There is more to mowing than many homeowners think. Aside from knowing the best time of the year to cut the grass, you need to understand the factors that go into the right mowing time so that you don’t hurt your lawn.
Well, when it comes to mowing, it is strongly discouraged to cut the grass when it is wet. As such, you need to know when morning dew dries off the grass so that you plan when to mow. This post will look into what time of the day dew usually dries and the effects of mowing a dewy lawn.
When does dew dry off the grass?
Dew refers to water droplets that naturally form on grass and other surfaces in the morning or evening due to condensation. It makes the grass wet, causing the blades to bend towards the ground.
Consequently, this makes it difficult to achieve clean straight cuts when mowing. That’s why it is extremely important to know when the grass is usually dry from the morning dew.
So, what time of the day does dew dry off the grass?
While there is no exact time of the day when dew dries, you can expect your grass to be dry from dew anywhere between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. During this time of the day, the sun is normally higher in the sky and warm enough to dry the grass.
Typically, lawns take 2 to 5 hours to dry from morning dew or light rain showers. After this time, your lawn should be dry enough to achieve clean cuts when mowing.
If you are unsure whether your lawn is dry for mowing, you can walk across it in your socks or rub your hands across the grass. This should accurately help you determine if the grass is dry.
Can you mow the lawn when it is dewy?
Mowing a dewy lawn is not a good practice. However, this doesn’t mean it is impossible altogether. Here’s the catch.
The morning dew weighs down grass. Mowing when it’s dewy can cause the grass to cut poorly and tear. Ultimately, this will leave you with an untidy lawn. As if this is not enough, torn grass blades make a perfect entryway for diseases and fungus that can drastically affect your lawn.
If you must mow a dewy lawn, consider these tips:
- Set your mowing deck to the highest setting possible. Mowing higher than normal mowing height puts less stress on the mower.
- Reduce the mowing width
- Maintain low speed to reduce the load in the mow blade
- Avoid bagging; instead, discharge the wet grass.
- Let the mower dry completely after mowing.
- Rake the wet grass clippings and use them for composting
Of significance, mowing dewy grass can be very risky, especially if you are using an electric mower. There is always a risk of getting an electric shock. You can also slip on the grass when holding the mower, possibly injuring your arm or leg.
What time does dew dry off grass: Conclusion
Dew is a major consideration when it comes to mowing. For the best results, you want to mow when the dew has dried off the grass. Typically, you can expect your lawn to be dry anywhere between 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Unless it is absolutely necessary and there’s a good reason not to wait until the grass is dry, never mow the dewy lawn.