Can You Cut Wet Grass? Is it Safe?

Beginners and new lawn owners often ask if they can cut wet grass. It’s something that confuses many people, and yet, they are unable to decide. But not after reading this article.

We will help you understand the issues of cutting wet grass. We will explain how you can ensure the grass is dry enough to mow. This article will answer most of your questions, and you will never struggle to decide.

Moreover, we will also explain how to mow wet grass if needed. Let’s get into it.

Can You Cut Wet Grass?

Cutting wet grass is not recommended at all. Period!

It doesn’t mean you can’t do it, but if you do, you need to do it carefully and be ready for the consequences.

It’s better to avoid cutting wet grass as it could damage your lawn and harm your equipment. In the worst case, you might end up harming yourself.

But if cutting wet grass is necessary and you don’t have a choice, you must know how to do it the right way to prevent issues and ensure your safety.

Why Cutting Wet Grass is Not Recommended?

Mower Clogging

When a mower tries to mow, it gets clogged. The reason is the accumulation of wet grass clippings around its blade.

As the clippings are wet, they stick to the blade surface and gather around it. They reduce the speed of the blade and put strain on the engine/motor. And finally, the mower could get overheated or stop working.

And the worst part is that when the mower is clogged, it can’t cut grass. You need to clean the blade frequently so that the mower can work properly.

Safety Hazard

Cutting wet grass is a safety hazard. You introduce yourself to some safety risks.

Firstly, when the grass is wet, it’s too slippery. You could slip and fall while running a mower over it. The mower also loses traction, and it becomes difficult to control it. It’s extremely dangerous.

And if you own a corded electric mower, never even think about mowing wet grass. There is a high risk of electrical shock.

Moreover, when you try to unclog your mower, you expose yourself to another danger, which is the sharp blade.

Soil Compaction

Because of the water content in the soil, it becomes prone to compaction. When the weight of the mower and the person running it is exerted on the soil, its particles come closer and make the soil more compact.

After compaction, the water, nutrients, and air do not reach the roots of the grass. It’s dangerous to the health of your lawn. And to reverse soil compaction, you need to do lawn aeration.

Poor Results

Even if you run a mower on wet grass, its blade won’t be able to cut it properly. Wet grass is slippery and flexible, so the mower rips it instead of cutting it.

You don’t get precise cuts when the grass is wet. The uneven cuts look awful when the grass dries.

Disease Spread

When you mow a wet lawn, there is a chance of diseases spreading. Firstly, the ripped grass blades are more prone to diseases and can catch them quickly.

Secondly, the grass clumps formed from clippings block the sunlight. The soil remains damp at these locations, which creates a favorable environment for the growth of fungus and mold.

How Long You Should Wait for the Grass to Dry?

If you can wait, you should. It is best for your lawn and yourself.

After a drizzle, you should wait 4-6 hours before mowing. And in the case of heavy rain, wait for at least 24 hours.

If there is morning dew on the grass, you should wait till 10 am. Let the sun dry your grass and make it ready for cutting.

The best time to cut grass is Mid-morning (8-10 am) as the morning dew has evaporated. If you were unable to cut at this time, you can do so in the late afternoon (4-6 pm).

How to Know the Grass is Dry Enough to Cut?

If you are unsure whether the grass is dry enough or not, you can do a few simple tests.

Firstly, check if there is any visible water or dew on the grass. If there is any, you should wait.

Before mowing, it is recommended to walk 10-15 feet on the grass. If the grass is too wet, you’ll notice clippings on your pants and shoes. Secondly, there will be marks of your shoes or feet on the soil that indicate soil compaction.

You can also take a grass clipping between your two fingers. Try to bend it. If the grass is dry, it will break easily. Otherwise, it will be flexible, which is an indication of the wet grass.

Further reading: How to tell if the grass is dry enough to cut?

What If You Need to Cut Wet Grass?

If you have no option left and you need to cut wet grass, make sure to follow these tips.

Use PPE

The first thing you need to ensure is your own safety. To prevent slipping on the grass, use close-toe shoes or boots. It helps you maintain good traction even in wet grass and soil. Secondly, wear safety glasses while operating a lawnmower.

Select the Right Mower

When the grass is dry, you can use any kind of mower. But when it’s wet, you need to be extra careful.

Never use a corded electric mower on wet grass. It increases the chances of receiving electrical shocks. Secondly, managing cords in such conditions is extremely difficult.

Do not use small battery-powered electric mowers. They won’t be able to cut wet grass as they are not powerful enough. Due to frequent clogging, the battery will drain faster. You won’t be able to mow your lawn.

Say NO to manual lawn mowers. The grass is quite slippery when it’s wet, and when you push a manual mower, you are more likely to slip and fall.

The best option would be to use a gas-powered mower. Whether you have a simple mower or a riding one, both would work. But keep in mind that the riding ones are quite heavy, and they can compact the soil to a great extent. The lighter the mower, the better it is.

Run Mower Slowly

The first rule of mowing wet grass is to go slowly. Don’t be in a hurry, as you can easily get disbalanced.

You need to ensure good traction on the lawn and slowly mow your lawn. Be careful on the edges and turns. Keep an eye on the puddles and walk carefully.

Wet grass is a bit difficult to cut, so you need to give your mower some extra time for better results.

Bag the Clippings

Wet grass clippings have strong adhesion, and they stick together. It creates clumps that block the sunlight on your lawn.

These clumps stay on the soil unless you remove them. Even if they get dry, they still stop sunlight from reaching the lawn soil below it.

Thus, the best way is to bag the clippings. Do not leave it on the lawn. Attach a bag to your lawn mower and collect all clippings to dispose of them without any hassle.

Clean Immediately

After mowing, you should clean the lawn as soon as possible. If you didn’t attach a bag while mowing, there will be clumps everywhere. Use a rake and remove clumps from the lawn.

You also need to clean your mower. Wet grass can lead to corrosion on the blade and other parts of the mower. Clean the clippings first and get rid of the mess. Dry the mower to prevent rusting.

Say Goodbye to Hassles—Get a Robotic Lawnmower

People hardly get time to mow their grass. And if the lawn is wet, they won’t be able to mow it. It’s the primary reason people ask whether they could mow the lawn to utilize the time they have.

The best way to solve this issue is to get a robotic lawnmower. Once you have that, you don’t need to worry about mowing the lawn. It will be done automatically and at the right time.

Navimow i110 is a robotic lawnmower that intelligently monitors weather forecasts to mow the lawn at the right time. Even if the weather changes abruptly and the rain starts, it pauses mowing and returns to its dock automatically.

With this mower, you don’t need to arrange time or worry about mowing. Just set the schedule, and it will mow the lawn automatically. If the grass is too wet, you can leave mowing for now and schedule the mower after a few hours or an optimal interval. Whether you are home or not, you can control everything through the app and get real-time updates.

FAQs

Why should you not cut wet grass?

Cutting wet grass is a safety hazard. Moreover, it leads to soil compaction, the spread of disease, uneven cuts, and frequent mower clogging. For your safety and to prevent damage to the mower, do not cut wet grass.

Can you cut grass when it is damp?

When the grass is damp, you should wait for a few hours. Let it dry and then cut it. Cutting damp grass is difficult because it's slippery and flexible. Your mower can’t work properly.

Is it okay to cut grass with morning dew?

No, you should not cut after morning dew. Let the grass dry, and it won’t take much time. You could probably start cutting around 10 am, as in many regions of the US, the grass becomes dry enough by this time.