Gardena Robot Lawn Mower

Gardena has made a name for itself in the gardening tool industry and is one of the best-selling manufacturers in the robot mower sector. From pruning shears and axes to lawn mowers and robot lawn mowers, you can purchase quality branded products from Gardena. The fact that Gardena, based in Ulm, is now part of the Husqvarna group leaves no doubt that these are high-quality and durable products. Gardena can particularly score with an excellent price-performance ratio and is often identical to the more expensive Husqvarna models.

But how do the individual models differ? And which Gardena robot lawn mower is best suited for your property? These are just some questions and topics that we will answer below. Because we introduce you to all current and some older robot lawn mowers from Gardena.

As one of the few manufacturers, Gardena sends robot lawn mowers into the race that can also work in the rain without any noticeable loss in lawn quality. The fact that the products are not just hot air is evident not only from the reviews on Amazon – the Gardena robot lawn mowers, such as the Gardena Sileno City, have bestseller status. You can find more information about the Gardena models and their advantages and disadvantages here, in the Gardena manufacturer check. We help with the purchase decision and provide an overview of the best Gardena robot lawn mowers!

» All Gardena robot lawn mowers at a glance*

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Top 3: The best robotic lawn mowers from Gardena 2024

Is there an official Gardena robot mower review?

Yes, there is already an official Gardena robot mower test. Several models from the popular manufacturer Gardena have already been part of official investigations by the German nonprofit consumer organization “Stiftung Warentest” and even managed to improve.

The Sileno City 500 model was examined in the robot mower review and test 04/2020 by “Stiftung Warentest”, but only landed in the lower middle range. Especially, the mowing time leaves something to be desired compared to other models. The cutting result was also not optimal in the test. The Sileno City 500 is designed for gardens up to 500 m² and copes well with a slope of a maximum of 35%. Control via app is possible.

Gardena was able to improve in the remote control lawn mower test 04/2022, in which the Sileno minimo landed in third place. It is particularly quiet during operation and needs to be cleaned rarely. However, it only copes with surfaces with slopes of up to 25% and needs a relatively long to mow them completely. Programming via smartphone app is possible. Without the app, on the other hand, it is hardly programmable. The Sileno minimo is available in two variants, for areas up to 250 m² and up to 500 m², and is one of the cheaper models in terms of price. Therefore, it is our clear recommendation in this robot mower test.

An overview of the Gardena Sileno lawn robots

In general, the current Gardena robot mowers can be divided into three product lines. They all bear the name Sileno and an addition that assigns them to the respective model line. The Smart Sileno City models are suitable for smaller gardens, while the Smart Sileno life automatic lawn mowers take care of larger gardens. And for large properties, Gardena offers the Sileno+ models.

We will now introduce you to the various models of the different lines, one after the other. We will start with the smallest model line, its respective characteristics and features, as well as the differences between the various models of a line.

Here is an overview of the current Gardena robot mower types:

• Sileno minimo
• Sileno city
• Sileno life
• Sileno+

In addition, we also introduce some older but still popular R-models from Gardena further down. One word first: Gardena robotic mowers always come in two versions – as a “regular” version and as a smart version. The difference is not in the mower itself, but in the scope of delivery. The smart sets include the Gardena smart system gateway (or Smart Gateway) in the scope of delivery. This allows integration into a smart home and, among other things, the control of the mower via the app on the smartphone. Further details can be found below.

Comparison of Gardena robotic lawn mowers

Below we present the current and previous Gardena robotic mowers sorted by product lines.

The Sileno City models

The Sileno City robotic mowers are, so to speak, the entry into automatic lawn care at Gardena. As the name suggests, these Gardena robotic mowers are more for small city gardens. But that doesn’t mean they can’t also be used in the countryside, provided the lawn area is correspondingly small or large. They are available in two versions: once up to 250 m² (±20%) for small lawns, and once up to 500 m² (±20%) for slightly larger gardens. However, since both versions hardly differ otherwise, we will only talk about the Sileno City robotic mower below.

At 58 dB(A), the Sileno City is pleasantly quiet during operation. This is a not to be underestimated advantage, especially in densely built-up cities where gardens are small and neighbors live close by. It can handle slopes up to 25 percent, so even slightly hilly properties or those with a slight incline are no problem for the small Gardena robotic mower.

Due to its compact size, the only 7.3 kg lightweight robotic mower is ideal for winding and narrow lawn areas with narrow corridors and narrow passages. Thanks to its CorridorCut function, it also reliably navigates through narrow spots with a width of 60 cm or more. Dead ends are also no problem for it, as it turns around at the end and drives back.

The Spot Cutting function is practical. This is a spiral cutting function where the robotic mower devotes itself to hard-to-reach areas, such as under garden furniture or trampolines in the garden. Here, the Smart Sileno City mows in a circle to save you the hassle of manual follow-up work. Otherwise, it drives across the lawn chaotically. As soon as it hits an obstacle, it turns around and continues in another direction. The advantage of this is that there is no stripe pattern on the lawn afterward. However, before the Smart Sileno City can start working for the first time, the lawn area must be “fenced in” with a perimeter wire.

The cutting height can be adjusted between 20 and 50 mm. The working width is small at 16 cm. Mowing is done with a blade disc with three blades. After mowing, it automatically returns to its charging station. However, it does not only do this when it has finished working, but also when the 18-volt strong lithium-ion battery with 2.1 Ah and a maximum mowing time of 65 minutes is empty. Then the battery is recharged within 60 minutes and the robotic mower waits for its next use or continues its work.

The SensorControl function is a clever thing. With this intelligent cutting system, the mowing times are automatically adjusted to the growth of the lawn, so it doesn’t strictly follow a programmed schedule. However, this is also possible, of course. Generally, the setup and programming are done via the display and the few buttons on the robotic mower itself. However, there are also smart versions available (see below).

Setting up the robot mower is easy – simply input the lawn size and preferred mowing times in the intuitive menu. Then, the mower creates its own mowing plan and carries it out automatically. There’s no need for programming or complex calculations. If needed, the mowing plan can be adjusted or changed at any time.

The Smart Sileno City can work in any weather, rain or shine. It’s weather-resistant and can even handle the rain. However, if the built-in frost sensor detects temperatures near freezing, it won’t work even if the mowing plan says otherwise – this is to avoid damaging the lawn.

The weather-resistant feature also makes cleaning the mower easier. The Sileno City can be easily rinsed with a garden hose, unlike other brands, which can make cleaning the housing, blades, and wheels from dirt, dust, and grass residue easier. The mower has a lift sensor for safety, which immediately stops the motor, and a PIN code for security. However, the smallest Gardena mower model doesn’t offer an alarm function.

There aren’t many differences between the Sileno City models for 250 m² and 500 m². Both come with a 150 m perimeter wire and 200 hooks. The only difference is the average monthly energy consumption when working at maximum capacity, which is double for the larger model (4 kWh instead of 2 kWh). This is understandable since the larger model covers twice the area.

Both models are also available as smart robot mowers, including the Sileno City version. This includes app control and other smart features that are identical across all Gardena Sileno mowers. We’ll go into more detail on these features further down this page.

The Sileno Life models

The Sileno life robot mowers are the next larger version of Gardena’s garden helpers. Depending on the version, they cover areas from a maximum of 750 m² up to 1,250 m². Again, the variants hardly differ, which is why we will introduce you to the “basic model” first.

The Gardena robot mower Sileno life is suitable for medium-sized and complex lawns. It also easily navigates narrow corridors and passages. The CorridorCut function, which is also installed, helps him effortlessly guide through narrow passages and dead ends with a width of at least 60 cm.

When mowing, the Sileno life is also around 58 dB(A) loud, which is just as loud or quiet as the smaller Sileno City robot mower. Robot mowers from other manufacturers, such as the Worx Landroid, are up to 10 dB(A) louder. It can handle slopes up to 30 percent. The cutting height can also be varied between 20 and 50 mm, which is a solid and average range. However, to cover larger areas, it has a cutting width of 22 cm, which is 6 cm more than the Sileno City. Again, a cutting disc is used, on which three interchangeable blades are mounted.

Other functions include the SensorControl, which adjusts the mowing times to the growth of the lawn, as presented above. Programming and settings can also be done via the control panel with LCD or alternatively on the smart versions via the app.

The Sileno life also offers Spot Cutting, as explained above for the Sileno City. In addition, Gardena’s robotic lawn mower is equipped with a frost sensor to protect the lawn when frozen. It is also weatherproof and can be easily sprayed off with a garden hose to remove grass clippings and other dirt. The alarm function is new, which is missing from the City models. It protects the robot mowers from thieves.

Otherwise, the Sileno life models are very similar to each other. Gardena distinguishes between a model up to 750 m², one up to 1,000 m², and one up to 1,250 m². The main differences lie in the included perimeter wire and the number of hooks, which vary slightly depending on the lawn area. The Sileno life ranges in price from $1,199 to $1,599 (RRP), depending on the lawn size. And there are also more expensive smart models, which we will discuss in more detail below.

The Sileno+ Models

The Sileno+ used to be Gardena’s top model. This robot mower was suitable for large lawns up to a size of 1,600 m², with a cutting width of 22 cm. However, the cutting height can be adjusted from 20 to 60 mm, providing more options than the smaller models’ range of 20 to 50 mm, making it suitable for longer and less frequently mowed lawns. It also mows with a disc containing three blades.

The Sileno+ can handle slopes up to 35 percent, making it the mountain goat of Gardena’s robot mowers. It is not only suitable for those with particularly large plots, but also for buyers who want to mow a hilly terrain or steeper slopes but don’t want to opt for the more expensive and rugged models from Husqvarna.

When working, the SILENO+ is slightly louder at 60 dB(A) than the two smaller models. Otherwise, the equipment and features are mostly similar to the smaller Sileno life robotic lawn mower. It navigates skillfully through narrow areas, adjusts mowing times intelligently based on grass growth with SensorControl and can be used regardless of the weather. It also features Spot Cutting under garden furniture and other obstacles.

Previously, there were also Sileno models without a plus sign in the name. The predecessor version not only looks different, but also has less equipment and does not have some new features.

The smart features of Gardena robot mowers

We mentioned earlier that there are also smart versions of the robot mowers. However, we did not go into detail during the product introductions. So, here’s a brief summary of the smart connectivity features that are available for the Sileno City, Sileno life, and Sileno+ models.

The Smart Sets are the ideal choice for those who prefer to control everything conveniently via their smartphone and want to integrate the robot mower into their smart home. The sets include the Gardena smart system gateway, which also makes it possible to remotely control Gardena’s smart irrigation solutions and smart outdoor socket.

One benefit is that the robot mower can be controlled and monitored remotely via smartphone thanks to the smart gateway. This means that you can keep an eye on your robotic lawn mower and other things in your garden from the terrace, living room couch, or even while on holiday. You can send the robot mower to work with a tap on your smartphone or tablet screen. The app is available for both Android and iOS, the two leading mobile platforms.

Furthermore, It is practical that the Gardena smart system can be integrated into HomeKit and controlled via IFTTT. This allows you to link the robot mower and other smart Gardena products with your smart home.

Unfortunately, this currently only applies to Gardena’s other smart products. HomeKit, Apple’s smart home system, currently does not support the robot mower category. However, we hope this will change soon. Because then the robotic lawn mower could be even better integrated into the smart home. For example, it could be sent back to its base when you open the patio door equipped with a sensor, so you are not disturbed by the “noise” caused by the quiet but still audible Gardena robot mower.

Older robotic lawn mowers from the R series

For some time now, Gardena has been offering robot mowers. The current models are not the first generation, but rather further developed models. Previously, there were also the models of the R-series, which also offered a wide selection. Some devices can still be purchased today and are still in demand, which is why we want to say a few words about the old R robot mowers from Gardena.

In general, the model number of the R models determines which lawn area size they are suitable for. It starts with the R38Li, which is suitable for 380 m². Then there is the R40Li for up to 400 m², and the R45Li for 450 m². There was also the R50Li for small lawn areas up to 500 m², the R70Li for up to 700 m², and the former top model R80Li, which was suitable for up to 800 m² of lawn.

The rest of the equipment of the R models is largely the same. They all mow with a working width of 17 cm and three blades with a cutting height of 20 to 50 mm. During operation, they are about as loud as today’s models, at 58 to 60 dB(A) – so there is no noticeable difference. They were also programmed via an LCD with input keys. However, there is no smart version with app control available for these models.

The equipment of the previous generation is also somewhat more rudimentary, especially regarding intelligent navigation and operation. However, the R models can also be used independently of the weather, i.e., even in the rain, and are equipped with an alarm function with a PIN code for theft protection.

If you have a relatively simple-shaped lawn area and do not value “bells and whistles” such as smart control and other features, you can still get the older R models today at a low price. You can also get the models for larger areas at a good price. So, you can save money compared to the newer models, but you have to live with a reduced equipment and fewer functions.

The right accessories for Gardena Sileno robot lawn mowers

Of course, Gardena offers a wide range of accessories for its robot lawn mowers. The essential parts should not be missing, such as additional perimeter wire rolls that come in 50 and 150 meter lengths, the necessary hooks for attaching the boundary wire to the ground, and connectors and connection clamps.

If you would rather not extend the perimeter wire that comes with your robot lawn mower but rather repair a damaged spot, you can use the repair kit for the boundary wire. This kit allows for minor repairs and adjustments without much hassle. The cable connector protection is also practical to protect wires and connections from winter weather. Replacement blades are also a must-have to replace worn-out ones occasionally to ensure your robotic lawn mower cuts the grass instead of just “knocking it down.”

Garages are also standard accessories, which at Gardena look more like a carport. There is no protection on the sides, only a floating roof supported by two poles. Garages for Gardena robot mowers come in three different variants. One is for the Sileno City and Sileno Life models, one for the new Sileno+ and the older Sileno models, and one for the older R-models from R38Li to R80Li.

In addition, Gardena also offers various accessories for the storage and maintenance of their robot mowers. The two wall mounts are practical for hanging the Sileno or Sileno City robotic lawn mowers and charging stations on a wall. Alternatively, there is also a storage bag that can hold the charging station and accessories.

For maintenance and cleaning after summer or in between, there is a maintenance and cleaning kit with various accessories. The wheel brushes are also available as an optional upgrade to clean the wheels of the robot mower while in operation. However, Gardena does not offer additional attachments or tuning parts like Worx does.

If you want to avoid performing maintenance and cleaning yourself after summer, you can also book Gardena’s winter service and send in the device. And if you would rather not deal with the installation and setup of your robot mower, you can also book an installation service from Gardena. The experts will take over the somewhat tedious installation of the boundary wire and other installation work.

Our conclusion on Gardena’s robot mowers

It’s no surprise that Gardena is one of the market leaders in the field of robotic lawn mowers. The company offers a wide range of different models that cover everything from small gardens to considerable property sizes up to 1,600 m² of lawn area. However, in the robot mower test conducted by the German “Stiftung Warentest”, Gardena’s model only landed in the lower middle range.

Regardless of their model series, the models are equipped with many useful features. These include intelligent navigation, which also handles narrow passages, SensorControl, or Spot Cutting.

For those who want it, the robot lawn mowers can be controlled as smart versions via an app or through a smart home system. While many other manufacturers also offer app control for their robot mowers, Gardena goes one step further, as not only the automatic lawn mowers, but also irrigation and more can be operated. Here, the manufacturer benefits from the already broad range of garden products that can be made smart with relatively simple means.

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All Gardena robot lawn mowers at a glance

Here is a quick overview of all Gardena robot lawn mowers that we cover on this website – compare the different Gardena models now.

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