Can You Mow Wet Grass?

Grass loves rain because the right amount of water makes them grow quickly and healthily. But it’s never a good idea to mow wet grass.

No matter if the grass is still dewy in the morning, you have used sprinklers, or the rainstorm has just ended, you must skip mowing.

Continue reading to understand why you must not mow wet grass.

Reasons Why Not to Mow Wet Grass

#1 Uneven Cuts

Uneven cuts are one of the major issues with mowing wet grass. The grass should stand up straight instead of bending when the blade slices through it for a clean and even cut.

As the wet grass weighs down, they can’t stand up straight. So, when you try to cut them, the mower blade tears through the grass and creates a mess. In addition, the mower might also miss the blades of grass hanging low on the ground.

Later, when the grass dries, you will notice uneven cuts and patches. As a result, you would have to mow the grass again.

#2 Fungal Lawn Diseases

The uneven tear in the grass blade will make your lawn more susceptible to fungal infections. Why? Because fungi like to live in moist conditions. The combination of torn grass and water lingering in the lawn creates a perfect atmosphere for lawn disease.

If you have recently mowed your wet lawn, common fungi to look for include:

• Brown patch (irregular circles of brown grass)
• Anthracnose (reddish-brown patches)
• Leaf spots (small brown spots with dark brown or purple-red borders)
• Red thread (reddish threads of fungus on grass tips)

Besides this, other fungal lawn diseases can easily weaken your grass. In extreme cases, they can even kill unchecked grass.

#3 Suffocated Grass Roots

Every plant’s root needs a steady oxygen supply to grow stronger and healthily. Unfortunately, mowing wet grass can cut the supply of oxygen, causing suffocation at the grassroots. As a result, grass will have thin and patchy growth.

But why does mowing wet grass suffocate the roots? There are two possible reasons:

Compacted Soil: Wet grass means the soil is wet too. So, when you use the heavy mowing machine over wet soil, it causes compaction. That means oxygen cannot reach the roots properly. Also, the wheels of the grass mower lead to attractive runs in wet soil.

Clumps of Wet Grass: Cutting wet grass can also lead to clumps. It happens because the mower leaves behind large clumps of clippings, which block water, airflow, and sunlight from reaching the grassroots.

#4 Lawn Mower Damage

Clumps from wet grass ruin the soil and grass and clog the mower blades. It slows down the blade and puts more pressure on the machine.

Compared to gas mowers, electric lawnmowers have less torque. As a result, they can’t cut wet grass, which gets stuck to the undesirable side of the mower. The moisture in the grass quickly rusts the mower’s blade and other metal parts.

#5 Danger To You

If you have decided to mow a wet lawn, remember that it poses a danger to you. How? Well, the biggest risk involves slipping and falling. No matter how great your footwear is, there is no escape from slippery wet grass.

Electrocution is also an added danger if you use an electric corded mower. Especially if the machine’s wire is damaged and comes in contact with the wet grass.

Also, rainwater can get into the fuel tank using a gas-powered lawn mower. As a result, the machine’s engine will malfunction and stop working.

The water in the machine can cause corrosion, which can be expensive-to-repair damage. Lastly, mowing wet grass can stain your clothes too.

#6 Requires Extra Cleanup

When the grass is wet, they get extra clingy. Thus, they create an extra mess and require more cleanup. If the machine stays moist for too long, its sharpness can also be ruined.

After mowing wet grass, it becomes necessary to brush off the tires, clean the stuck-on blades, and wipe down the mower’s body.

Tips to Easily Mow Wet Grass

It’s never advised to mow wet grass. But if you have to do it, here are some tips you can follow to make the wet grass-mowing process easier.

• Raise the Mower Height: Instead of setting the lawn blade low, keep it high. While you will cut less grass, you can make even cuts. Repeat the process till you get desired results.
• Overlap Your Mowing Strips by Half: The wet grass won’t slow down the mower blade when you overlap the mowing strips by half. This way, your mower will offer cleaner cuts without working too much. Also, remove piles created during the process.
• Put Less Fuel in the Mowing Machine: Avoid filling the tank of your mowing machine with too much fuel. This way, you can keep the machine lighter and lower the chances of the mower damaging the grassroots. Also, you can use a push mower instead of a heavy ride mower.
• Mow Slowly: If you want to mow wet grass, you need to go slow. Don’t be in a hurry; otherwise, you can damage your lawn.
• Clean the Mower: Once you have mowed the lawn, clean the blades to remove wet grass from it.
• Mow Wet Grass When Sun is Out: Always mow the wet grass when the sun is out so the grass can dry a bit. Even a few hours of sunshine can do wonders and reduce soil saturation. As a result, your lawn will cope with the stress.
• Keep the Lawn Blade Sharp: When your lawn blades are sharp, and the mower is clean, you can easily cut the wet grass.

Can Some Grass Cope with Wet Mowing Grass Better?

Some grass types can cope with wet mowing better than others. That’s because they are tough and durable across a range of climate conditions.

Grass that can cope with wet mowing should have two important qualities, i.e., it must repair itself and should have low mowing requirements.

Avoid mowing it wet if you have warm-season grass, like Sir Walter Buffalo, on your lawn. That’s because this grass is not very resilient and can bounce back quickly. In addition, if your lawn receives more winter shade, you need to be alert while mowing in wet conditions.

Compared to Sir Walter Buffalo, Kikuyu is a tough grass that can easily thrive in various wet conditions. After sustaining damage, it can get back to normal.

Likewise, Matilda Buffalo also performs well in the shade and has a tremendous damage recovery rate. Palmetto and Empire Zoysia are also strong grass that can quickly recover from damage.

So, if you live in a wet climate or want to mow wet grass, you must choose the right grass.

Should You Mow Grass After it Rains?

Yes, you can mow grass after it rains but always take the necessary precautions to reduce the risk of damaging the lawn or mowing machine. Instead of a dull blade, use a sharp mowing blade to keep your lawn healthy.

In addition, raise the mower to 3 inches or higher and side-discharge the wet clippings to make even cuts. Remember that if the soil below the grass feels squishy, you must never proceed with the mowing work.

Wait for 2 to 5 hours before you can mow the lawn after mild morning dew or light rain showers. But waiting for a day or two is important in case of a heavy rainstorm. If your lawn is in a shady area, you need to wait for more time.

What is the Best Time to Mow Grass?

Honestly, the best time to cut grass depends on the area where you live. If the morning feels dewy and the noons are hot, mow once the grass has dried. But if it feels hot before noon, you should mow the grass in the early morning.

Regularly mowing wet grass can dull the blade because wet grass can stick to the blade surface and interfere with cutting. If you don’t clean the blade for a long time, it could get dull and lose its ability to cut grass.

Conclusion

Mowing the lawn when it’s wet can be tempting, but you must always wait until it dries. Cutting wet grass leads to fungal diseases and damages the soil. Plus, it poses a risk involving slipping and electrocution.