Mowing When Wet Will Destroy Your Lawn

The wet season is coming, and we’ve all experienced the hopeless feeling of the lawn growing out of control. Relentless rain, you had to work during the one sunny day of the week, and before you know it, your backyard looks like the jungle from Jumanji.

But while it’s tempting to trim a bit from the top, lawn experts agree, you should never mow while the grass is still wet.

Not only will it damage your lawn, you could also damage your mower.

Here’s why you shouldn’t mow wet grass.

1 - Uneven cuts

When grass is wet, water weighs it down, so it can’t stand up straight. The result is that the mower blades tear through the grass messily rather than cutting it cleanly. The grass that is weighed down by water may be missed completely, leaving tall bits to stand up once it dries.

2 – Fungal disease

When mowing a wet lawn, you’re opening the door for fungus and disease to take hold. This is because wet grass doesn’t cut cleanly, it tears or shreds. These tears, combined with the damp, create the perfect conditions for fungal growth and turf diseases.

3 – Mower damage

Wet grass sticks to everything, which can cause damage to the components of your mower if not properly cleaned.  Wet turf is harder to mow so your mower won't operate effectively. The wet grass will clog your mower blades, making the engine work harder, which will wear it out faster. Electric mowers may not even work at all due to the reduced torque.

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