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Keep your lawn (and your mower) in tip-top shape.
We get it, you’re busy, and you may only have a short window of time on a weekend or weeknight to keep your lawn looking like a lush emerald carpet—and not an overgrown mess. But when rain enters the forecast for your mowing day, you might wonder exactly how long you have to wait to pull out the lawn mower.
Since we all know that a good rain will likely make your grass grow even faster, finding the right time to give it a retrim is essential. Here’s what you need to know before you mow wet grass.
What Happens When You Mow Wet Grass
Mowing wet grass sets you up for a host of problems for your lawn, your mower, and you. “Cutting wet grass can cause an uneven trim, and wet clippings can clog your mower, causing it to dump clumps of grass on your lawn,” says Matthew Koch, Ph.D., research and development fellow at Scotts Miracle-Gro. “These clumps can smother the turf and provide a place for diseases and insects to proliferate.”
In addition to a sloppy cut lawn and leaving your lawn open for potential diseases, you’ll be putting more wear and tear on your mower, and need to add raking apart clumps of grass to your to-do list. “Wet turf is softer, so mowing it in these conditions can cause your grass to tear,” Koch says. “If you don’t properly rake up the clumps in the grass clippings after mowing wet grass, they can suffocate the grass under them and result in brown spots.”
How to Determine if Your Lawn Is Ready to Mow After a Rainfall (and How to Mow it Right)
Obviously, there’s nothing to stop you from plowing ahead (literally). But if you want to keep your lawn looking great, here’s what you need to know about post-rain lawn mowing.
Know the rainfall total
A light, misty drizzle may only take an hour or so to dry out (and you might even be able to mow while it’s coming down), but if you’re dealing with one of those heavy, dump-an-inch-an-hour rainfalls, you’ll need to give your lawn more time to dry out. Experts recommend giving your lawn at least 24 hours to dry out after a rainfall.
Give your lawn the step test
Even 24 hours may not be enough if you had a long, drenching rainfall. To really ensure that your lawn is ready to mow, Koch recommends giving your lawn the step test. “Stand in your grass for a few minutes, and if any water encircles your shoes, you’ll need to wait longer for the grass to dry. Never mow your lawn if there are pools of water, or the grass feels soggy.”
Don’t give your grass a drastic cut
If you’re finally mowing your (super-long) lawn after a week’s worth of rain, you may be tempted to give it a short and sweet buzz—but you should resist the temptation. “Ensure you are mowing high,” Koch says. “While the rain may have caused your grass to grow tall, you should still only cut off the top third of your lawn at a time.”
Keep your mower blades sharp
Blunt blades equal a rough cut, whether you’re talking about kitchen knives, sewing scissors, or lawn mowers. Koch recommends sharpening the blades to help your mower deal with wet grass. (Sharper blades equal fewer clumps, even if you’re mowing wet grass.)
Read the original article on Real Simple
