Mowing damp grass can be difficult and time-consuming. Damp or wet grass will stick everywhere and clog the lawnmower all the time. The dryer the grass, the easier it will get. But sometimes, you do not have the time to wait for this. In that case, you can mow damp grass with both commercial and consumer-grade mowers as long as you keep in mind some of our essential tips.
Mowing damp grass, this is how you should do it:
As a general rule, it is better to wait until the grass is dry, so the grass will not stick and clog the mower. If you can not wait, make sure that the lawnmower blades are sharp and set the mowing height higher than your typical setting. Ensure that the blades are sharp, and use a side discharging if possible. Do not use a collection bag, as it will clog easily.
The article will discuss why although mowing is necessary in general, mowing damp grass is not ideal. However, if you have to do it, you’ll find out here how to effectively mow damp grass, as well as what you should do after mowing damp grass.
Contents
- 1 Mowing helps to keep your lawn healthy
- 2 Mowing damp grass
- 3 Timing
- 4 The ideal condition for mowing damp grass
- 5 Ways to effectively mow damp grass
- 6 Why mowing damp grass is not favorable
- 7 Are commercial lawn mowers more ideal for mowing damp grass?
- 8 After mowing damp grass
- 9 Take preemptive measures
- 10 Final remarks
Mowing helps to keep your lawn healthy
Mowing keeps a lawn both healthy and good-looking, and it keeps your lawn fresh and free of weeds. A neat and clean lawn is very attractive and eye-catching. Moreover, you will love walking on your lawn and will want to spend more time there.
Mowing damp grass
Mowing damp grass is more difficult than when it’s dry, and so you need to make sure that your mower’s blades are sharp. You also have to raise your mower’s decks above the ground, about 3 to 4 inches, and then sharpen your blades after every day of mowing. It would also be best if you did full stripe mowing, not half stripe mowing. This minimizes the risk that your mower gets clogged with wet grass clippings.
It is fine to mow damp grass if it remains wet for a long time because, of course, if not it will grow taller, which means it won’t look as good and will become more problematic for future mowing. The least saturated grass makes it more ideal for mowing.
Both commercial and consumer mowers can be used for mowing damp grass. Either way, you’ll notice that you’ll make wheel ruts while cutting damp grass because of the wet ground.
Timing
Everyone knows that it’s not good to mow the grass right after it rains, as this is difficult and takes a lot of time. It is much better to wait until the grass is dry enough to walk through your lawn and your shoes are not sinking in it. But it is not always possible to wait, especially during certain times of the year when the weather is bad, and there is no alternative to mow grass that is partially wet from time to time.
The ideal condition for mowing damp grass
The best-case scenario for mowing damp grass is first to have a strong, commercial mower. Secondly, don’t mow just after it’s rained.
Ways to effectively mow damp grass
In order to do mow damp grass well and take good care of your lawn, follow these steps:
● Sharpen your mower blades:
Mowing with dull blades destroys the health and the beauty of your lawn, so make sure your blades are sharp.
● Raise your mower deck:
For ideal damp grass cutting, raise your mower deck up to 3 or 4 inches, as cutting short grass can cause problems to your lawn.
● Manage your fuel:
It would be best if you did this to prevent problems such as fuel contamination. Don’t overfill your mower with fuel. In addition, ethanol in gasoline attracts moisture, which can affect your mowing. Add a fuel stabilizer to counter this problem.
● Side discharge the grass:
Side discharge the grass from the mower, as this will keep as much wet grass as possible out of your machine, which can build up over a period of mowing.
● Clean your mower after mowing:
This will prevent the formation of soggy layers of grass clippings both inside and outside your mower.
● Test the saturation of your lawn:
When you are about to mow and are standing on your lawn, you don’t want to feel like you’re sinking into it nor seeing the water rise around the edges of your shoes. If you do see this, it is impossible to mow. There’s just too much water on your lawn.
● Mow more often:
Lots of rain, of course, increases the growth of grass on your lawn. Tall, wet, and bushy grass is difficult to mow properly and effectively, so mow more often if it’s rained a lot and this has happened.
Why mowing damp grass is not favorable
Mowing damp grass is not favorable because it is very difficult to cut damp grass. It is also very dangerous to cut damp grass.
● Mowing wet grass presents personal danger:
You can slip on a wet lawn while exerting force to mow the grass. As such, there is a danger that you could fall towards the mower blades.
● Mowing wet grass is bad for the mower:
Damp grass, especially when it is tall, can be a strain on some mowers, causing them to overheat. A commercial mower will do much better in this situation.
● A wet lawn is very difficult to mow:
Wet grass blades are very tough to mow, so this will likely mean you have to buy new blades again and again.
● There’s even more work to do after mowing damp grass:
Cleaning up damp grass takes longer as they stick to things more easily. Damp grass clippings also easily attach to a mower’s undercarriage, which can become a breeding ground for mold if not removed properly. And if machinery remains moist for too long, it can damage your machinery through rust, etc.
● Mowing damp grass can affect the health of your lawn:
If you mow damp grass and there is any disease on your lawn, your mower will spread that disease around your lawn more easily when it’s wet. Similarly, if there are lawn weeds that are going to seed, by mowing, you’ll spread these wet seeds, which could create a larger weed infection.
Are commercial lawn mowers more ideal for mowing damp grass?
Both commercial and domestic mowers can be used to mow damp grass. You have to keep your blades sharp. Besides, if possible, use gator blades with notched tips so that they will do a better job of breaking up wet grass clumps. Both types of mowers work, but commercial mowers are better at mowing damp grass.
After mowing damp grass
You must ensure that you mow the grass at the right time again so that it doesn’t become so tall, and you don’t put yourself in danger by mowing it when it’s wet again. And take proper care of your mower and its blades so that you can use them properly next time.
Take preemptive measures
Keep a close eye on your lawn, and don’t allow the grass to grow so tall that it becomes necessary to mow it when it’s damp. Cut it in ideal weather conditions.
Final remarks
Having a lawn with tall grass is not a good thing. Cut it on time, so you won’t need to cut it in bad weather. If you need to cut damp grass, use some of the tips we gave you to ease the process easier and faster.