Professional lawn care services often avoid cutting wet grass when possible to prevent issues for both their client and turf. In particular, wet clippings may clump together and spread diseases across lawns.
Slips and falls while operating machines can also be dangerously simple, while wet grass stain clothing and shoes far more visibly than dry grass does.
Using the Right Equipment
As a professional lawn care specialist, it's imperative that your regular mowing services continue even during wet weather. A low-pressure purpose-made mower that won't damage your grass should be the optimal choice; this will decrease risk of clogging while creating a better finish overall.
As a homeowner with an unavoidably tight schedule and no room to postpone their yardwork, it may become necessary to mow wet grass. It is crucial that extra precautions and an understanding of risks involved are taken. Use this mowing in the rain flowchart to decide whether you should continue or postpone mowing by taking into account factors like weather, equipment suitability and lawn condition as well as tips for successfully completing this job such as raising mower height to avoid clumping and achieve cleaner cuts; choosing tough turf varieties like Sir Walter Buffalo and Kikuyu which quickly recover from damage as well.
Walking on Wet Grass
Soggy grass tends to clump together, producing an uneven cut and less-than-desirable appearance. Furthermore, wet grass can clog mowers, spread disease across lawns, and increase risk for accidents for its operator.
Mowing wet grass often results in muddy patches and soil compaction, particularly if using a heavy mower, since its wheels and shoes may compact saturated soil into ruts that impede grass health and its root systems.
Though it is always preferable to postpone cutting wet grass, sometimes it becomes unavoidable. If this happens to you, here are a few measures you can take to limit potential damage and risks involved with cutting wet lawns.
Clogging
Wet grass clippings become more adherent when wet, leaving unsightly grass stains on driveways or pathways and potentially sticking to the mower itself. They may also act as an ideal breeding ground for mold growth that could eventually corrode and stop working, rendering your mower useless altogether.
Very wet grass can wilt under pressure from rainstorms, preventing your mower from cutting it completely. Furthermore, wet blades may stick together and clog the collection box leading to an uneven cut and less appealing appearance.
Mowing wet lawns isn't ideal, but it can still be done. To reduce issues and minimise issues when necessary, it is recommended that a purpose-made mower with a hard-sided collector and raised height setting be used - this helps minimise issues of clogging up. Furthermore, be careful when approaching slopes, waiting until drier conditions appear whenever possible to preserve your lawn's health and the quality of its grass cover.
Slipping
As a professional lawn care specialist, wet conditions can be a real nuisance. They're not good for your grass, equipment or personal safety - slippery conditions make for dangerous working conditions; wet grass clumps together easily, can clog your mower and could spread fungal diseases that compromise safety.
Pushing a heavy mower across a wet lawn can cause soil compaction, leaving unsightly ruts in the ground, as well as cutting off oxygen supply to grass roots resulting in thin or patchy growth.
Wearing wellies when walking across wet grass can help protect you from slips and falls, especially near your mower blades or on sloped ground. Slips can cause serious injury when operating the machine when falling, as can minor falls while mowing wet grass causing irreparable damage to both lawn and equipment.
