The Times Weekend - UK (2020-08-01)

13

‘We made for the flat granite

boulders, a grandstand from

which to admire the view’

Christopher Somerville’s good walk

The best robot lawnmowers

Husqvarna,

£799-£4,

A mower for every lawn.

Like buying a luxury

car, choose your model

and your extras —

including an app to tell

you how it’s doing when

you’re at work, like

a nanny keeping you

updated on the children.

The cheaper end will

mow a decent-sized

lawn. The most

expensive will do about

3,500 sq m and inclines

of 70 per cent, perfect

for keeping your

country pile in check

(husqvarna.com/uk).

Bosch Indego S+ 400,

£949.

If you need a more

punctilious mower, this

is the model for you.

Unlike other robot

mowers, it is clever

enough to produce

a mental map of your

garden, then attack

it in rows — although

without a roller the

stripes are faint

(bosch-diy.com).

Flymo Easilife 200,

£649.

The

cheaper

option

in the

cheeriest

colours. Does the job,

provided that your lawn

is less than 200 sq m —

and has the same brain

power as the Husqvarna

(flymo.com).

Gardena Sileno City

250m², £679.

Slightly more pricey,

but cuts a slightly bigger

lawn (gardena.com).

Tom Whipple

Page

15

My top flowers for a wilder-looking

lawn by Stephen Anderton

Selfheal

Like a creeping purple orchid

that flowers generously from

June to November. Grows best

in shorter grasses.

Your lawn questions

answered Next page

White clover

Creeping stems produce the typical

clover spheres of flower that the

bees find irresistible. Grow in short

grass from May to October.

Common daisy

The daisy will survive and flower

under even the closest mowing

regimen. Flowers all summer long.

Lesser knapweed

Grown in long grass, tufty purple

heads spread from a tall plant and

soft seedheads follow. Goldfinches

love it. Flowers June to September.

Lady’s smock (cuckoo flower)

Works well in medium-length,

poor and damp grass. It is the

freshest of pale lilac colours.

Flowers April to June.

Common dandelion

Possibly the most floriferous and

most enraging lawn flower. Best

grown in medium-length grass.

Flowers April to June.

Ox-eye daisy

Waving white sheets of flowers. If

you have meadow-like grass, it’s

well worth growing ox-eye daisies.

Flowers May to September.

Common poppy

Grows well in rough meadow grass.

There’s nothing like this gorgeous

splash of red in a longer lawn.

Flowers June to October.

Meadow cranesbill

Stands up a treat in rough grass,

which is its natural home. Coarse

and vibrant blue flowers. Flowers

June to September.

Cowslip

Dainty, yellow flowers. Resilient

to mowers, this grows best in a

medium-length lawn in a sunny

spot. Flowers April to May.

Orange hawkweed

A bunch of truly orange dandelion

daisies wafting about a foot above

a hairy green rosette. Best grown in

taller grass. Flowers June to August.

Ya r r o w

Flat-topped creamy flower heads

and ferny aromatic foliage. Flowers

June to November.

JOHN ANGERSON FOR THE TIMES; ALAMY