The garden
Everything that happens in and around our garden
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Lymow One in test: Robot mower without boundary wire with RTK navigation and chain drive
The Lymow One robotic lawnmower is one of the most exciting developments in the field of robotic lawnmowers without a boundary wire. My test shows how far modern RTK navigation, VSLAM, a robust chain drive and a wide mowing deck can simplify work on large lawns. The focus is on performance, precision and off-road capability – characteristics that I was able to test extensively on my own property and another larger test area. The report summarizes all the important aspects: from design and scope of delivery, set-up, mapping and app control to mowing performance, cutting pattern, obstacle detection and practice on uneven terrain. In addition to the test, I provide…
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Build your own smoke-free fire barrel: DIY instructions from a 200 L oil drum with secondary ventilation
Building your own fire barrel is an exciting DIY project for the garden that not only provides warmth, but is also sustainable. An old 200-liter barrel or oil drum can be turned into an efficient and virtually smoke-free heat source with a little manual skill. I built my own fire barrel and tested different variants – from simple burnout to optimized secondary ventilation. In this article, I’ll show you step by step how I went about it and what to look out for when baking, drilling and choosing materials.
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Installing and programming the Hunter Hydrawise irrigation computer – step by step
Automatic garden watering with the Hunter Hydrawise controller brings more convenience, efficiency and control to my lawn, bed and hedge watering. In this article, I will show you the complete transition from the classic Hunter X-Core to the smart Hydrawise control system – including WLAN setup, zone programming, sensor integration and weather-based adjustment with Solar Sync and Predictive Watering. I describe how my existing system was expanded and modernized, which functions make the difference and what to look out for during installation. A field report with many technical details – from practice, for practice.
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Anthbot Genie robotic lawnmower in test: Perfect lawn mowing without cables?
A robotic mower without boundary wire, equipped with RTK navigation, GPS, camera and intuitive app control – that’s exactly what the Anthbot Genie 600 offers. In this article, I’ll show you how the model works in my garden, what you need to bear in mind when setting it up, setting it up and mapping it, and how the robot performs in everyday life. I will go into the scope of delivery, technical data, zone management, edge cutting, AI functions and firmware development. There are also comparisons, recommendations and honest feedback from the field.
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Hardy palms for the garden – these 5 species can withstand frost down to -15 °C
Hardy palm trees for the garden in Germany? I have tried it – with success. In this article, I show you my best frost-resistant palm species for German gardens that can be planted out permanently or kept in containers. I present five tried-and-tested palm species, hardy down to -15 degrees, and explain what is important when planting, caring for and overwintering them. Anyone looking for exotic hardy palms for Central Europe will find practical tips, specific product recommendations and personal experiences from my garden here.
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ECOVACS GOAT A1600 RTK: The innovative robotic lawnmower without boundary wire in the test
A robotic lawnmower without boundary wires can revolutionize lawn care – no more laying and repairing wires, just precise navigation with RTK technology. The ECOVACS GOAT A1600 RTK promises exactly that. After more than 10 years with the Gardena Sileno+, which was regularly slowed down by broken cables, we needed an alternative. In this test, I show how the GOAT A1600 RTK performs in practice: from installation and mapping to mowing quality and safety. Is the cordless robotic lawnmower really convincing? Here is the answer.
