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Which mower is right for me?
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Which mower is right for me?
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Robotic lawn mowers have become an increasingly popular sight in British gardens, offering homeowners a hands-free way to maintain a neat and healthy lawn. With their promise of convenience, time-saving and precise cutting, these smart machines are transforming how we approach garden care.
But for many UK homeowners, one question often lingers: Can these machines truly handle our unpredictable and often wet weather?
While today’s robotic mowers are impressively resilient and designed with real-world conditions in mind, it’s important to understand their features, strengths and limitations, especially when it comes to rain, damp conditions and the varied climate we experience across the UK. Knowing what to expect can help you get the best performance from your mower and protect your investment for years to come.
When it comes to assessing whether a robotic mower can handle the challenges of British weather, one of the most important things to look at is its IP rating.
What is an IP rating?
IP stands for Ingress Protection. It’s an international standard used to classify how well a device is protected against the entry of solid objects (like dust) and liquids (like water). The rating is typically shown as IP followed by two numbers, for example, IP66.
Deciphering IP66
Let’s break it down:
The first digit (6) refers to protection against solid objects. A rating of 6 means the device is completely dust-tight, no dust can get inside that would affect its operation.
The second digit (6) refers to protection against liquids. A rating of 6 means the device is protected against high-pressure water jets from any direction, making it highly resistant to rain, splashes and even a regular hose-down.
In simple terms, IP66 is a high-level rating. It tells you that the mower has excellent protection from both dust and water and is more than capable of coping with heavy rain and wet conditions typically seen in the UK.
Segway Navimow: Built for British Weather
The entire Segway Navimow range including the H Series, i Series and X3 Series comes with an IP66 rating as standard. This means whether you have a small city lawn or a sprawling countryside garden, your Navimow is designed to withstand the rain, splashes and damp conditions that come with British gardening life.
General Industry Standard
It’s worth noting that Segway isn’t alone in offering weather-resistant robotic mowers. Many other reputable brands in the market offer models with good IP ratings, such as IPX4 (splash-resistant), IPX5 (resistant to water jets), or IP66 (high protection against dust and strong water jets). While not all models are created equal, a decent IP rating is an essential feature to look for if you want a mower that can handle some wet conditions without needing constant intervention.
While many modern robotic mowers, including Segway Navimow models, are designed to withstand rain, that doesn’t necessarily mean mowing in the rain is always the best idea. Even if the mower can handle wet conditions, your lawn might not benefit from it and in some cases, the mower’s performance can suffer too.
Blade Clogging
Wet grass is heavier and stickier than dry grass. As a result, clippings are more likely to clump together under the mower deck, clogging the blades. This reduces cutting efficiency and can lead to uneven cuts or missed patches across the lawn.
Lawn Health
Mowing wet grass can damage your lawn. Instead of making clean cuts, blades may tear or rip the grass, leaving jagged edges that are more prone to stress and disease. Damp conditions also increase the risk of fungal infections, which can spread across the lawn after cutting.
Traction Issues
Slippery, rain-soaked lawns can make it difficult for robotic mowers to maintain grip, particularly on slopes or uneven ground. This can result in the mower getting stuck, slipping, or leaving unwanted wheel marks and tracks across your carefully maintained lawn.
Rain Sensors
Many robotic mowers come equipped with rain sensors that automatically detect when it starts raining and send the mower back to its charging station. For example, the Segway Navimow H Series includes a built-in rain sensor with adjustable sensitivity, allowing you to fine-tune how quickly the mower reacts to light drizzle versus heavier rain.
Weather-Adaptive or Forecast-Based Mowing
Some advanced robotic mowers take weather adaptation a step further by using local weather data to guide mowing schedules. The Segway Navimow i Series and X3 Series can suspend mowing based on local forecasts, automatically pausing when rain, extreme heat, or freezing conditions are predicted. Once the weather improves, they resume mowing all without you needing to lift a finger.
User Customisation
Many mower apps, including the Navimow app, allow users to adjust how their mower behaves in different weather conditions. You can set how sensitive the rain detection is, choose whether to pause for light rain or only for heavy showers and customise mowing schedules accordingly.
Importance of Pausing in Torrential Rain
Even with excellent IP ratings and smart features, it’s generally best to pause mowing during torrential downpours. While the mower itself may withstand the rain, extremely wet ground increases the risk of lawn damage, from soil compaction to torn grass and rut marks. Pausing in severe weather not only helps protect your lawn but also helps prolong the lifespan of your robotic mower by reducing unnecessary strain on its systems.
While robotic mowers are built to handle a variety of outdoor conditions, cold weather and winter months introduce specific challenges that require extra care. Taking the right steps can protect both your mower and your lawn, ensuring everything is ready to go when spring arrives.
Battery Degradation
Most robotic mowers, including Segway Navimow models, rely on lithium-ion batteries, which are sensitive to extreme temperatures. Operating or charging in freezing conditions can significantly reduce battery performance, shorten its lifespan, or even cause permanent damage. For this reason, mowing in very cold weather is not recommended.
Sensor and Navigation Issues
Ice, frost and snow can interfere with the mower’s sensors and cameras, potentially disrupting GPS, RTK and vision-based positioning systems. This can reduce mowing accuracy or cause the mower to misread its boundaries, increasing the risk of errors or accidents.
Ground Conditions
Cold, wet, or frozen ground is not ideal for mowing. Not only can it make traction difficult, but it can also lead to soil damage, compaction, or unsightly lawn marks. Mowing under these conditions is usually more harmful than helpful, both for your mower and your garden.
Cleaning
Before storing your mower for winter, give it a thorough clean to remove grass clippings, mud and debris. This helps prevent corrosion, mildew and unpleasant odours. Avoid using high-pressure washers, as these can force water into sensitive components, instead, opt for a damp cloth, soft brush and gentle rinse if needed.
Battery Care
Proper battery storage is crucial. Store the battery in a cool, dry place, ideally at a 50–70% charge level. Segway specifically recommends removing the battery and storing it between 10°C and 20°C, avoiding full or empty charge states to maintain battery health over winter.
Mower Storage
Place the mower indoors, in a dry, protected area such as a garage, shed or basement, where temperatures will stay above freezing. This shields the mower from moisture, frost and temperature extremes, all of which can cause unnecessary wear.
Charging Station Protection
Don’t forget about the charging station. Either bring it indoors or protect it from the elements by covering it securely, ensuring no moisture or frost can affect its connectors or power supply over the winter.
Frost Guard Features
Some robotic mower brands include specific frost guard settings, which automatically postpone mowing when frost is detected on the ground. While Segway Navimow models don’t have a named “frost guard” function, their forecast-based weather adaptation helps by pausing mowing during periods of extreme cold.
Optional Accessories
For year-round protection, Segway offers a range of optional weather-resistant shelters, such as the Garage M, S and L. These purpose-built covers shield the mower from sun, rain and heat, while still allowing GPS and signal reception. Investing in a Segway garage can help extend the life of your mower, keeping it in peak condition even during the off-season.
By following these winterisation steps, you’ll protect your robotic mower and ensure it’s ready to deliver reliable, hassle-free mowing as soon as the warmer months return.
Modern wire-free robotic mowers rely on sophisticated positioning systems to navigate your garden with precision. Unlike older models that depend on perimeter wires, these advanced mowers use a combination of GPS (Global Positioning System), RTK (Real-Time Kinematic positioning) and sometimes VSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) or VIO (Visual Inertial Odometry) to maintain centimetre-level accuracy across your lawn.
While these technologies are highly advanced, it’s worth noting that certain conditions can, in theory, affect signal strength. Dense tree cover, tall buildings or very heavy rain or snow can reduce satellite signal reliability for GPS or RTK systems. However, premium mowers are designed with additional systems and safeguards to overcome these challenges and continue operating smoothly, even in less-than-perfect environments.
H Series (EFLS)
The Segway Navimow H Series uses EFLS (Exact Fusion Locating System), which combines RTK GPS with multiple onboard sensors. This ensures precise positioning and centimetre-level cutting accuracy, even when satellite signals alone aren’t enough.
i Series (EFLS 2.0)
The i Series takes it further with EFLS 2.0, adding AI and vision-based assistance to the RTK and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) positioning. This means better performance in challenging environments, such as shaded gardens with tall trees or near buildings that might otherwise interrupt signal strength.
X3 Series (EFLS 3.0)
At the top end, the X3 Series features EFLS 3.0, integrating RTK, VSLAM and VIO. This multi-layered system not only improves accuracy in open areas but also delivers robust performance in complex or low-signal locations, such as narrow passages, under heavy canopy, or around tricky garden layouts. With improved signal reach and 40% better satellite performance, the X3 Series showcases how Segway and other premium brands are overcoming the theoretical limitations posed by weather and environment on positioning systems.
In short, even when British weather throws in a downpour or your garden has challenging spots, Segway’s technology is designed to keep your mower on track and your lawn perfectly maintained.
Modern robotic lawn mowers are impressively robust, designed to cope with much of the unpredictable and often damp weather we experience across the UK. With high IP ratings, smart rain sensors, advanced positioning systems and weather-adaptive features, they offer a reliable and efficient way to keep your lawn looking its best, no matter the season.
That said, while these machines can operate in light rain and wet conditions, it’s sometimes wiser for both your lawn’s health and the mower’s longevity to pause mowing during heavy downpours or when the ground is overly saturated.
Proper winterisation is also key. No matter the brand, taking steps to clean, store and protect your mower and its battery over the colder months will help ensure it performs at its best year after year.
With the right model and some sensible management, a robotic mower can be a highly effective and convenient solution for maintaining a healthy, neatly trimmed lawn in the UK even when the weather doesn’t always want to cooperate.