Eastern Shore Estate Uses Robotics to Manage Turf

An aerial view of the property in Bozman, MD. One of the best examples of how Zippy Lanwz robotic mowing and automated systems can improve even the most complex of properties.

If you have ever visited Maryland's Eastern Shore, you have likely noticed that there is a fair share of larger estate properties in the area. This is due to its proximity to Washington, D.C., and the availability of larger swathes of land to be purchased. However, even if the dream is to find yourself standing at the edge of the Chesapeake Bay with 20+ acres of land behind you to call your own, that is no small task to manage. It is often the case that when we meet with homeowners who have larger properties, they are simply overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work it takes to manage 2, 5, or even 10+ acres. Many opt to have the property "contract farmed", which creates its own set of issues. Or, they hire a service to come and mow, trim, edge, etc. This could also include a gardener and landscaper who will tend to the more delicate sections of the property, depending on its complexity. Then, the next thing they know, they have teams of people coming and going at all times of the day, weekly. Time and time again, we have heard the frustrations this causes with the homeowners and how a property management plan can get out of hand very quickly. So, what can Zippy do about this? Well, we aren't farmers, gardeners, or arborists, but we can help dial in turf management and create a plan that reduces noise, man-hours, and emissions, all while improving the health of a property's lawn using automated mowing systems and natural fertilizer plans. And, that is exactly what we did at this property on Bozman, MD, outside of St. Michaels. (See Video Below)

When the homeowners first started looking into robotic automated systems, they were plagued with the common issues we see with traditional lawn care and management practices. The noise, the smell, the random times that the mowing crew would show up (usually a Friday evening...), and everything that comes with trying to manage multiple acres of lawn along with a farm, various landscaping, and physical features. Simply put, this project was no small task and ended up taking multiple seasons to get it to the point we and more importantly, the homeowner wanted it.

When the homeowners purchased the property, pretty much everything that wasn't farm or forest was mowed and managed turf. In their first summer there, they spent tens of thousands of dollars to have mowing crews come out once a week, every month from April to November. After just one summer, the homeowners decided to let ~80% of the grass grow to field, thus reducing the amount that needed to be mowed, reducing costs, and in a way creating a more dynamic look to the property. After all, unless you plan on fielding a soccer team every weekend, there is really no need to have anything north of 4-5 acres of lawn. And, if we are being honest, we think that the natural fescue looks great and keeps a rustic, farmhouse feel to the property. However, even with a reduced turf/lawn area, the property relied on traditional practices and mowing crews to come out once a week to mow. After a few ruined hardscapes, constant noise, and the mowing crew showing up inconsistently, the homeowner went looking for a better solution.

Enter Zippy Lanwz!

A look at one of the Zippy Lawnz robotic mowers at work.

When we first met with the property owners, they had a ton of questions, but more importantly, they had a vision. "How can we make an already serene space, quieter and easier to manage?" Out of that, we were able to address multiple areas of the property, not just the lawn, in order to eliminate the need for chemicals, reduce man-hours, and to dial the property management plan in to meet and beat expectations. Now, it should be noted that this process has taken a few summers to get right, and we have changed directions a couple of times. The first thing we looked at was how to get automated systems to manage the lawn areas. The first step we took was to map out multiple zones, focusing on the greenhouse/garden area as well as the back yard, which includes a pool, flower gardens, and a wrap-around porch that covers 1/2 of the house. Once we got a sense of how much lawn they wanted in these areas, it was as simple as mapping it all out, creating a schedule, and deploying the robots to mow at least every other day. After we dialed in the main house we addressed the guest house area and a massive solar array that is on the property.

Around the guest and, more importantly, the massive solar array, there were constant issues with overgrowth, spotty grass due to a defunct driveway, and bramble and berry patches that are relentless and need to be cut back every fall. With the complexity of the solar array and the simple need to have the area around the guest house managed, robotic mowers proved to be the best solution. The grass surrounding the guest house is kept at the same height all season long, which means that if there are ever guests on the way, the homeowners need not worry and don't have to scramble to make sure it is mowed before any visit. Around the solar array, there are wires, beams, and bird nets, which make traditional methods both difficult and time-intensive. (See Below) As a result when the lawn was being managed using traditional mowers and trimmers it would take hours to get done and eventually they gave up on it and let it grow wild. But the issue there is, once the fescue grew in it started to affect the solar array, so they needed to come up with a solution. The Zippy mowers, once mapped accordingly, are able to cut under and around the solar array without damaging the structure or interfering with its performance. Admittadly, this was our first solar array that we've dealt with so we went in fingers crossed and the homeowners could not be happier with the results.

Example of what is under the array that needs to be avoided in order to keep the turf managed.

All in all, this is one of, if not the largest, projects that Zippy Lawnz has taken on, and we are very proud of what we have accomplished. Most importantly, we were able to address the largest issues that the homeowners had with their previous services. In my personal opinion, I think that the lawn areas look better than ever, the natural fescue looks great, and the little details in that we were able to put in and cut with robots simply elevate the property.

If you have a similar space, or even just half an acre, reach out to us to see if our robotic automated systems can help improve your lawn and give you back your time. Heck, we might even be able to save you a little money along the way.

Thanks for reading - Zippy Lawnz

Video Walkthrough of the Property:

All information above is provided by Zippy Lawnz. It may be reposted anywhere so long as credit is given to Zippy Lanwz.