Can You Cut Wet Grass?
Ideally, grass should only be mowed when conditions are dry. Not only is cutting wet grass not great for your lawn or mower’s health, but it’s also not nice for you to be cutting in the rain. In summary, it’s not going to produce the best results.
Why Can’t I Cut Wet Grass?
If you look at the properties of wet grass, this should immediately explain why it struggles to be cut - wet, damp grass is heavier, more resilient and clumps together easily.
Damage to Grass
Mowing wet grass can cause uneven, wonky results as, with the grass being heavier, the mower must use more power to get a clean cut which isn’t easy to do with weighty, tougher grass. The mower will struggle to get a grip on the wet grass and can end up tearing the blades rather than cleanly cutting them. This can reduce the lawn’s durability and make it more susceptible to damage from further mowing, environmental changes and disease.
Damage to Mower
Mowing wet grass makes for an unhappy mower - the clippings are prone to clumping together and clogging the mower deck and blades. Not only will you need to take more time when mowing to clear the deck regularly but, if left to solidify and not cleaned properly after mowing, the clippings can cement to the deck and prove difficult to remove once dry. The moisture from the wet grass can also cause some areas of the mower to rust and trying to cut tougher grass can put more strain on the mower’s motor.
What if I Have to Cut Wet Grass?
Whilst we don’t recommend mowing grass when it’s wet, sometimes (especially in standard soggy British weather) that doesn’t always go to plan. Whether you’ve got an event coming up or the grass simply must be cut and it’s not been dry for days, there are certain situations where you may feel like you have no option but to cut your grass when it’s wet.
How To Cut Wet Grass:
- Use a high-powered mower that has the strength to cut through more resilient grass. The mower should be in the best condition possible with clean. sharp blades to cut through the grass with ease. We'd recommend opting for a battery powered mower, rather than electrical. Electric mowers are not designed for use in the rain and this is potentially dangerous - electricity and water famously don’t mix well. Although electric mowers can cut damp grass, it should be avoided and most manufacturers recommend you wait until the grass has dried properly.
- Mow slowly and carefully- avoid overloading the mower with lots of clippings and take your time to clear any clumps or clogs that form in the blades and deck as you go along. The faster and more haphazardly you go, the more risk of tearing or damaging your grass there is.
- Raise your mowing height for a wet mow. Taking a smaller amount of height off is a lot easier for mowers to handle in wet conditions, rather than trying to cut through substantial, heavy length.
- Wear correct footwear with adequate grip to avoid any slips, trips or falls on wet ground. Be aware that wet grass clippings may stain shoes.
Before you attempt to mow wet grass, you may want to consider some alternatives first. A popular alternative is using a strimmer to quickly knock a bit of the length off without having to use a heavy duty mower.
Strimmers can handle tall, overgrown areas better than standard mowers and tend not to clog as easily when it comes to wet grass. However, they can produce uneven and patchy results.
It's also easier to accidentally scalp a lawn when using a strimmer as it cannot be set to a consistent mowing height.
When in doubt, it’s always best to wait until your grass is dry to mow your lawn, but by following the best practises to mow wet grass safely, you have the best chance for an even and satisfactory cut.
