How to store a robot mower over a Canadian winter (battery, station, wire and antenna)

Why a Canadian off-season is harder on a robot mower

Most robot mower marketing is written for places where the lawn takes a short nap over winter. In much of Canada it shuts down for good. Mammotion's Canadian maintenance guide points out that mowers in many parts of the country may sit unused for four to six months a year, and it lists the conditions they have to survive in that time: long stretches below zero, heavy snow, repeated freeze-thaw cycles and road salt drifting off nearby streets. A machine that's essentially a lithium battery, a circuit board and a few motors in a plastic shell doesn't enjoy any of those.

The good news is that the official guidance from Husqvarna, Worx and Mammotion overlaps a lot. Where they part ways is mostly on battery charge levels and on whether the charging base can stay outside. Those details matter, so this guide treats your own manual as the final word and uses the manufacturers' published instructions to show you what to look for in it.

Timing the last cut and prepping the lawn

Don't pick a date off the calendar. Mammotion's Canadian guide argues that the right time to stop depends on conditions rather than the month, and it says the mower should only go back out in spring once the snow has gone and the ground has thawed. A robot slipping over frozen turf or wet leaves is just piling up wear for no gain.

Husqvarna's Automower winter guide suggests setting the grass to roughly 6 to 8 cm (about 2.4 to 3.1 inches) before you put the mower away. That gives the lawn a sensible height to go into the cold with, and it means the first spring runs won't be fighting overgrown grass. If your mower changes height electronically, set it during the last few runs of the season. On manual-height models, do it before you start cleaning.

The battery: follow your brand's number, not a universal rule

This is where the brands disagree most, and where generic advice can steer you wrong. Husqvarna's guide says to charge the Automower fully and then switch it off, and it says most models don't need charging during storage. It adds that some older models may need topping up every three months, so check your operator's manual. Worx's Landroid Vision winter page recommends roughly 70 to 80 percent charge before storage and a recharge about every two months if you can manage it. It also says to take the battery out of the robot before storing it. Mammotion's Canadian guide recommends charging to 80 percent before winter maintenance, keeping removable batteries at 40 to 60 percent, and checking the mower and battery every six to eight weeks.

Put those side by side and the common thread is simple: never store a battery flat, and never leave it untouched until May. Pick the instruction that matches your exact model and set a reminder on your phone for the check-ins. Mammotion also warns never to charge in freezing conditions. That's a good reason to do the top-ups indoors rather than dragging the base out to a frozen garage.

One easy-to-miss Worx detail: the Landroid Vision page says its Wi-Fi lock engages after 72 hours without Wi-Fi, and it suggests switching the lock off in the app first if the mower will be stored somewhere with no signal. A basement storage room is exactly the place where you'd find that out in spring.

Cleaning and storing the mower itself

All three manufacturers want the machine cleaned before it's put away. Husqvarna lists the body, chassis and blade disc, along with clearing clippings out of moving parts. It also suggests spinning the wheels and listening for squeaks or grinding, checking the lower front wheel bearings, and replacing blades and screws so rust doesn't set in. Worx says to clean the housing, cutting disc and wheels without a pressure washer, and to clean the charging contacts on both the robot and the base. Dried grass hides cracks and corrosion that are easy to spot in October and annoying to discover in April.

Storage location is where the brands agree most. Husqvarna says to keep the mower somewhere dry and above 0°C (32°F), resting on all its wheels on a flat surface or on a wall hanger designed for it. Mammotion gives an ideal range of 5 to 20°C for the mower and 5 to 15°C for a removed battery, and it advises against storage below zero. Worx asks for a dry, frost-free spot away from direct sun and heat sources. An unheated shed in Winnipeg doesn't meet that brief. A basement or a heated garage usually does.

If you're shopping for a wired mower with a removable pack, such as the Landroid model covered at Worx Landroid M WR147 review, a battery you can carry indoors makes this whole routine easier.

Charging station, boundary wire and RTK antennas

Owners argue about the charging base more than anything else, and the official answers really do differ. Husqvarna says to store the station indoors with its power supply disconnected, in a dry, frost-free place. If it has to stay outside, Husqvarna wants it left on mains power with the boundary and guide wires connected and properly protected from the weather. Worx says its Landroid base can stay outdoors over winter but should come inside where temperatures drop very low, which describes most Canadian winters. Mammotion recommends bringing its station inside where possible, and otherwise disconnecting it and using a waterproof, insulated cover.

Boundary wire is less of a worry. Husqvarna says the wire can stay in the ground all winter. Worx suggests disconnecting the wire ends and wrapping them in insulating tape so they don't oxidise. If you have a wired Automower like the one at Husqvarna Automower 430X review, mark where the wire meets the station before you pull the base, so reconnecting it in spring isn't guesswork.

Wire-free mowers add another piece of hardware to think about. Husqvarna rates its EPOS reference station for -20°C to 70°C (-4°F to 158°F) and describes it as weatherproof. That's relevant to kits like the one at Husqvarna Automower 450XH EPOS review, though a prairie cold snap can still go below that rating. It also notes that if you move an EPOS charging station, you'll need to update its position in the app. Mammotion suggests testing RTK connectivity before storage and checking positioning accuracy in spring, which matters for RTK kits like the one reviewed at Mammotion YUKA mini H review. Network-RTK models such as Kress Mission RTKⁿ KR172 review skip the property antenna altogether, so there's one less thing standing in the snow.

Software, dealers and the spring restart

Mammotion advises installing all recommended firmware updates before shutting the mower down, so the first spring session isn't spent waiting on downloads. Husqvarna recommends an annual dealer service before the new season. It says that typically covers wear parts, firmware updates, cleaning, blade replacement, battery testing and safety checks, though what's included varies by country and dealer. Some dealers also offer winter storage, which is worth asking about if you don't have a warm, dry corner at home. If your Automower uses GeoFence, Husqvarna says to switch it off before taking the mower anywhere.

In spring, reverse the process. Put the station back exactly where it was, reconnect the wire or confirm the antenna or reference station is in place, and charge the mower fully indoors before its first run. Mammotion's guide also suggests checking RTK accuracy before trusting the old map. Watch the first few runs. A mower that suddenly can't find home or stops short of its usual coverage is telling you something about its battery, contacts or positioning.

From a tech standpoint

Winterising a robot mower in Canada really comes down to keeping the battery healthy and every electronic part dry and above freezing. The brands differ on the exact charge level and on whether the base can stay outside, so look up your own model's instructions rather than going by a general rule. If your home can't offer a dry spot above zero, factor dealer storage or service into the cost of owning one.