It is never a good idea to mow wet grass, and especially not while it is raining. It’s best to wait until the grass and turf dry up. We’ve had a rainy March and April so far here in Orem and Lehi areas. Saratoga Mowing will call off lawns on days where the conditions are too wet or when it is raining all day to help keep our equipment safe as well as to protect the lawns.
The issues are:
- Does not give a good cut and leaves grass clumps – when it is wet and rainy the grass does not all stand up straight like it normally does. When it is wet there are lots of parts laying down that won’t get cut resulting in a bad cut. The grass that is cut is so thick and heavy with water will create lumps of grass that cannot be blown off and might create dead spots in the lawn.
- The equipment can damage the turf or cause indents and ruts – When it is wet enough to see the water totally covering a road or sidewalk you know that it is not a good idea to take a really heavy machine over the turf. It’s going to sink in and cause damage and ruts in the lawn that will make things all uneven.
- The water causes the grass to be heavier which can damage the law mowers drive or engine. When you try to mow grass too short it can bog down the mower and cause it to stall. The same thing happens when you try to mow wet grass. It sticks together and is heavier with the water weight which puts more stress on the drive and the engine that is not necessary.
- Safety issues for whoever is doing the lawn in the rain or wet conditions that increase the chance of accidents – It is more likely that if you mow in wet conditions there are greater chances of slipping or falling. This can be really serious when you are working right next to spinning blades. It goes without saying that using a mower that plugs in and operates on electricity would be very dangerous in the rain or wet conditions. Every year in the US approximately 69 people are killed so lawn mower safety is really important to Saratoga Lawn Mowing.
In closing the benefit does not outway the downsides of mowing a lawn in wet conditions. In reading other stories related to mowing in the rain I found some tips that talked about if you absolutely have to – the Queen is coming over for tea and the yard is a mess- then you can:
- Drag a hose across the grass to get rid of some of the water. This will mean the grass will dry more quickly.
- Raise the mowing height on your mower to reduce the load on the engine.
- Make sure your blades are sharp.
- Empty the bag more often.
- Go slowly to again reduce the load on the blade and engine.
- The grass is more likely to clog. Turn OFF the mower before your clear it out.
- Clean the mower after you’ve used it.
We here at Saratoga Mowing prefer to give the best possible cut to make the lawn look as good as it possibly can so would rather wait and do the job right so that it fits with the standards we hold ourselves to as a company.
