Is it possible to cut wet grass with an electric trimmer
Mowing wet grass with an electric lawnmower. why not?
It is strongly discouraged to use an electric lawnmower or grass trimmer for cutting wet grass or working in wet weather. If moisture gets inside the device, it may cause a short circuit. There is a high risk of electric shock. Even if such dangerous consequences can be avoided, still mowing wet vegetation is an additional load on the power unit.
- Mowing wet grass is an abnormal mode of operation, operation in which accelerates the wear of the device’s components.
- Wet grass has great resistance to cutting elements, as a result of which they become dull much faster.
- The motor works under overload conditions, which, of course, affects its functionality and leads to a reduction in the working resource.
Wet grass rushes to the spindle and knives, increasing the load on the engine. No tricks will help in this case. Whatever schemes you use, the electric motor will still suffer. And the risk of short circuit and electric shock is very high.
Mowing a wet lawn with a gasoline-powered lawnmower. if there is no other option
If you are already mowing wet vegetation, then only with a gasoline lawn mower. The tools are distinguished by higher performance indicators, equipped with powerful motors. Despite this, an increased load is still carried out on the working mechanisms. First of all, moving elements, pistons suffer. If there is no other way out besides cutting wet vegetation, use the gasoline unit with care, switch to idle mode every 30-40 seconds to avoid overloading the engine.
Arguments against mowing wet grass
Considering the question of whether it is possible to mow wet grass, you need to determine what exactly is being discussed. Vegetation can be wet in such cases:
- immediately after the rain;
- while it is raining;
- the grass is constantly wet due to the fact that the site is located in a lowland or high soil waters.
In the first case, you can use a gasoline lawn mower, but you should work very carefully. In the second, don’t even try, wait for the rain to end. In the third, you first need to resolve the issue of high humidity in the area, and then start mowing grass.
Wet weather is a serious risk factor for lawn mowers. It is better to wait a little and not risk your instrument or your health. In addition, the result when cutting dry grass is much better. Consider the main arguments supporting the fact that you should not mow wet grass.
- It is much more difficult to move around the territory in wet weather. Increased risk of falling and injury.
- Mowing the grass will take more time and effort.
- In the process, the tool becomes very dirty, wet grass accumulates on its body and other parts. It dries up, the mower is more difficult to clean.
- Green vegetation contains chlorophyll. This substance is responsible for the bright color of the grass. If the lawn is wet, chlorophyll remains on clothes, shoes, and skin. It is difficult to wash it.
So, if you want to protect the tool from damage and extend its service life, and to protect yourself from injury, it is better to give up mowing wet grass, wait until it dries.
Is it possible to mow wet grass with a lawn mower?
Caring for an adjoining, garden and park area or a summer cottage takes a lot of time and effort. Simplify your work with a lawn mower designed to cut grass quickly and efficiently. The tool will serve for a long period of time, performing its functions properly, if the user follows the manufacturer’s recommendations for using the mower. So, for example, almost all manufacturers in the instructions indicate that it is not recommended to work in wet weather. Is it really? Is it possible to mow wet grass with an electric or gasoline lawn mower?
Why cut wet grass?
Owners of private houses and mansions, in which they live permanently, rarely face the need to mow wet grass, because they can easily wait a couple of hours until it dries up, or postpone mowing for another day. And what to do if you came to the dacha or to a country house to mow the grass, and then it is raining? And if you got out for the whole weekend, but the weather is bad and the grass is wet, it doesn’t have time to dry. It is in such and such situations that users resort to mowing wet vegetation. How justified is this? What are the dangers of mowing a wet lawn? Is it worth the risk? It is important to find answers to these questions before starting work in wet weather.
How mowing in wet weather harms lawn grass?
Cutting in wet weather harms not only the tool, but the grass itself too. The mower does not cut, but tears wet vegetation. The incised areas on the stems dry up, turn yellow, and this affects the aesthetics of the lawn. The grass on the territory is not scattered evenly, but in bunches. If they are not removed in time, bald spots may appear.
How to work if you decide to mow raw grass?
If you urgently need to mow wet grass and cannot be postponed in any way, read the rules for working in wet weather to minimize the risks. Only use a gasoline-powered lawn mower for mowing vegetation. It is absolutely impossible to mow wet grass with a mower with an electric motor.
It is important to maintain the optimum length of the lawn grass. If you mow too much, the vegetation can dry out and turn yellow, which will damage the appearance of the lawn. When planning to mow wet grass, adhere to certain rules and recommendations.
- Take precautions. Remember to wear goggles and gloves to protect your eyes and hands from injury.
- Use heavy, waterproof shoes to protect your feet.
- If the tool makes a lot of noise during operation, which is typical for powerful gasoline units, do not neglect the use of headphones.
- In a spacious area, mow in squares. First mow it around the perimeter, smoothly move to the center.
- Check that the mower is working properly. Make sure the integrity of the tool. Refuel the mower with gasoline, add oil if necessary.
- Remove from the territory all solid objects, debris. The fact is that when the lawn mower hits a stone or wooden block, the cutting elements can ricochet.
- Check the condition of the knives. If they are blunt, be sure to sharpen them. Replace damaged torches with new ones.
- During operation, try not to overload the engine. Move around the site smoothly, slowly.
- Do not run at high revs. Keep in mind that the motor is under heavy load when mowing wet vegetation.
Cutting Wet grass
Immediately after work, the tool must be thoroughly cleaned of adhering wet grass. If this is not done, it will simply dry out on the body, and it will be more difficult to tear it off afterwards. The area also needs to be cleared by removing the heaps of grass. This way you can avoid the formation of bald spots.
Manufacturers do not recommend cutting wet grass or working in wet weather. We strongly advise you to follow these guidelines. Otherwise, the instrument may even be removed from warranty service.
Is it possible to mow wet grass with a trimmer and lawn mower and how to do it?
Arrangement of a suburban area (and even a local area in the city) is a very difficult matter. Especially because you have to take care of the farm all the time. Many people also have questions about how to do this or that work, for example, is it possible to mow wet grass with a trimmer.
Features of the situation
Of course, such a question will not arise for those who live in the immediate vicinity of the lawn. Then you can wait a while and work when the grass dries up. But the need to remove wet grass arises immediately, if you can visit the site only occasionally. What to do if you have to mow the lawn on weekends, on another day with rainy weather, that’s the subtlety. The opinions of the summer residents themselves differ, so there is no particular sense in focusing on their position. You need to understand the nuances yourself.
The role of equipment
It should be pointed out at the outset that there are two main types of trimmers that “relate” differently to wet vegetation. Some devices are equipped with a gasoline engine, others are set in motion by connecting to the mains or installing a battery. In turn, electric mowers are divided into two subgroups: with the location of the motor in the lower or upper part of the machine. Safe enough for the user to remove wet grass can only be gasoline grass trimmers or hand-held grass scythes.
In this case, it is absolutely undesirable to use an electric lawn mower. Sometimes one can come across assertions that this requirement applies only to devices with a lower motor placement. Such an electric motor directly comes into contact with water. Due to this contact, you can be afraid of a short circuit.
However, do not use an overhead mower after rain.
If water does get inside the power plant, there is a risk not only of a short circuit, but also of an electric shock. It is worth noting that these restrictions apply not only to grass trimmers, but also to full-fledged lawn mowers. The assurances of manufacturers and marketers about safety should not be taken into account. To minimize the risk to yourself and your equipment, you should use a petrol cutter. But there are a few more subtleties that must be taken into account.
Even if the mower does not fail, and its owner will not be electrocuted (let’s say such a favorable situation for a minute), it is still impossible to mow wet grass with an electric trimmer. This is a deliberately abnormal mode of operation, due to which the equipment wears out too quickly. Wet vegetation is much more resistant to cutting elements than it should be. Therefore, even very well insulated motors operate with overload.
Due to the sticking of wet grass to the knives and to the spindle, the load on them will necessarily increase. This cannot be avoided, and no skill of mowers, no methods and schemes of lawn clearing help. Not only the motor suffers, but also the shaft, which sometimes turns.
Problems when mowing wet grass can also arise with gasoline-powered machines. Yes, they are more powerful than their electrical counterparts, but the load still exceeds normal values. First of all, piston pairs and other moving parts are “under attack”. If there is no way out other than using a gasoline mower, you need to take care of it. When mowing raw grass, the machine is periodically switched to idle mode without load. 30 seconds is enough to dissipate excess heat, as well as save the life of the grass trimmer.
When talking about mowing wet grass, you need to distinguish between the following possible situations:
- it is wet after the rain;
- It is raining;
- the cause of moisture is a damp area (lowland or soil water).
In the first case, it is quite possible to take a chance and try to put things in order with a petrol mower. In the second, mowing is impractical. In the third, you will first have to deal with moisture and only then put the lawn or lawn in order. If you often have to mow wet grass after rain or “through dew” in a small area, then it is better to use not a grass trimmer, and not a lawn mower, but a simple hand scythe. You need to look not only at the grass that is removed, but also at the one where the power cable is placed.
Moisturizing it can be a very serious risk factor. To mow the grass after rain, you need to wait a little. A few minutes, even with a very big rush, will not noticeably reduce the time that can be allocated for mowing.
And the result may be clearly better. Mowing through dew, even with an electric lawn mower or electric trimmer, is usually allowed.
As for mowing raw grass, there are still the following objections to it:
- It is more difficult to walk with a trimmer or lawn mower in such conditions, you can easily fall and get injured;
- you will have to spend more time on work;
- after mowing, it will be necessary to thoroughly clean the machine itself;
- wet chlorophyll will leave more stains on clothes, leather, shoes.
Now you need to figure out exactly how to proceed if you still decide to use a gasoline grass trimmer to clean your lawn or lawn in wet weather. An important rule is to maintain the optimal length of the grass. By overly shortening it, especially in the summer, summer residents run the risk of provoking early drying of plants. It is unlikely that this will contribute to a good appearance.
Safety requirements are standard: you need to wear goggles and gloves, and take care of the protection of your feet.
Of course, they wear sturdy, waterproof shoes. Headphones or earplugs are used only when working with a two-stroke petrol trimmer. On a large clearing with flat grass, mowing is carried out along imaginary squares, conventionally dividing the entire territory into them. They first move along the perimeter of each square, then mow it from the inside and move on to the next part of the lawn. Regardless of the weather, before starting work, you should do the following:
- check the serviceability of the equipment;
- remove all debris and foreign objects from the site;
- replace, if necessary, worn cutting elements;
- determined with the direction of the mowing, so that the lawn does not resemble a “washboard”.
For information on how to mow wet grass with a trimmer and lawn mower, see the next video.
Is it possible to cut wet grass with a trimmer
Living permanently in a private house, it is not difficult to follow a systematic lawn care schedule. Even in wet weather, wet grass can be cut with a lawn mower or trimmer a day later after it dries. It is much more difficult to take care of the natural grass in the summer cottage. Since visits fall on weekends, mowing also falls on these days. What to do if the weather is rainy?
What trimmers can you cut wet grass
To understand which trimmers can be used to mow wet grass, and which not, you should understand their device. Today, two main types of brushcutters are available to the consumer:
- Gasoline;
- Electrical.
Electric trimmers, depending on the location of the engine, can be:
- Top-mounted electric motor;
- Bottom-mounted electric motor.
From the point of view of safety measures, mowing grass wet from rain or dew can only be done with a gasoline trimmer or a “Lithuanian”. The use of electric brushcutters is highly undesirable. Especially when it comes to instruments with a bottom engine, as they are in the area of water ingress. As a result, a Short Circuit may occur.
It is not recommended to mow the grass in rain and with electric trimmers with an overhead motor. In the event of water penetration to the power unit, it can not only short out, but also shock the mower.
Wet grass should also not be mowed with electric lawn mowers. The reason is the same as with electric trimmers with a lower location of the power unit. there is a high probability of a short circuit. In addition, there is a danger that, through negligence, you can accidentally cut the power cable supplying the unit.
If, nevertheless, there is a need to mow the grass in wet weather or in dew, then use better carburetor brushcutters and lawn mowers. It will be much safer for life and health.
Why you shouldn’t cut wet grass with a trimmer
There are also indirect reasons why it is impossible to mow grass wet from dew or rain in the garden. These include:
- Premature wear of the grass trimmer;
- Damage to the lawn.
How can a brushcutter be disabled by mowing wet vegetation? Everything is very simple. It is displayed as a result of a short circuit when water enters the power compartment. In addition, even if everything is very well sealed, there is a good chance that the engine will not be able to withstand the heavy load put on the flexible shaft of the grass trimmer. And the shaft itself can turn. Such loads most often arise from the sticking of wet grass on the knives and on the spindle to which they are attached.
In trimmers with a gasoline engine, mowing the grass in wet weather, due to heavy loads, increases the degree of wear of the main components and assemblies. Here you can note the premature failure of the piston pair, as well as other moving parts. Most often, the piston pair fails due to engine overheating. In our case, the motor will overheat from the load created by wet grass when mowing.
If you are mowing wet grass with a petrol trimmer, let the engine idle for 30 seconds without load to prevent overheating of the engine. In this way, you will remove excess heat and save the piston pair.
About the dangers for lawn grass
Many have probably noticed that if you mow wet grass with a trimmer, then the cut is ragged. In the future, it dries up, and the grass itself begins to turn yellow. This can happen for several reasons:
- Wet grass is very flexible and pulls to the ground;
- Trimmer line is either too thick or round line is used.
In the first case, it is worth waiting for the vegetation to dry out. When dry, the grass always becomes harder. In the second case, it is worth replacing the fishing line with a thinner one or with a different profile. As practice shows, an even cut on wet grass can be obtained using profiled lines with a square or star section.
Those who at least once tried to mow the grass in the dew or in the drizzling rain noticed that the vegetation adhering to the knife and to the spindle is scattered in piles on the lawn. If they are not removed in time, then bald spots will appear on the lawn in places where wet grass falls. Mowed heaps begin to rot and the lawn begins to ache. This is how unsightly bald spots appear.
So, dear readers, decide for yourself whether it is possible to mow wet grass with a trimmer and a lawn mower, if you still want to tidy up the lawn before the onset of cold weather.