How to prepare your acreage for autonomous mowing
A practical seven-step pre-installation checklist for Northern Rivers property owners getting ready to deploy an autonomous mower. Walk through this and you'll arrive at the on-site demo with everything sorted.
- A property map or aerial photo (Google Maps satellite view works fine)
- About 30 minutes to walk the property
- A standard mains power outlet within reach of where you'd like the dock
Map your property in zones
Pull up an aerial view of your property — Google Maps satellite is fine — and visually divide it into mowing zones. Typical zones are: front lawn, side paddock, rear paddock, ridge, creek flat. Don't worry about precision at this stage; the boundary mapping happens during install. The aim is to have a clear mental model of the property's mowable area before the on-site demo.
Identify exclusion areas
Walk the property and note anything that should NOT be mowed: garden beds, ornamental landscaping, pool surrounds, septic field covers, play areas, vegetable patches, water features, established native plantings. These will be configured as exclusion zones during installation. Photograph the obvious ones for reference — that saves time during install.
Check your slope sections
Walk the steepest sections of the property and form a rough sense of the slope. The PANDAG G1 used by AutoAcre handles up to 38° — which covers virtually any Northern Rivers lifestyle property — but if you have unusually steep sections, vertical drops (cliffs, retaining walls), or sections your current contractor avoids, make a note. Those get flagged during the on-site demo and may become exclusion zones. See the steep block mowing page for more on this.
Sort power for the charging dock
The autonomous mower returns to a small charging dock between mowing runs. The dock needs a standard mains power outlet within reach. Pick a sheltered, unobtrusive spot — typically near a shed, garage, carport, or in a corner of the property. AutoAcre confirms the exact placement during install but having a candidate spot ready saves time.
Sort access for installation day
Install is a one-off site visit, typically a few hours. Make sure AutoAcre can access the property — gate codes, key collection, neighbour with a key, or simply being there yourself. If you're absentee, line up your local property manager or a trusted neighbour.
Plan for detail work coverage
The autonomous mower handles the main mowing surface. Detail work — line trimming around trees, garden bed edges, ornamental areas — needs separate coverage. Decide whether you'll keep your existing gardener for detail (most customers do, since the gardener's hours drop dramatically once they're not burning time on the bulk mowing) or have AutoAcre coordinate detail work as part of the install scope.
Book the on-site demo
Call Ben on 0499 649 094 or use the online booking form. The on-site demo brings the PANDAG G1 to your property and runs it on your actual terrain — slope sections included — so you can see exactly what coverage looks like before any subscription commitment. Demo fee is credited to your first month if you proceed.
Common follow-up questions
How long does the actual installation take?
Most installs are completed in a single 2-4 hour site visit. Boundary mapping, dock placement, exclusion-zone configuration, and a first commissioning run all happen in that window. The mower starts daily operation that same day.
Do I need to do anything to the lawn before installation?
If the grass is currently very long (over about 15cm), AutoAcre will run a first cut down to manageable height during install. Otherwise, no preparation is needed — the autonomous mower works on the property as it is.
What if I move the dock or change exclusion zones later?
Both are easy to change. Boundary maps and exclusion zones can be updated remotely. Physically moving the dock requires a brief site visit.
Do I need to be on-site during the daily mowing?
No. The mower operates without supervision. Many AutoAcre customers are absentee owners or holiday-rental operators rarely on-site. Weekly photo reports give you the visibility.
What about unusual features — water features, sculpture, ornamental beds?
All flagged during the on-site demo and configured as exclusion zones. The mower will not approach configured exclusion zones regardless of how it's navigating the rest of the property.
How does the mower handle gates and shared driveways?
Gates are treated as boundaries. Shared driveways are configured as exclusion zones. The mower stays inside its mapped boundaries.
Related how-to guides: how to assess if your property is right for autonomous mowing · how to switch from a fortnightly contractor.
More: FAQ · glossary · facts & figures · vs ride-on contractor · daily vs fortnightly cadence.