How to Prepare Your Robot Mower for Winter Storage
As robot mowers work autonomously, it can be easy to overlook them when it’s time to put your garden tools and equipment into winter storage. However, if these high-specification machines are to continue to carry out their job effectively long term, it’s vitally important to look after them, particularly at this challenging time of year. And to care for your robotic mower correctly, you need to know how best to prepare it for winter storage.
Here, we explain when and why to winterproof a robot mower. We then provide you with a step-by-step guide as to how you should do so. And as this is only a general guide, and many robot mowers need winterproofing slightly differently, we’ll round things off by showing you the major robot mower manufacturers’ official winter storage videos. This way, you can tailor your automower winter storage routine to account for whatever model you own, for example by learning how to correctly winterize Husqvarna Automowers.
When Should I Winterproof My Robot Mower?
The best time to give your lawn its final mow of the year varies depending on the weather conditions but, generally speaking, it tends to be in early November. This is usually when the grass starts to enter its dormant period, with growth slowing or ceasing altogether (if the soil temperature falls below 5oC). Therefore, the best time to prepare your robot mower for winter is straight after its final mow of the year.
Why Do Robot Mowers Need Storing for Winter?
There are two reasons why robot mowers need putting into winter storage.
The first is obviously that as your lawn is barely growing, it won’t need cutting. In fact, if the robomow were to do so, it would create undue stress on the grass and damage it. Therefore, it makes sense to disable your robotic mower over the winter period, to prevent it autonomously (and accidentally) mowing your lawn.
Secondly, the harsh winter weather can adversely affect the sensitive electronics that make up these leading-edge garden machines. And as a robotic mower’s cost and effectiveness make it an extremely valuable asset, it’s in your best interests to prevent potential problems occurring by winterproofing the machine.
Our Step-by-Step Guide to Robot Mower Winter Storage
Here follows our step-by-step guide to effectively preparing your robot mower for winter storage. But remember, because this guide is designed as general advice, it’s still worth watching the videos that follow and consulting your robot mower operating manual, just in case there are any particulars relating to the model you own.
Step 1: Prepare the Battery for Storage
To prevent the potential problems associated with deep discharge, and extend its service life, you should ensure that your robotic mower’s battery has sufficient charge before entering winter storage.
Usually, this means fully charging it, although some manufacturers specify that a slightly lower charge level is sufficient.
Step 2: Disable the Robot Mower
Begin by removing the robot mower from its charging station. Your next action will depend on the model of robomow you own. It could involve simply turning off the machine, or might mean switching off the automatic mowing function and activating the locking system.
Whatever the specifics relating to your own robot mower, the key thing here is to ensure that the mower doesn’t attempt to start operating over the winter period.
Step 3: Winterproof the Charging Station
It’s not just the mower that needs protection in winter, the charging station does too. That said, the level of protection required varies according to the model in question.
Some manufacturers advise moving the charging station indoors. In these cases, before removing it, mark its location with pegs, just so you can resume operations in spring with minimal fuss.
Other manufacturers advise leaving the charging station in place throughout the winter months, but using a protective cover to shield it from the worst of the weather.
Whichever of the above applies to your robot mower’s charging station, you should always disconnect the mains cable and store it indoors.
If you need to remove grass cuttings, and the like, from the charging station or cable before storing them, use a soft, dry brush.
Step 4: Antennas, Poles and Perimeter Wires
After disconnecting the charging station’s cable, remove the antenna and top section of the pole. Both of these items should be stored indoors. If you have an antenna in a difficult-to-reach place – say on top of a roof, leave it where it is to avoid unnecessary hassle. Likewise, it’s fine to keep the bottom section of the pole in position too.
If your robotic mower operates using a perimeter wire, there’s no need to take any action. Simply leave it in place throughout the winter months.
Step 5: Check and Clean the Robot Mower
Now it’s time to examine the robot mower for signs of wear and tear. If the blades need replacing, be sure to use protective gloves.
Then, once everything is in order, you can clean the mower. Use a soft, dry brush and damp cloth, depending on the parts you’re cleaning. With many robotic mowers, you can thoroughly clean all exterior areas of the machine using a hose, but it’s best to consult your own robot mower’s operating manual before doing this.
Once you’ve cleaned it, leave your mower to dry before putting it into storage.
Step 6: Where to Store Your Robomow Over Winter
Both mower and charging station should be stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. This could be inside a shed, garage, or the house itself. If the manufacturer’s guidance notes recommend the latter, be sure to follow them.
Ideally, you will have kept the box the mower and charging station were delivered in. If not, try and find a suitable alternative. Either way, store the mower horizontally, in a secure position, away from high-traffic areas.
Step 7: Get Your Robot Mower Serviced
Just like a car hugely benefits from an annual service, so does a robotic mower. In fact, annual servicing is a sure-fire way to keep any garden machine running smoothly and efficiently for longer.
During a robot mower service, the technician will clean the machine, check the safety functions are working properly, and replace any worn or damaged parts. So, providing you book a service, you can miss out step 5 of our guide. (S)he will also examine the robot mower’s sensitive components, like the battery and electronics, as well as instal any software updates and issue a detailed service checklist report.
It’s worth noting that, in many cases, getting your robomow annually serviced will extend the manufacturer’s warranty.
For all of these reasons, you should regard robot mower servicing not just as a nicety, but as an absolute necessity. That is why, here at Ron Smith, we offer such comprehensive robot mower servicing, including a collection service. Contact one of our Robot Mower Experts now to find out more.
Tailored Robot Mower Winter Storage Advice
As previously mentioned, the above is only a general step-by-step guide. Different models of mower often have their own unique requirements.
For this reason, in alphabetical order, here are videos from the world’s leading robot mower manufacturers, showing their own specific winter storage recommendations:
Preparing a Honda Miimo for winter:
Husqvarna Automower winter storage:
How to store your Segway Navimow before winter:
STIHL iMow preparation for winter:
We hope you’ve enjoyed learning about Honda, Segway, STIHL and Husqvarna robot mower winter storage. If you follow the above guidance, your robotic mower and its associated accessories are sure to be in A1 condition once your lawn needs mowing again next spring.
For Robotic Mowers, Visit Ron Smith
Here, at Ron Smith, we boast a superb range of robot mowers for sale, including all the latest models, brought to you by the world’s leading manufacturers of robotic mowers.
And should you have any questions about these machines, including how to service and winterproof them, please don’t hesitate to contact our Hereford and Worcester-based Robot Mower Experts, who will be delighted to help.
