Mowing of grass is done to make it healthier and to provide a proper growth environment so it could grow faster and establish better. But this mowing can be deadly for grass if done in rain and just after the rain.
Mowing a wet lawn can be a big mistake for your landscape. It does not only damage the tools as well as the turf.
There are a lot of reasons for how it can be damaging for grass and tools. Not only the heavy rainstorms are bad for mowing as well the lighter rains do also make the conditions less favorable for mowing the grass.
In this guide, I have explained all the reasons for damages to the yard by mowing in the rain. Furthermore, “how long does it take for grass to dry after rain?” is also answered in the guide.
If you really feel that it has become necessary to mow the lawn then required precautions to take are also present in the latter part of the guide.
Let’s get started.
Can you mow the lawn in the rain?
No, it’s not a good idea to mow the lawn in rain, and more especially when it is raining. The rainwater makes the grass heavier that can be damaging for the turf and lawn mower engine.
If you try to mow the lawn in rain or in standing rainwater, it can bog down the mower and cause it to stall.
During the rain, the grass blades get stuck with each other and become sticky and heavy, so it will be difficult for blades to cut them which puts more stress on the drive that can be damaging for the engine.
How mowing grass in rain damages the turf

You have seen that the grass blades are standing up off the ground in dry conditions and such condition is ideal for giving an ideal cut. But these blades get heavier in the rain and become heavier than dry ones and lay down off the ground.
Cowlicks
When you mow the yard in rain, the mower blades will cut some of the standing blades and pass over the others. This way your lawn will be riddled with “cowlicks”.
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The onset of fungal diseases
The uneven mowed yard will give a bad look and when you try to cut the damp grass, it will tear down the clippings. The high moisture present in the clippings will provide a medium to fungal diseases.
So mowing the lawn in wet conditions, you are creating a path for fungal infestations. It will cost you more work and money in the form of applying lawn fungicides controls.
Soil damage
The simple act of passing the machine over the wet yard can also damage the yard soil. The wheels passing over the moist surface sink down in the soil more than the dry soils.
The passing over and over of wheels will form the ruts in the surface that will ultimately damage the turf and lawn health by onsetting fungal diseases when moisture stucks in ruts.
Finally, it will cause soil compaction in the yard that damages over time in the form of less moisture absorption in the ground.
What is the best time to cut grass?
The best time to cut grass is when it’s dry. In dry conditions, the grass blades are in standing up condition so it will be easier for the blades to cut and transfer to the clipping bag.
Mowing in dry does not mean cutting grass in drought conditions, it does mean cutting in normal conditions. As mowing in the drought will be more damaging in the form of moisture loss.
Morning time is the best time for cutting the grass when the dew is dry. The morning cut grass has enough time the whole day long to dry up clippings and is less prone to the onset of fungal diseases.
When not to mow the lawn?
It’s not good to mow the lawn other than normal weather conditions. It can be any adverse change in form of low soil moisture, rainy weather, and more dew.
Mowing the drought condition yard during rainstorms is the most damaging for turf. It is never a good idea to mow the yard during rain as it will cause the grass blades to stick with cutting blades that will bog down the engine.
How long does it take for grass to dry after rain?
As already discussed in the guide that wet grass is not good for mowing, so you have to wait for its drying. But you probably think that how much does it take for grass to dry after a rain so it becomes good for mowing?
Wet grass bent down off the ground by rain splashes and missed by the mower blades if mowed just after the rain.
You should wait for grass blades to stand back up straight, it is the best time to mow the yard. You can check the yard condition by walking through the grass to confirm if the shoes get wet or not. If shoes remain dry the grass is good for mowing.
How mowing grass in rain can be damaging?
Mowing the grass during rain or standing water conditions should never do. It can cause great damage to the mower engine which can cost you in the form of huge money in repairing.
Here is briefly discussed how wet grass damages the lawnmower and can be a health risk for you.
Damage to engine
Moisture in the yard can be problematic for the mower’s fuel tank and engine working system. It directly damages the metal parts in the form of rust. If the stabilizer is not mixed in the fuel tank, it will cause corrosion.
Wet clipping got stuck on the metal underside and blocked the mower deck. Mowing through the wet grass costs more energy for the engine that can be problematic in the form of heat-up of the engine that can also cause big damage.
Mowing through the heavy grass blades loaded with more moisture impedes the motion of the blade and makes the engine work harder.
Personal damage
Mowing the wet lawn consumes more energy and time because you have to mow again and again to get the smooth cut. Going through this you will get your clothes and shoes dirty.
In addition, the bigger danger is falling off the ground while moving through the terrains and slopes. Passing through the wet grass in terrains can be unbalancing and you can fall off the ground or over the mower, which could be damaging.
In case you must mow the wet lawn
Sometimes, the weather forecast shows that moist weather prolongs for more days and your yard must need to be mowed. Then how can you mow in wet grass?
To manage the lawn in such conditions, make sure that the lawn is not soggy enough that your feet sink down in it and stand in puddles. Here are some other things you need to do before moving.
- Add stabilizer to your mower’s fuel tank
- Sharpen the mower’s blade so it could smoothly cut the wet grass
- Raise the mower wheels a bit higher to put less stress on the engine
- Remove the clipping bag and turn off the mulching function as it will not work and cause more damage.
- Paint the mower deck after mowing the wet lawn
- Move the mower slowly to reduce the load on the engine and blade
- Clean the underside of the mower’s deck and discharge chute to protect the mower from rust damage
- Rake up all the clippings with dethatching rakes and move them to the bin
- You can also hand cut areas where water pools
