Gardeners warned not to mow lawn this weekend or risk five major issues

People have been warned not to mow their lawn this week - or risk five major issues.

With spring in full flow and summer on the horizon, gardening experts are warning homeowners to leave their lawns - even if your grass is getting long. Due to recent wet weather, experts explained that mowing wet grass has "disastrous consequences not just for the health of lawns, but the machinery used to cut it."

According to data from MyBuilder.com, which specialises in tradespeople, the wet weather has been extremely damaging to gardens across the UK and cutting it could result in five issues that will cost you money.

Problems caused by mowing of wet grass include:

• Uneven cuts due to weight on the grass blade

• Damage to grass blade health due to tearing

• Vulnerability to fungal infections due to torn grass blades

• Lawn mower damage due to clumps of grass blocking mower blades

• Damage to yourself caused by slipping on wet ground or danger from electric mowers should damaged cords meet water

James Lewis, expert gardener from MyBuilder.com, said that while it may seem like cutting the lawn will improve the appearance of your garden, the opposite can be true.

He explains: “While regular cutting of your lawn is essential for its general health, mowing while wet is counter productive. When grass is wet, it doesn’t stand up straight and therefore it’s impossible to get an even cut. You will end up with a messy cut, or the mower may miss blades of grass entirely, leaving you with patches of totally unmown lawn. Worse still, these tears in the blade leave your lawn vulnerable to fungal infections, which thrives in wet conditions.

“We’d advise you to leave the lawnmower in the shed this weekend, and wait for the dryer weather to arrive before cutting your grass. But if you really can’t wait, there are a few methods to follow which lessen your chances of a problem.”

How to cut a wet lawn if you need to

Sharpen mower blades

Sharp blades increase your chances of getting a clean, even cut on your lawn. This is important at all times, but especially so when cutting wet grass.

Raise the mower deck

Set the cutting blades as high as possible. This will help to stop clogging of your blades, as well as minimising any damage to your grass plants.

Remove excess water

Before you mow, try and remove any water from your lawn. You can use a hosepipe to do this by dragging it across the lawn in a “squeejee” effect.

Clean up

Immediately clear up any clippings and move them off the lawn. Leaving the cut grass will decrease oxygen to the remaining plants. Be cautious with using a rake if the ground is saturated as it could pull up plants with the soil underneath.

Take it slow

Keeping your speed slow and consistent will minimise the load on your mower, therefore lowering the risk of damage to your machine.

Hose it down

Make sure your mower is thoroughly cleaned after use, removing any clogs of grass. Leave it to dry in a well ventilated area before putting it away.

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