My neighbor mowed her lawn in the morning shortly after the sprinklers were turned off, but I thought this practice was ineffective because the blades were still wet.
I met her and told her what I feel about mowing wet grass.
Will mowing wet grass ruin my lawn mower? My answer was simple! While there are some conditions under which it is acceptable to mow grass when it’s wet, most times, it is not good.
I didn’t know some of the things to avoid when I bought my first lawn mower. I was excited because I wanted to make my lawn look beautiful and still maintain its greenery nature.
It rained the night I brought it home and the next morning I used it to mow my lawn. When my father came visiting, he quickly pointed out that I may have damaged my blades.
Here’s why you should not mow wet grass:
Water and electricity don’t mix
Using an electric lawn mower on wet grass—especially with an extension cord—attracts the risk of electric shock.
When the connections (and any wiring beneath worn or damaged portions of the cord) are exposed to moisture, it can damage the machine and electrocute the operator.
Even if you’re using a gas-powered lawn mower, rainwater might get into the fuel tank. This can cause the engine to malfunction and stop working altogether.
Over time, water can cause corrosion of engine parts, leading to expensive repair of the damage.
Cutting grass in the rain poses a personal danger
Aside from the risk of electric shock, just walking across a slick lawn with the forward force required to push the mower could cause you (the operator) to slip and fall too close for comfort to the lawn mower’s blades.
You could also take a tumble in wet weather and hit your head on that beautiful stone edging you just installed, or on the adjacent driveway.
Heavy rain could impair your ability to see what you’re mowing and where you’re going. If you wear eyeglasses or safety goggles, cutting grass in the rain could cause the eyewear to become fogged up or coated in water, further diminishing your ability to see clearly.
Damp blades of grass can damage the mower
Without the appropriate fuel stabilizer, leftover fuel in the mower’s gas tank can be contaminated because of excessive moisture and even corrode your machine.
Cut grass clippings can also interfere with the mower’s job by sticking to the equipment in clumps that block the vacuum or the blade itself.
In either case, these blockages force the machine to work harder until it shuts off if you’re not carefully cleaning as you go.
It is almost impossible to get an even cut when mowing wet grass. Wet grass blades are slick and tough to slice, creating an uneven shred (at best) rather than the clean-cut look you can achieve on a sunny afternoon.
Wet grass clumps together, making it harder for the lawn mower blades to cut through thick clumps, meaning you end up with a raggedy mess.
Furthermore, the wet, soggy ground allows grass to be pulled up out of the ground entirely by dull mower blades rather than being cleanly cut by the blades.
Grass clippings get extra clingy when they’re wet, so mowing grass when it’s wet requires extra cleanup. The damp grass clippings that stick to a mower’s undercarriage can create a breeding ground for mold—and eventually a busted mower—if the machinery stays too moist for too long.
Be sure to clean the deck of those stuck-on blades, brush off the tires, and wipe down the mower’s body. Then, turn your attention to the stains left behind.
Chlorophyll in freshly cut wet grass will cause more stains than you incur on an average mowing day, so be prepared to remove grass stains from your clothes, shoes, and driveway immediately.
If you must mow wet grass, use side-discharge mode so wet grass doesn’t damage your lawn mower bag.
Before mowing a wet lawn, ensure that you take all of the safety precautions. First, test the soil’s saturation. When standing on your lawn, you should not be able to sink into it or see water rising around the edges of your shoes—mowing through so much water is a bad idea.
Without standing water, you could potentially tame your yard to some degree using a stabilized gas-powered mower with sharp blades.
If you can, set your mower to side-discharge mode. Though this leaves rows of cut grass on your lawn for manual bagging later, it will save you the mess of dealing with a mower bag with a wet interior.
You could also try pulling Grandpa’s lawn mower out of the shed—you might have the best luck with it on wet grass.
FAQs
Will mowing wet grass ruin my lawn mower?
Clumps of wet grass not only hurt your lawn. They also clog your mower blades, slowing them down and making the engine work harder to turn them. Electric lawn mowers, which have less torque than gas mowers, often can’t cut through wet grass.
Can you cut grass after it rains
How soon can you cut grass after rain? Wait until the grass is dry, usually taking at least a few hours. Walk through the lawn before mowing, and if your shoes or feet come away wet, don’t mow yet. If they’re mostly dry, you should be good to go
How soon after it rains can I mow the lawn?
How long should I wait to mow the grass after it rains? When dealing with mild morning dew or after light rain showers, you may only need to wait between 2 and 5 hours for the lawn to dry before mowing. With a heavier rainstorm, you should wait at least one day to mow safely.
Can you mow grass with morning dew?
When dealing with mild morning dew or after light rain showers, you may only need to wait between 2 and 5 hours for the lawn to dry before mowing. With a heavier rainstorm, you should wait at least one day to mow safely.