Mowing Wet Lawns
Every gardener knows the rule: don’t cut wet grass.
And every gardener also knows that real life doesn’t read rule books.
If we waited for perfect conditions in this country, some lawns would only get cut about six times a year. Rain arrives, grass grows, and sooner or later you find yourself standing there looking at a lawn that needs doing — even though it’s still damp.
So if you are going to mow when it’s wet, the trick is not pretending it’s ideal. The trick is doing it in a way that avoids damage.
Here are the things that i feel make the difference.
Raise the cutting height — always
This is the biggest one.
Wet grass is heavier and bends over. If you cut low, the mower drags, tears and clogs, and you stress the lawn at a time when it’s already soft.
Set the blade high. Think tidy, not short.
You can always cut lower another day. You can’t un-stress a lawn you’ve scalped in February.
Use the lightest mower you have
Heavy mowers and wet ground are not friends.
Weight causes ruts, compaction and those wheel tracks that stare at you for weeks afterwards. This is where older lightweight machines come into their own. They float over the lawn rather than press into it.
It might take longer, but the lawn will thank you.
Go slowly — slower than you think
Wet mowing is not a speed job.
Rushing causes clumping, clogging and uneven cutting. Slow passes let the mower lift the grass rather than push it over. It also reduces that horrible build-up underneath the deck.
Patience here saves frustration later.
Expect clumps — and deal with them
Clumps are normal. Completely normal.
Wet grass sticks together. You’re not doing anything wrong. The key is not leaving thick piles sitting there, as they can smother the lawn.
A quick second pass, a rake, or even a light kick to spread them out is enough. Perfection isn’t required — just don’t leave heavy lumps.
Avoid turning sharply
This is one people forget.
When the ground is soft, turning the mower sharply twists the turf and leaves those scuffed patches that take ages to recover.
Do gentle turns. Wide arcs. Treat it more like steering a boat than driving a car.
Don’t mow saturated ground
There’s a difference between damp and waterlogged.
If your boots are sinking or water is squeezing up around your feet, walk away. No tip fixes that. You’ll compact the soil and create problems that last far longer than slightly long grass.
Sometimes the best gardening decision is doing nothing.
Hard lesson. Important one.
Clean the mower afterwards
Wet grass sticks everywhere — under the deck, around rollers, inside guards. Leaving it there invites rust and makes the next cut harder.
A quick clean while it’s fresh is ten times easier than scraping dried clumps later.
Future you will be grateful.
Accept that it won’t look perfect
This might be the most useful tip of all.
Wet cuts are maintenance cuts. They’re about keeping control, not achieving that striped show-garden finish. There may be a few missed blades, a slightly uneven look, the odd soft patch.
That’s normal.
The lawn is still waking up from winter. You’re just guiding it along.
Why these early cuts matter
A light tidy cut does something important — it signals the season is changing. It lets air and light reach the base of the grass, stops it getting straggly, and keeps moss from quietly taking over.
You’re not forcing growth. You’re encouraging balance.
And that’s good gardening.
Mowing wet lawns will never be ideal, but it’s often necessary. The secret is adjusting expectations and technique rather than pretending conditions are perfect.
Use lighter tools. Cut high. Take your time. Accept good enough.
Spring will bring the better cuts soon enough.
Until then, we work with what we’re given — which, in this country, is usually damp grass and optimism.
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