- Mowing wet grass can cause uneven cuts, clumping clippings, and equipment damage—but rainy climates sometimes make it necessary to prevent overgrown lawns from suffocating.
- Wet grass blades stay flattened during mowing, resulting in disease-prone cuts and clumps that suffocate the lawn, while moisture rusts mower decks and damages engines.
- When wet mowing is unavoidable, raise the deck height, slow your pace, wear grip shoes, and thoroughly clean clippings to minimize lawn and equipment damage.
“Never mow a wet lawn” is up there with “change the car’s oil every 5,000 miles” and “replace your smoke alarm batteries every six months” on the list of cardinal rules for grown-ups (also known as “dad advice”). And it’s true: mowing wet grass is a no-no, for a few reasons:
Number one: you won’t get a clean, even cut, since the weight of the water will keep some grass blades from standing tall. An uneven cut looks bad, and the hacked blades will be more susceptible to disease and pests.
Another reason not to mow a wet lawn reason is the clippings will clump. Besides being an eyesore, the clumps will suffocate the lawn, leading to dead spots.
Finally, mowing wet grass puts added strain on your lawn mower, since wet clippings cause rust and corrosion on the deck. And if moisture finds its way into the fuel tank on a gas mower, it can damage the engine.
Do The Benefits Ever Outweigh the Risks?
A lot of dad advice has its nuances. For example, some newer cars can go 7,500 or even 10,000 miles before needing an oil change. And there are more smoke alarms on the market with sealed lithium batteries that last 10 years (though this dad still recommends testing the device monthly!).
So it is with mowing wet grass. Yes, you should avoid it as much as possible. But if you live in a wet region that sees long stretches of rain, there might be times when the lawn is getting so long that mowing while wet is worth the risk. That’s because an overgrown lawn doesn’t allow essential sunlight and air to reach its root system. A dense canopy also traps moisture, inviting disease and pests.
One more thing: if you let your grass grow too long and cut it down to its normal height, you’ll probably break the 1/3rd rule, shocking the lawn and again making it more vulnerable.
I wouldn’t advise going out there in heavy rain, since on top of all the concerns for your lawn and your mower, the risk of slipping is that much greater. However, if there’s a break in the weather, it’s probably okay to sneak in a quick mow. Here are a few tips to make it a success:
Raise the deck: Cutting off a bit less grass will minimize clumps on the lawn and help keep your mower from clogging. If your deck is normally set to 3.5 inches, raise it to 4 or 4.5 inches, depending on the length of the grass.
Take it slow: Mowing a little slower than normal will help the lawn mower blade cut more evenly, since the air movement will pull up flattened parts in the lawn.
Keep your footing: This is always the best advice (no flip flops or open-toed shoes of any kind). But when the lawn is slick, it’s even more important to wear sturdy shoes with solid traction.
Clean the clippings. When you’re done mowing, give the deck a thorough hose down to get rid of any and all stuck-on clippings (be sure to remove the battery on electric mowers and the spark plug on gas one first to prevent any chance of the machine spinning to life).
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
Source: Home Ideas - goodhousekeeping.com
