GARDENA SILENO minimo
A basic, compact boundary-wire mower for small, flat lawns, controlled over Bluetooth from a few metres away. Simple and light, but with no remote control, no alarm and no zones.
- Lawn sizeup to 500 m²
- NavigationPerimeter wire
- Max slope25%
- Versions2
Prices and stock
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Our verdict
Should you buy the SILENO minimo?
A desk-based verdict from the manufacturer’s specifications, manuals and UK warranty terms.
Pros
- Light at 6.1 kg and small enough for tight town gardens
- Boundary wire and stakes are included in the box
- Narrow-passage mode for gaps from 60 cm between wires
- Three-year warranty once registered with Gardena
- No subscription or network setup: the app talks directly to the mower
Cons
- Bluetooth app only, so no control from outside the garden
- No anti-theft alarm, only a PIN code
- Low slope limits, especially where the wire runs across a slope
- Maximum cutting height of 45 mm is lower than most rivals
- No edge-trimming feature: Gardena says Trim-to-Edge doesn't apply to the minimo
Who it’s for
- Small, fairly flat lawns up to about 400 m²
- Buyers who want a simple wired mower from a big-name brand
- Gardens with narrow strips down to 60 cm between wires
- Owners happy to set schedules standing near the mower
Who should avoid it
- You want to control or check the mower away from home: it's Bluetooth only
- Your lawn has banks: the slope rating is 25% inside the lawn and only 10% along the wire
- You want an anti-theft alarm: Gardena lists none on this model
- You don't want to lay a boundary wire
Specifications
SILENO minimo specifications
The manufacturer’s published figures, each linked to its source. Where versions differ, each is listed.
| Rated lawn area | 250 m²: 250 m²Source: manufacturer product page 500 m²: 500 m²Source: manufacturer product page |
|---|---|
| Narrowest passage |
| Navigation | Perimeter wireSource: manufacturer product page |
|---|---|
| Positioning and obstacle sensors | boundary wire, collision sensors, lift sensor, frost sensorSource: manufacturer product page |
| RTK base station needed | |
| 4G | |
| Subscription needed | |
| Bluetooth |
| Max slope | 250 m²: 25%Source: manufacturer product page 500 m²: 25%Source: manufacturer product page |
|---|
| Cutting width | 250 m²: 160 mmSource: manufacturer product page 500 m²: 160 mmSource: manufacturer product page |
|---|---|
| Min cutting height | 250 m²: 20 mmSource: manufacturer product page 500 m²: 20 mmSource: manufacturer product page |
| Max cutting height | 250 m²: 45 mmSource: manufacturer product page 500 m²: 45 mmSource: manufacturer product page |
| Blade type | 250 m²: 1 blade disc with 3 bladesSource: manufacturer product page 500 m²: 1 blade disc with 3 bladesSource: manufacturer product page |
| Blades | 250 m²: 3Source: manufacturer product page 500 m²: 3Source: manufacturer product page |
| Edge cutting |
| Mowing time per charge | 250 m²: 70 minSource: manufacturer product page 500 m²: 70 minSource: manufacturer product page |
|---|---|
| Charging time | 250 m²: 60 minSource: manufacturer product page 500 m²: 60 minSource: manufacturer product page |
| Weight | 250 m²: 6.1 kgSource: manufacturer product page 500 m²: 6.1 kgSource: manufacturer product page |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (L × W × H) | 250 m²: 520 × 340 × 220Source: manufacturer product page 500 m²: 520 × 340 × 220Source: manufacturer product page |
| Noise | 250 m²: 57 dB(A)Source: manufacturer product page 500 m²: 57 dB(A)Source: manufacturer product page |
| Water/dust rating | 250 m²: IPX5Source: manufacturer product page 500 m²: IPX5Source: manufacturer product page |
| App | GARDENA Bluetooth AppSource: manufacturer product page |
|---|---|
| Theft alarm | 250 m²: NoSource: manufacturer product page 500 m²: NoSource: manufacturer product page |
| PIN lock | 250 m²: YesSource: manufacturer product page 500 m²: YesSource: manufacturer product page |
| Warranty | |
|---|---|
| Professional installation |
links go to the manufacturer source for each figure. Figures are the manufacturer’s own claims unless marked otherwise.
Claims vs reality
Where the brand’s marketing and its own small print don’t agree.
They sayThe minimo is sold as a 250 m² and a 500 m² model.
In practiceGardena's spec tables show the same mower in both boxes: same 16 cm cut, 70 minutes per charge and weight. The difference is the daily active time the mower is allowed, not bigger hardware. Source
They sayThe lawn can have slopes of up to 25%.
In practiceThat figure applies inside the lawn. Where the boundary wire runs across a slope, Gardena's limit is 10%. Source
Which version do you need?
The two versions share the same hardware on Gardena's spec sheet: same cutting disc, width, weight and time per charge. The 500 m² version is simply allowed to run for more hours a day. Buy the 250 m² for lawns up to about 200 m² and the 500 m² for anything bigger, remembering Gardena quotes area with a ±20% tolerance.
How it navigates and sets up
The SILENO minimo is a traditional boundary-wire mower. You peg a wire around the edge of the lawn and around beds or ponds, connect it to the charging station, and the mower works inside that loop. Gardena supplies the wire and stakes and walks you through setup in its Bluetooth app. Its CorridorCut mode handles passages of 60 cm between wires.
Gardena rates it for slopes of 25% inside the lawn, but only 10% where the wire itself runs across a slope. On a sloping plot, route the wire along the flat parts where you can. Our installation guide covers wire layout in more detail.
Cutting
The minimo uses a single disc with three blades, cutting a 160 mm strip. Height runs from 20 mm to 45 mm, so it suits a short, tidy lawn rather than long grass. Gardena says its Trim-to-Edge feature doesn't apply to this model, so expect to trim along walls and borders yourself. The quoted sound level is 57 dB(A), typical for a small wired mower.
App, connectivity and security
Control is through the GARDENA Bluetooth App, which only works within about 10 metres of the mower. You can set schedules and settings there, but there's no remote control, no map and no zones. Security is a PIN code; Gardena's spec table lists no alarm. If theft is a concern in your area, see our security guide.
Running costs, warranty and support
The warranty is 3 years, but only if you register within three months; batteries and blades aren't covered. Gardena doesn't sell direct in the UK or publish an RRP, so you buy through retailers. Replacement blades and wire repair connectors are the main running costs; see our blade guide and the running-costs calculator.
Price history
Show price history as a table
| Date | SILENO minimo 250 m² | SILENO minimo 500 m² |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Sept | £370.79 | £433.32 |
SILENO minimo questions and answers
What's the difference between the Gardena SILENO minimo 250 m² and 500 m²?
Very little in the hardware. Gardena's spec tables for the two versions of the GARDENA SILENO minimo show the same mower: a 160 mm cut from one disc with three blades, the same 6.1 kg weight, the same sound level and about 70 minutes of mowing per charge.
The difference is how long each one is allowed to work. Gardena lists a daily active time of up to 5.5 hours for the 250 m² model and up to 12 hours for the 500 m² model, and the energy use figures differ to match. In other words, the 500 m² version covers more ground by running for longer, not by cutting faster.
How to choose:
- Lawn up to about 200 m²: the 250 m² version is enough, bearing in mind Gardena quotes area with a tolerance of plus or minus 20%.
- Lawn between about 200 m² and 400 m²: go for the 500 m².
- Lawn much above 400 m², or with lots of beds and corners: look at a larger model with a wider cut, such as the GARDENA SILENO life.
Both versions need a boundary wire, both have the same slope limits, and both carry the same warranty terms. If the price gap between them is small at your retailer, the 500 m² version gives you more headroom for a lawn that turns out bigger than you measured. Our lawn size tool can help you check.
Can the Gardena SILENO minimo be controlled over Wi-Fi or only by Bluetooth?
Only by Bluetooth. The GARDENA SILENO minimo pairs with the GARDENA Bluetooth App, and Gardena gives the range as up to about 10 metres, so you need to be in or near the garden to change its schedule or settings. There's no Wi-Fi, no smart Gateway support and no mobile data.
That keeps things simple: nothing to connect to your router and no paid plan mentioned by Gardena, although you do need a free Gardena account. Once a schedule is saved, the mower follows it on its own, so you only need the phone nearby when you want to change something.
If you want to start or stop the mower from work or while on holiday, the GARDENA SILENO city is the next model up. Its set includes the smart Gateway, which puts the mower on your home internet.
More questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I control the SILENO minimo from my phone when I'm out?
No. The minimo uses the GARDENA Bluetooth App, which only connects when your phone is within about 10 metres of the mower. For remote control you need a smart SILENO with the smart Gateway.
Does the SILENO minimo need a perimeter wire?
Yes. You lay a boundary wire around the lawn and around anything it should avoid. Gardena includes 150 m of wire and 150 stakes in the box and positions it as a DIY install guided by the app.
Is there a subscription?
No paid plan is mentioned anywhere by Gardena. The mower and app work locally over Bluetooth, though you need a free Gardena account.
How long is the warranty?
Gardena gives three years if you register the mower at gardena.com/registration within three months of purchase. Batteries, blades and wear parts are excluded. Without registration, only your statutory rights apply.
Also consider
Alternatives to the SILENO minimo
Similar mowers that trade something for something else: price, wire, slope or size.
Step up
GARDENA SILENO city
- Up to 500 m²
- Perimeter wire
- 35% slopes
Cheaper option
Worx Landroid M
- Up to 500 m²
- Perimeter wire
- 35% slopes
Wire-free alternative
Einhell FREELEXO CAM
- Up to 500 m²
- Vision (camera)
- 25% slopes
Step up
Husqvarna Automower 305
- Up to 600 m²
- Perimeter wire
- 40% slopes
Owning one
Accessories, guides and tools
Compatible accessories
- Boundary Wire 150 m
- Boundary Wire 50 m
- Repair Kit for Boundary Wire
Last updated 2026-09-29. Specs are the manufacturer’s own figures, each linked to its source. How we score · How we get prices · Report an error