Gardening

10 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Mow Wet Grass

Source : familyhandyman

While it can be tempting to mow your lawn whenever you have spare time, it’s worth stopping to consider whether you can mow wet grass. 

From turning your grass brown to spreading fungal disease, learn why you should hold off on mowing your grass until it has become dry. Mowing wet grass can damage you, your grass, and your mower. Here are the main reasons to avoid mowing your grass when it’s wet. 

1. Risk of Slipping

Safety comes first then mowing your lawn when it is wet. The chance of slipping on the wet grass increases when you do mowing when it is wet. The possibility of getting slipped increases when you have to mow your lawn in a sloppy area.

However, there are safety features available in a mowing machine that may decrease the chance of getting exposed to the blades. But it is still risky to mow your lawn during wet conditions as you may not desire to be a victim of any accidents.

2. Risk of Electric Shock

Source : taraenergy

You may get an electric shock when you use a mower when the grass on your lawn is wet. The chance of electric shock increases when you have been using an electric mower as it has a direct connection with an electric one. 

Avoid using an electric lawn mower as far as possible to avoid any kind of accidents. Electricity is a kind of threat when mishandled. Otherwise, it also provides support when used properly. You may not want to have any bad memory regarding electric shock so, better be careful. 

3. Damage to Your Mower

Clumps can build up around a blade when you use your lawn mower during wet conditions. These clumps cause blocking to the blade from spinning properly and cause damage to your lawn mower. You start to put more pressure on your lawn mower when the blade has difficulty spinning.

This creates pressure on the engine when you add extra effort to your lawn to do the task. This can also lead to smoke in your lawn mower as the engine is being overworked more than its capacity.

Lawnmowers are not built airtight so they can't get exposed to moisture in the fuel tank. Moisture gets to find a way to the fuel tank due to this reason and eventually damages your machine.

4. Fungal Diseases Spread

Source : edenapp

Fungal diseases like brown patch grows under wet conditions on grass. When you mow your lawn grass during wet conditions then you are transporting fungi on your lawn mower blade and wheels. Throughout your lawn mowing process, you continue to make the lawn grass exposed to the disease.

Each time you cut the blade of your lawn grass through your lawn mower you are making the wound open for a grss to get exposed to the fungi and invade them. This is also one of the reasons that you should not do mowing of your lawn when it is wait and should wait till your lawn grass gets dry.

5. Creating Ruts in the Lawn

While you do lawn mowing during wet conditions the grass. Your lawn mower wheel gets dumped into the soil that is waterlogged. This will result in a wheel rut. These ruts caused by the wheel of lawn mower are hazardous to the compact soil. 

These wheel rots will lead to draining issues and also look unsightly. If you don't want to make your lawn unattractive and get it damaged with your own hands with a simple mistake then better to avoid using a lawn mower on your grass when it is in wet condition.

6. Unsightly Grass Lumps

Source : nutrilawn

There will be unsightly grass clumps left behind when you use your lawn mower on wet grass. As the grass clippings are wet, they will get stuck together in large clumps. These clumps look unattractive and also impact the health of your lawn badly. 

You were supposed to use your lawn mower to make your lawn grass smoother. But you will have more work on your lawn as you have to rake those grass clumps as they are unsightly to your lawn. You may not desire to have double work and get frustrated. It's better to wait until the grass gets dry.

7. Won't Get Manicured Look

Most people crave to make their lawns look manicured. To get this look of the lawn the grass must have been erect while cutting through the lawn mower. You may not get this desired look of your lawn when the grass is in wet condition.

The presence of moisture on the grass leads to bowing down the blades of the grass. The blades of your lawn mower will spin over most of the depressed blades causing it to cut the grass unevenly.  Once the grass gets dry, these blades of uncut grass get back again in their position making them look like cowlicks.

8. Grass Gets Messy

Source : lawnmowingbusiness

Mowing your wet grass on the lawn is messy including all those above-mentioned problems. The wet clumps of the grass create problems for your lawn mower machine as it gets messy. You may have a habit of cleaning your lawn mower easily as the grass sticks around the blade are not so sticky.

But when you do mow on wet grass conditions on your lawn then you may have a sticky grass clump stuck on your lawn mower making it difficult to clean. This means that though you may do your lawn mowing after every difficulty your work gets difficult while cleaning the mower.

9. Stained Clothes

Mowing your lawn grass during wet conditions not only makes it difficult to clean your lawn machine. But it also increases your work and makes it difficult for you to manage the grass remaining stained on your clothes and shoes.

The wet-cut grass stained gets more easily on clothes than the dry-cut grass. Also, the dry-cut grass is easy to remove when stained and doesn't require extra time, or effort to clean them off your clothes. However, it may not be the same case for the wet-cut grass as they are stained tightly on your clothes.

10. Suffocated Grassroots

Source : georgeweigel

The frass of your lawn requires to have a proper supply of oxygen to grow into strong and healthy grass. When you mow on wet grass then it will cut off the supply of oxygen causing suffocation to the roots of the grass leading to thin and patchy growth.

The reason behind these are mainly compacted soil and clumps of wet grass. When your grass gets wet then your soil gets wet too. When you do lawn mowing then the wet soil causes compaction to the soil. Grass also gets clumps leading to improper airflow, water, and sunlight from reaching. 

What If You Mow Grass When It Is Wet?

Mowing the grass of your lawn is not a good idea though. It can cause damage to your grass, including your mower, and even to yourself. Cutting wet grass can lead to clogging in your mower, cause fungal disease, and even leave behind clumps that eventually kill your lawn. 

If you have got electric lawn mower in your home then it can even get you an electric shock while mowing the grass. The best rule of thumb to cut grass is to wait until the grass and soil of your lawn get dry.

It usually takes 2 to 5 hours to dry after a light rain. You may also need to wait for a full day or more if there is heavy rainfall.

Process Of Cutting Grass While Wet

If you need to mow your lawn after the rainfall then the best option is to hire a local lawn care service that can handle the difficult wet-cutting process through their experience. If not then there are other options we have mentioned for you to make your task easier and protect your grass.

Use a Commercial Mower

Source : foards

Commercial mowers cut wet grass better than residential lawnmowers. The blades and discharge system tend to be more robust. They cause less damage to your lawn having lower clumps and grass tears.

It is recommended to avoid using an electric mower on wet grass, and also consider that an electric mower is more like to corrode when the grass is wet. 

Use a Side-Shooter and No Bag

Set your mower to side-discharge without a bag. The grass cuttings will be left in rows for easier manual bagging later. You’ll also save the mess of cleaning a mower bag with a damp interior.

Sharpen the Blades

Make the blades of your mower sharp if you want to cut the grass of your lawn when it is in wet conditions to have a crispier and cleaner cut. You may also need to pass your lawn mower over the grass more than once to have a proper cut of the grass. The sharp blades of the mower will help to make it easier and faster. 

Cut Slower

Source : arborgold

It is a saying that slow and steady wins the race. You may have an option to go on full steam when you are mowing a dry lawn. But if you cannot avoid mowing the wet grass of your lawn then it will be better to go at the speed of a snail. 

Wet blades the grass at your lawn take more effort for your mower blades to cut effectively in comparison to cutting of the dry grass on your lawn. If you tend to go faster and put more effort into it then you will have a patchy and uneven yard in the end. 

Use a Fuel Stabilizer

Moisture can quickly impact the engine on your lawn mower, decreasing its overall power and performance. Mix some fuel stabilizers in with your regular fuel. This will keep your mower running more efficiently, even if it’s battling wet grass. You can find fuel stabilizers at most home improvement stores and in many places online. 

What To Do Before Mowing Grass?

You may want to mow your lawn as per your desire. However, due to confusion and lack of idea, you may have issues regarding the process. No need to worry, as we have got instructions for you on what to do before mowing your grass. 

Airflow is everything

Source : grasshoppermower

Mowing is also all about airflow. It is of great importance in mowing your lawn while using a lawn mower. Grass mower needs to have a proper airflow to perform its objective which is to carry much grass with it during the grass processing. 

To properly mow your lawn consider that your mowing machine has a proper airflow in it. The beauty and result of your lawn mower depend on the airflow you have in your lawn machine. Otherwise, replace your lawn mower if it has not met the requirements mentioned above.

Take your time

Wet grass on your lawn is going to take a lot of time, effort, and airflow to be mown properly. Consider taking time while mowing and have a slow and nice lawn. Take the grass where it wants to go. To do it with patience and have a proper plan to execute the mowing process.

Mow more often

When the grass is shorter then there is less chance of clippings to deal with. If you do mowing frequently then you don't have to deal with such issues. Do mowing every seven days or bring it down to five or less to have a proper height of your lawn grass. 

Raise the mower deck 

Source : leevalley

You will have a uniform look on your lawn with fewer clippings when you raise the mower deck. It causes less damage to the grass and you will keep the grass in better condition. Also, it reduces the load on your mower when you maintain the height of the mower deck to more. 

Also, raising the mower deck supports to have proper airflow sucked in from the front and sides of the deck. It will improve the discharge performance of your lawn mower. Consider this idea while performing lawn mowing to have a sightful lawn in your yard. 

Side-discharge

Put the settings of your lawn mower at their fullest when the conditions are really bad, instead of bagging or mulching. You may have a row of clippings left behind on your lawn but you can further perform cross mowing in mulching or bagging mode.

Also, rake them up manually or let the grass dry out for a few days then again mow over them in mulching or bagging mode. Sharpen your blade before you do the mowing process to have a good, clean, and crisp cut. Clean your mowing machine after use to have a better-performing machine.