A lush and vibrant green lawn is essential for enhancing the beauty of a garden, but in hopes of creating that, gardeners may fall victim to one common mistake. That error in question is mowing your lawn when it is visibly wet. Regardless of how much you might want to maintain a neat lawn in the upcoming weeks, cutting wet grass can damage your lawn. In reality, it’s among the biggest mistakes in lawn care that you can commit.
Instead, when rain is forecast, it is recommended to try to cut your grass the day before if possible. This gives the lawn a chance to dry out before the downpour arrives.
So why is mowing wet grass bad? According the the gardening pros at George Davies Turf & Stone, mowing wet grass can “wreak havoc on your lawn” for several different reasons.
When wet, grass blades will tear and shred under the mower blades rather than cutting cleanly. This leads to damaged, frayed tips which turn brown.
The weight of the mower on soggy ground compresses the soil, hampering root development and reducing air circulation.
It also spreads lawn diseases. Moisture on the grass blades transfers diseases rust fungus as you mow.
What’s more, wet clippings will clump together on the lawn surface or under the mower deck and clog up the machinery, which can damage the equipment over time.
Ted Bromley-Hall, managing director of UK landscaping company IBRAN, is also against mowing wet grass. He warned: “Mowing damp grass can lead to uneven cuts, torn grass blades rather than clean cuts, and potential fungal problems.”
So, for the healthiest lawn and a fully functioning mower, wait until the grass is no longer wet before cutting it.
Be patient after heavy rainfall and stick to mowing in dry weather conditions when possible.
