could simplify the job, but have construction and safe clearances assessed before changing the garden.
Agree what installation completion means
Walk the edges with the installer and record areas that remain manual. Distinguish accepted finishing work from an installation fault.
Keep the drawing and relevant instructions for future garden changes. A new raised bed or moved fence can change an arrangement that previously worked.
The useful answer to will it cut the edge is a site-specific explanation. A photograph of a mower beside a neat lawn cannot show the hidden clearances, cutting position or manual finishing that produced the result.
Related guides
- What to include in a robot mower installation surveyWhat a robot mower installation survey should cover: garden brief, navigation method, dock and power, and what counts as an accepted installation.
- How to write a robot mower fault report that support can useHow to write a robot mower fault report support can act on: the whole installation, one failure at a time, what changed first and when to stop.
Sources
- Husqvarna UK robotic mower FAQ: wire or wire-free installation, slopes, narrow passages and edges vary by model (Husqvarna UK), checked 24 Oct 2026
- BHPS recommends daylight-only robot mowing (British Hedgehog Preservation Society), awaiting check