How to prepare your robot lawn mower for winter storage
With the first frost, it’s time to prepare and service your robot lawn mower for winter. Our guide makes winterproofing your robotic mower easy.
31.08.2023
Why your robot lawn mower needs a winter break
By late autumn, the grass in your lawn only grows very slowly, and there is little point in mowing the grass in winter – in fact, doing so could actually damage the lawn. So when the cold weather arrives, your garden helper can enjoy a well-earned winter sleep.
Low temperatures, snow and rain can also damage the sensitive electronics of your iMOW®, so you need to store it indoors over winter. You should also protect the charging station from moisture while the iMOW® is in storage.
When should I put away my robot mower for winter?
Your lawn’s last cut of the year should be before the first frost, once temperatures are regularly below 10°C or so – generally in late October or early November. Then it’s time to decommission your iMOW® robotic mower for winter storage.
In spring your grass begins to awaken from its winter hibernation, and your robot mower needs to be ready to hit the garden for the first mow of the season.
When can I use my robot lawn mower again after winter?
It depends on the region you live in and the current weather conditions. As a general rule, the first warmer days of sunshine between March and April herald the start of the new gardening season – that is when you know winter is definitely over.
Would you prefer to have someone else take care of servicing and storing your robot lawn mower for winter? Our STIHL dealers will be happy to advise you if you have any questions, and can also perform all important work on your iMOW® if necessary.
How to store your robot mower for winter
It just takes a few steps to prepare your robot mower for winter storage.
Fully charge the battery of your iMOW® after its last use. This will prevent the robot lawn mower from deep discharging over winter, and will extend the battery’s service life.
Switch off the automatic mowing plan and ensure that the highest safety level has been selected. Activate the lock by pressing and holding the “STOP” button on your robot mower. You can also activate the tool lock via the menu of the robot mower by selecting “Lock iMOW®” in the Commands menu option, then confirming by pressing the “OK” button. Doing this will ensure that the device doesn’t start by itself while it is stored away for winter.
If you are using a C-model from our iMOW® series (MI 422 PC, RMI 422 PC, RMI 632 C, RMI 632 PC), activate the ECO energy mode. This can be found on your iMOW® display under Settings > Energy Mode > ECO. When using the ECO energy mode, wireless communication is deactivated during idle periods to save battery power.
Note: If the ECO energy mode is activated, your iMOW® can only be controlled with the iMOW® app during active hours.
You should make sure that your robot lawn mower is in good working order before you put it away for winter.
Inspect it for signs of wear and any damage that may have occurred. If you find any worn or defective parts, you should replace them now – we recommend that you ask a qualified STIHL dealer to help you. Checking that it is in good working order now will protect your robot lawn mower from premature malfunctions and mean that it is ready for use when it comes out of storage.
Cutting blade
As you’re not going to use your robot lawn mower for a while over winter, now’s a good time to check the cutting blade. Is it still sharp enough or does it need replacing? We recommend replacing the cutting blade after 200 operating hours.
A simple tool care step as you prep your mower for winter storage is cleaning it, using a damp cloth or dry brush on the housing and the mowing deck. Check the operating instructions for information on how to remove stubborn dirt. Once your iMOW® robot mower is thoroughly cleaned, it’s ready for its winter break.
STIHL pro tip: Do not use aggressive detergents as these may damage your robot mower. Do not clean your iMOW® under running water or with a high-pressure cleaner.
You can leave your iMOW® docking station on the lawn over winter, but you should cover it to protect the electronics. To do this, disconnect the mains voltage cable and store it in a cable box, for example. Place a suitable bucket or plastic crate over the station and secure it to ensure that it will remain firmly in place over the docking station.
Find a dry, lockable space, such as your garage or basement, for storage of your robot mower over winter. The temperature in the storage area should not drop below 5°C. Please do not place any objects on top of the robot lawn mower and be sure to store it in its normal position.
Now you can be confident that your robotic mower will be clean, dry and ready to go when the growing season starts again.
A winter service for your robot mower
We recommend that you take your robot lawn mower to a STIHL Approved Dealer for an annual check- up during the winter months. This will include inspection of sensitive components such as the battery, electronics and software.
Summary: preparing your robot lawn mower for winter storage
- Frost and snow can damage your robot lawn mower so you should store it in a dry, warm place over winter
- You should put your robot lawn mower into storage no later than the end of autumn, before the coldest temperatures hit
- Make sure your iMOW® is in good working order. Before putting it into storage for winter, check your robot mower for damage and take it to one of our qualified dealers to be repaired or serviced if necessary
- Thoroughly clean your robot mower before storing it for the winter
- Store your robot mower in a dry, lockable place over winter
