Can You Mow Wet Grass? [How to Cut Wet Grass Without Ruining Your Lawn]

Your lawn might be in desperate need of a mow after weeks of rain. You have been patiently waiting for a sunny day to mow it but the rain continues and your grass continues to grow tall and stay wet. You can mow the wet grass if that is the case.

Mowing wet grass is probably not a good idea, However, if you find yourself in a situation where you have to mow it because you live in a rainy climate or it seems like the rain in your area is not about to stop, it is okay to mow it. I advise you to evaluate the moisture content of your grass and choose the right mower to avoid sliding in the wet grass or getting electrocuted.

Mowing wet grass – is it okay or a bad idea?

There are various reasons why mowing wet grass is a bad idea. Both lighter rains and heavy rainstorms pose problems that are not ideal for mowing lawns. Moreover, while you might prefer early-morning mowing to fit your busy work schedule, the morning dew on the grass is enough to ruin your landscaping.

Can you cut wet grass - is it bad to mow wet grass
Can you mow a wet lawn

Wet grass is slippery which can cause accidents and falls, the clippings clump excessively, and the chlorophyll from the wet cut grass will stain anything you touch. All the same, if you consider all elements mowing wet grass is not the end of the world.

Is it okay to cut grass in the rain?

The answer is both Yes and No.

Mowing wet grass especially in the rain is never a good idea. It is best to wait until the rain has stopped. However if you have powerful commercial mowers with sharp blades and cutting decks that can handle water without trouble, you can cut in the rain. The results may not be as good as the results you will get from mowing your grass when it is dry. You might even ruin your lawn with untidy irregular grass cut because the grass will not be in its optimum mowing state.

Why you should not cut grass when it’s wet

It is best to wait until your grass dries up before you mow it for the reasons I will provide below.

It does not give your lawn a good cut and leaves grass clumps

Grass does not stand up straight when it is wet like it would when it is dry. It lays down meaning that you will not manage to cut it. Additionally, the grass that you do manage to cut will be so thick and heavy with water that it will create lumps of grass that cannot be blown off which will create dead spots on your lawn.

It is not good for your mower.

Water is problematic for the gasoline in your mower’s fuel tank; it has metallic parts that could rust, and its engine could get damaged. If you do not mix a stabilizer with the fuel in the fuel tank, introducing moisture will cause corrosion. Wet grass clippings that cake on the metal underside might cause rust. The caked grass might also impede the blades’ motions through clogging causing your engine to overwork and crush.

It is not safe!

Your personal safety should always come first before you decide to mow your lawn. You are at a high risk of injury when mowing wet grass and two factors can escalate these risks:

  • Using and electronic mower
  • Mowing on slopes

Using an electric mower

It goes without saying that using electric mowers would be dangerous in the rain or wet conditions.

Mowing on slopes

Mowing wet grass presents the risk of slipping or falling. Mowing on slopes increases the chances.

How to Cut Wet Grass (Without Ruining the Lawn)

If you are confident in your ability to walk on wet grass unhindered and your grass growth has gotten out of hand, you may mow the wet grass but take precautions before you venture into mowing the wet grass. Before embarking on cutting wet grass, the ground should not be soggy; you should not sink into it or stand in puddles. I am going to show you how to cut wet grass without ruining your lawn.

  1. Add stabilizer to your mower’s gasoline.
  2. Sharpen your mower blades. Be careful not to hurt yourself. The sharp blades will produce a crisp cut, thus keeping your lawn healthy.
  3. Raise your mower wheels to put less stress on your engine. You should move the mower deck up to the highest or the second-highest setting and cut the wet grass down to 3 or 4 inches.
  4. Do not bag the wet grass that you cut because it will stain your bag; instead, discharge it out the side chute.
  5. Cut only half the swath you would normally cut on each pass so as not to overwork your engine.
  6. Carefully clean the underside of the mower’s deck and discharge the cut grass as you go to avoid the formation of cake.

Tip! Adding Silicone on the deck before you start mowing the grass may ease the cleaning process.

How soon after it rains can I mow?

Deciding when to mow your lawn after rain can be tricky. It depends on how much rain fell. If it was just a quick shower during an otherwise sunny day, then an hour should be okay. However, if it rained heavily for a few days or months, you should wait a few days.

While most people focus on the condition of their grass (whether it is dry) to tell when it is ready, you should actually examine the soil.

If the soil feels soft and spongy, your grass is still water-logged. This presents the risk of your mower ripping the grass straight out of the ground meaning that you should wait until the ground is dry.

Will mowing wet grass ruin your lawn mower?

The answer for this is both Yes and No depending on whether you are using an electric mower or a manual or petrol mower.

A manual or petrol mower will not get ruined if you take care of it properly to avoid rusting or overworking the engine. However, electric mowers with extension cords will most likely get ruined. Powerful mowers such as Tor 22’’ Recycler can work perfectly in wet conditions without getting ruined.

References

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