Mowing Wet Grass, step by step

You have those days where the rain seems to be going on and on. And all that water makes your lawn grow even quicker than usual. Mowing dry grass is always more comfortable, but sometimes it is impossible to wait for it to dry. So what is the best way to mow wet grass? Before we dive into that, we first have to look at what wet grass is. Wet is a word for many different situations. Wet can mean your grass has pools of water, and if you walk on it, you see that your boots leave big imprints on it. Wet can also mean that there was just a small shower, and the soil itself is still reasonably dry. And wet can also mean it is more a kind of damp, and if you walk around, you see your shoes getting a little bit wet. You probably understand that it just isn’t a good idea to mow when it is exceptionally wet. But when it is not that wet, and you can’t wait for it to dry, you can give it a go. The blog post contains the best steps to mow your wet grass.

Mowing Wet Grass, step by step:

Step 1: Prepare your lawnmower
Step 2: Raise the mowing deck
Step 3: Use as much power as possible
Step 4: Mow wet grass slowly
Step 5: Mow in half-row intervals
Step 6: Use side discharge
Step 7: Mow in different directions
Step 8: Cut the perimeters first
Step 9: Clean the machine
Step 10: Use your edge or string trimmer for the last parts

Contents

1 How to mow wet grass, step by step
2 Why not cut wet grass
3 Related Questions
- 3.1 Final Remarks:

How to mow wet grass, step by step

If you do not have the time to let your grass dry before mowing, there are several ways to deal with mowing wet grass. Ensure that your lawn is capable of carrying your lawnmower’s weight and that the tires do not ruin the grass. If you have an electric lawnmower, do not mow when it is wet. An electric mower needs an extension that will move partly be on the grass. A wet environment and electricity do not match.

● Step 1: Prepare your lawnmower

The first important step for mowing wet grass is to prepare your lawnmower.

– Step 1.1: Spray lubricant on your mowing deck’s underside

Use a high-quality Silicone lubricant and spray the mowing deck underside. This makes it harder for the grass to stick on the underside. Sticking grass is one of the biggest problems when mowing wet grass. And it often means you have to stop the lawnmower, clean the underside before you can continue. The silicone spray often comes in the shape of an aerosol spray and can be found in your local hardware store or online. It should not cost more than a couple of dollars.

– Step 1.2: Sharpen the blades:

Mowing wet grass can have a shredding effect on your lawn and lead to uneven cutting. The sharper your blades are, the better they will work. Ensure that the cutting edges are straight and well-balanced.

– Step 1.3: Add some fuel stabilizer

When your lawn and environment is damp, excess water can enter the lawnmower’s fuel tank more easily. Water in your gas tank can make your machine run rough and having less power. Worst case, it can even make the engine stop. An easy way to protect your machine is to use a fuel stabilizer.

– Step 1.4: Check your lawnmower’s air filter

Check the air filter of the lawnmower. If you find your lawnmower’s air filter damp, let it dry or replace it. And while you’re at it, if it is dirty clean it.

● Step 2: Raise the mowing deck

When mowing wet grass, you should raise the mowing deck. The increased height helps to minimize the grass clippings’ quantity. Shorter clippings also mean that there is less chance that they become stuck under the mower. If you need to have the grass even shorter, mow it in multiple sessions. With each consecutive mowing session, you make it a little bit shorter.

● Step 3: Use as much power as possible

When mowing, let the engine run on full power. With wet grass, the engine has to work harder, and using full power means that the blades will rotate as fast as possible. When you encounter a more difficult part, the higher speed will help deal with it.

● Step 4: Mow wet grass slowly

Always mow wet grass slower. As with step 3, the goal is to use the engine power as good as possible and have less strain on the engine. That way, it can cope more comfortably with the problematic parts. Try to go 50% slower than usual. If you see that some parts are not fully cut, mow it again until it looks okay.

● Step 5: Mow in half-row intervals

After you have mowed the first row, try to move only half an interval away. That means you cut only half the width of your blade. It means your lawnmower will be moving partly over uncut grass and partly over already cut grass. The reason is also to limit the amount of grass cut at any time.

● Step 6: Use side discharge

Mulching and bagging wet grass are backbreaking, time-consuming, and messy. That is why it is better to use the side-discharge mode on the lawnmower and then rake away the grass later. Using the side-discharge means that the grass has the shortest route from the blade to the outside and fewer places to stick and clog parts of the lawnmower.

● Step 7: Mow in different directions

Don’t mow wet grass in uniform strokes. Make sure you mow damp grass in both horizontal and vertical paths.

● Step 8: Cut the perimeters first

Start mowing wet grass with the edges of your lawn and work your way inward. In this way, the blades of your lawnmower will also be moving over half-cut and half-uncut grass.

● Step 9: Clean the machine

When you are done, clean the mowing deck’s underside carefully before storing it. You must also make sure that you scrape down the upper parts of the deck, wipe down the entire body to make it grease-free, rust-free, stainless, and shiny. And then brush off your lawnmower’s tires and clean and lubricate your lawnmower’s blades after the completion of mowing your wet or damp lawn.

● Step 10: Use your edge or string trimmer for the last parts

After finishing, use your edger or string trimmer. Your lawn will look like a man who gets a shave after a shower.

Why not cut wet grass

There are four main reasons not to mow your lawn when the grass is wet.

1. Risk of clumping and clogging your lawnmower:

The main reason not to mow your lawn when it is wet or saturated is that the wet grass clippings tend to quickly clog up your lawnmower. Forcing you to clean the machine regularly during mowing. I can say from my experience that this can be a pain, and takes quite some time you have to do it.

2. Mowing wet grass takes more time

Mowing wet grass takes considerably more time than mowing dry grass. This is mainly because the lawnmower has to go slower, can not cut as much grass simultaneously, and cuts less.

Added to that comes the times you have to clean the mower’s underside when it is clogged.

And the last is that if you do not use a collection bag, you have to rake the grass later.

3. Risk of tearing up the grass:

You don’t want to tear your grass from its root. When the soil is wet, it is much easier to pull the grass out of the ground.

4. Risk of damaging your lawnmower:

Mowing wet grass is more difficult for your mower. The engine just has to work harder, and there will be more wear and tear. A damp environment can also mean a higher chance of corrosion for certain parts of the machine.

The ten wettest US states	Wettest Month
Alabama	March
Arkansas	May
Florida	August
Hawaii	December
Louisiana	June
Mississippi	December
Georgia	July
South Carolina	August
North Carolina	August
Tennessee	July