Here is how to winterize a robot mower: clean it, charge the battery, check the blades and contacts, lock the schedule, and store it indoors above freezing. The core steps match across major brands, but battery charge levels and charging station rules differ, so check your model’s manual before you start.
The short answer
- Timing: winterize after the last cut, before the first frost, once nights stay below about 10°C (50°F).
- Clean: brush off clippings and wipe the deck, without a pressure washer.
- Charge and check: charge before storage, then inspect blades, wheels and contacts.
- Lock: turn off the mowing plan and lock the mower.
- Store: keep it indoors in a dry spot that stays above freezing.
How to winterize a robot mower before the first frost
Winterize your robot mower after its last cut of the season, before the first frost and once nighttime temperatures stay below about 10°C (50°F). Stihl’s UK winter guide tells owners to make the last cut before the first frost, once temperatures are regularly below 10°C, which it places in late October or early November. Your dates depend on your region, so watch the forecast rather than the calendar.
Husqvarna’s guide asks owners to cut the grass to 6 to 8 cm (2.4 to 3.1 inches) before winter, slightly longer than usual. Plan to have the mower indoors before the first hard frost, because the storage area has to stay above freezing.
Clean the mower and charging station
Clean the mower with a damp cloth, a soft brush or compressed air, and skip the pressure washer, because high-pressure water and harsh detergents can damage a robot mower. Stihl advises a damp cloth or dry brush for the housing and mowing deck, and warns against running water and aggressive cleaners. Mammotion’s guide gives the same direction and allows low-pressure water for a rinse. A longer step-by-step robot mower cleaning guide covers sensors, contacts and what to avoid.
- Remove clippings and debris. Clear grass from the deck, the blades, the wheels and the underside. Husqvarna asks owners to remove all clippings from moving parts.
- Brush or wipe the body. Use a soft brush or a damp cloth. Mammotion suggests compressed air for hard-to-reach areas underneath.
- Wipe the sensors and wheels. Mammotion recommends a damp cloth for both, so dirt does not affect sensing or traction in spring.
- Clean the charging station. Husqvarna asks for a deep clean of the station as well as the mower.
- Let everything dry fully. Our reading is that moisture left on the body or the station is the main reason to dry parts before you store them.
Charge the battery before storage
Charging is a core part of how to winterize a robot mower. Charge the battery fully before storage, since Husqvarna and Stihl recommend a full charge, while Mammotion says 40% to 60% is usually enough. Each brand gives a different number, so the table below sets out what each one says. For more on how cells age, see robot mower battery life.
| Brand guide | Battery advice before storage |
|---|---|
| Husqvarna (US) | Fully charge the mower before storage. No percentage is given. |
| Stihl (UK) | Fully charge after the last use. A full charge prevents deep discharge over winter and extends battery life. |
| Mammotion (US) | 40% to 60% is usually enough, and the page notes that some makers recommend 80%. Avoid fully discharging the battery. |
Heads up
The guides conflict on the charge level. Our reading is that the number in your manual wins, so use that figure rather than a general rule.
Stihl explains the full-charge advice as a way to stop the battery from discharging deeply over winter. Mammotion’s FAQ also warns against leaving the battery fully charged for long periods, which is why the brand guides differ on this point.
Check the blades, wheels and charging contacts
How to winterize a robot mower also means replacing worn blades before storage, since Stihl advises changing the cutting blade after 200 operating hours. Husqvarna’s storage guide also recommends replacing blades and screws to prevent rust and keep edges sharp. The guide to replacing robot mower blades shows the swap.
- Blade hours: Stihl says to replace the cutting blade after 200 operating hours.
- Blade and screws: Husqvarna recommends replacement to prevent rust and keep the edge sharp.
- Wheels and bearings: rotate each wheel by hand and listen for squeaking, grinding or extra resistance.
- Contacts: check the charging contacts on the mower and the station for corrosion or debris.
- Body panels: look for visible damage or unusual wear on the chassis and body.
Husqvarna’s winter storage guide also lists the lower front wheel bearings and the blade disc as parts to check. Replace any part that shows wear, and contact your dealer if you find a problem you cannot fix.
Lock the schedule and switch the mower off
The quiet step in how to winterize a robot mower is to turn off the automatic mowing plan and lock the mower before storage, so it does not run while it is parked for the season. Stihl’s winter storage page gives the steps for its iMOW models, and Husqvarna covers the GeoFence settings.
- Switch off the mowing plan. Stihl says to turn off the automatic mowing plan first.
- Select the highest safety level. Stihl lists this step before the lock.
- Lock the mower. On Stihl models, press and hold STOP, or choose Lock iMOW under Commands and confirm.
- Power off. Husqvarna says to switch the mower off before storage.
- Handle GeoFence. Keep GeoFence active if the mower stays inside its area. Disable it before powering off if you move the mower outside the area, or before a dealer visit.
Menu names and steps change between models, so use the app or manual that matches your mower.
What to do with the charging station and boundary wire
The charging station can stay outdoors over winter only when it is covered and protected from moisture (see leaving a robot mower outside for the weather side of that choice). Husqvarna says boundary wires stay in the ground through winter, and Mammotion says removing them is typically unnecessary.
- Stihl: the station can stay on the lawn if it is covered. Disconnect the mains cable and store it in a cable box, then place a bucket or plastic crate over the station and secure it.
- Husqvarna NERA models: the baseplate stays outdoors, and only the top of the station goes indoors.
- Husqvarna wire installations: if the station stays outdoors, keep it on mains power with the boundary and guide wires connected.
- Power supply: Husqvarna says to store the power supply in a dry, frost-free place.
- Connectors: Mammotion says to protect boundary wire connectors from moisture and corrosion; waterproof boundary wire connectors are one way to do that.
Heads up
Stihl says to disconnect the mains cable, while Husqvarna keeps an outdoor station on mains power. Our reading is that this depends on the station design, so check the manual before you unplug anything.
Where to store the mower over winter
Where you park it matters as much as how to winterize a robot mower. Store the mower indoors in a dry, lockable spot that stays above freezing. Husqvarna sets the line at above 0°C (32°F), Stihl says the storage area should not drop below 5°C (41°F), and Mammotion gives an ideal range of 10 to 20°C (50 to 68°F).
| Guide | Temperature rule | Place |
|---|---|---|
| Husqvarna (US) | Above freezing, above 0°C (32°F) | Dry place such as a garage, shed or basement |
| Stihl (UK) | Not below 5°C (41°F) | Dry, lockable space such as a garage or basement |
| Mammotion (US) | Ideal around 10 to 20°C (50 to 68°F) | Dry, temperature-controlled area; avoid damp or freezing basements and garages |
Keep the mower in its normal position and rest it on all wheels on a flat surface, or use a wall hanger made for robotic mowers. Mammotion suggests a breathable cover, which lets air move so moisture does not build up. None of the three guides gives a maximum storage length or a humidity figure, so check on the mower at intervals if it sits in a damp space.
Restart the mower in spring
Restart the mower in spring after the first warmer, sunny days, which Stihl places at March to April depending on your region and the weather. Use the checks below before the first cut.
- Check the firmware. Mammotion says to install the latest firmware before storage and check again before the first mow.
- Look at the blades and wheels. Mammotion says the blades should be sharp and clean, with the wheels free of debris.
- Test the sensors. Mammotion lists sensor checks as part of the spring routine.
- Restore the schedule. Mammotion suggests noting or resetting your schedules, since storage can change them.
- Book a check-up if you want one. Stihl recommends an annual check-up at an approved dealer for the battery, electronics and software.
Frequently asked questions
Can I winterize a robot mower myself?
Yes, most steps need only a soft brush, a damp cloth and your manual. Husqvarna says you can winterize the mower yourself using its checklist or leave the job to your dealer. Stihl recommends an annual check-up at an approved dealer for the battery, electronics and software.
What temperature is too cold for robot mower storage?
Keep it above freezing. Husqvarna sets the line at above 0°C (32°F), Stihl says the storage area should not drop below 5°C (41°F), and Mammotion gives an ideal range of 10 to 20°C (50 to 68°F).
Should I leave the battery fully charged all winter?
Charge it before storage, but the brands differ on the level. Husqvarna and Stihl recommend a full charge before storage, while Mammotion says 40% to 60% is usually enough. Follow the level in your manual, because that is the figure your model is built for.
When should I stop mowing for the season?
Make the last cut before the first frost, once temperatures are regularly below about 10°C (50°F). Stihl’s UK guide gives late October or early November as a typical time, and your region may be earlier or later.
Sources
- Complete winter storage guide for your Automower robotic lawn mower (Husqvarna): storage above freezing, blade and screw replacement, contact checks, GeoFence and boundary wire steps.
- How to prepare your robot lawn mower for winter storage (Stihl): last-cut timing, 5°C storage floor, 200-hour blade interval, lock steps and spring restart.
- Winterize robotic lawn mower (Mammotion): battery charge range, 10 to 20°C ideal storage, cleaning, firmware and spring checks.
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