Should I bring my robot mower indoors over winter?

Yes, for most UK gardens. Once the grass stops growing, usually some time between late October and November, there's little for the mower to do, and frost, waterlogged ground and months of wet weather do it no favours. Most manufacturers recommend storing the mower indoors for the winter.

A typical end-of-season routine looks like this:

• Clean it. Brush dried grass off the underside and wheels, and wipe the body. Don't hose it unless the manual says that's allowed.
• Check the blades and replace them now or in spring.
• Charge the battery to the level the manual recommends, then switch the mower off.
• Store it somewhere dry and frost-free, such as a garage or shed that doesn't freeze. Lithium-ion batteries dislike both freezing and heat.
• Deal with the dock. Many manuals suggest bringing the charging station and power supply in too. A perimeter wire can stay in the ground. An RTK aerial can usually stay up, but check the manual.

Some owners keep mowing on mild winter days, and a few mowers have frost sensors that stop them starting in the cold. If you do, cut the schedule right back and avoid frozen or saturated grass, which marks easily.

In spring, recharge, update the software, check the map still fits the lawn, and restart with a higher cutting height for the first few sessions. Our winter storage guide has the full checklist.