Export thread

If so, other than possible clumping on underside of the deck or slipping on slopes is there any other reason not to?

Or if it is O.K. to cut wet grass, are there any particulars to be observed, i.e. raise deck higher than you would prefer or some such?

Why do I ask?

In the past, I've waited til mid-afternoon to mow allowing the grass to dry before mowing.

Well, I'm getting a bit on in years and mowing in the hottest part of the day in the Texas summer heat is a killer. I'd like to start in the morning, but of course that means the grass is still wet with dew...

Thanks!

I avoid mowing wet grass if at all possible.
1. You will have grass sticking to the underneath of the deck and I do not care what deck you have.
2. I have seen folks hurt their yard mowing it wet with dew and then days of bright sunshine follows.
3. Yes any wet slopes mowers will slip and slide it is just nature, unless you have one of those 8 wheel AWD mowers, I know just in passing a couple of folks that have them some of the bigger farms and they said the wet slopes from the dew does not make a difference with those mowers.
4. The discharge is altered and the grass clumps up big time, hence if so thick it could kill the grass.

On the real hot days I only mow in the evening time until dark, but at dark or after the dew is coming on so fast you cannot mow at night time here now or it is just like mowing during the morning dew.

Zeroturner said:

If so, other than possible clumping on underside of the deck or slipping on slopes is there any other reason not to?

Or if it is O.K. to cut wet grass, are there any particulars to be observed, i.e. raise deck higher than you would prefer or some such?

Why do I ask?

In the past, I've waited til mid-afternoon to mow allowing the grass to dry before mowing.

Well, I'm getting a bit on in years and mowing in the hottest part of the day in the Texas summer heat is a killer. I'd like to start in the morning, but of course that means the grass is still wet with dew...

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Mow more often when mowing wet and avoid the heat and dust . Both you and your engine will like the early morning temperatures better. If the grass is wet enough the deck is nearly self cleaning. What doesn't come out with the water mist while mowing can easily be rinsed out with a garden hose. Be certain to clean the deck underside after each mowing and it works just fine.

Zeroturner said:

If so, other than possible clumping on underside of the deck or slipping on slopes is there any other reason not to?

Or if it is O.K. to cut wet grass, are there any particulars to be observed, i.e. raise deck higher than you would prefer or some such?

Why do I ask?

In the past, I've waited til mid-afternoon to mow allowing the grass to dry before mowing.

Well, I'm getting a bit on in years and mowing in the hottest part of the day in the Texas summer heat is a killer. I'd like to start in the morning, but of course that means the grass is still wet with dew...

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Mowing in the wet is something that you can't really get away from if your a mowing business. I start at 7:00 to 7:30 am and it's wet every morning if not from rain, dew and humidity then people watering earlier in the morning. There's no rule that says grass need to be dry before mowing. Slow your mowing pace a little and you should be fine. What Toro are you using.

Toro MX5060

Zeroturner said:

Toro MX5060

Click to expand...

If your using the MX5060 you shouldn't have any issues mowing wet that's a good mower. I'd check and see about getting some Gator Blades, G3 or maybe the G5 if they have them would be better. The G5 will have a finer grass discharge.

Ric,

Thanks for the great tip on mower blades.

Zeroturner said:

If so, other than possible clumping on underside of the deck or slipping on slopes is there any other reason not to?

Or if it is O.K. to cut wet grass, are there any particulars to be observed, i.e. raise deck higher than you would prefer or some such?

Why do I ask?

In the past, I've waited til mid-afternoon to mow allowing the grass to dry before mowing.

Well, I'm getting a bit on in years and mowing in the hottest part of the day in the Texas summer heat is a killer. I'd like to start in the morning, but of course that means the grass is still wet with dew...

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Have you considered waiting until late afternoon when the temperature begins to drop?? Of course, you may have to put some lights on that MX5060 if you start too late and run into some darkness(for < $40 there are a couple of options in the following thread:0)

http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/build-yourself/18564-ztr-light-kit.html

I try to avoid mowing wet grass like a plague!!

Waiting until evening when the temperature cools is a laugh in TX :laughing: unless you're in the panhandle around Dalhart with a dew point temperature of about 30ｰ. For the most part at 10:00 pm the ambient temp. could still be around 90 and taller grass may still be damp down deep.

Get a canopy and a 12volt fan. Or just start cutting at 6am.

I start at 7:00 am and I have no choice but to mow wet grass

Zeroturner said:

Toro MX5060

Click to expand...

You need a sunshade then, so just as soon as the dew burns off you can get to mowing.
Toro MX5060 Accessories
Home Depot has this as well. Toro TimeCutter SS Sunshade-79011 at The Home Depot


I put one on my Z960R for the exact same reason.

djdicetn said:

Have you considered waiting until late afternoon when the temperature begins to drop?? Of course, you may have to put some lights on that MX5060 if you start too late and run into some darkness(for < $40 there are a couple of options in the following thread:0)

http://www.lawnmowerforum.com/build-yourself/18564-ztr-light-kit.html

I try to avoid mowing wet grass like a plague!!

Click to expand...

I'd have too agree with SeniorCitizen cause it's about the same here. Right at the moment it's is at 75% humidity and it's 88 degrees in the shade and it's not going to get much if any better by morning. As far as the lights go, if your mowing business wise you can't mow at night.

Nwatson99 said:

You need a sunshade then, so just as soon as the dew burns off you can get to mowing.
Toro MX5060 Accessories
Home Depot has this as well. Toro TimeCutter SS Sunshade-79011 at The Home Depot


I put one on my Z960R for the exact same reason.

Click to expand...

Yep, I was going to mention that and forgot:0)

The sunshade on your JD looks just like the one I got from Gravely(except mine is a whitish-grey instead of yellow:0)
It really helps when the sun is a factor!!! I'll attach a picture of mine:

djdicetn said:

Yep, I was going to mention that and forgot:0) The sunshade on your JD looks just like the one I got from Gravely(except mine is a whitish-grey instead of yellow:0) It really helps when the sun is a factor!!! I'll attach a picture of mine:

Click to expand...

Now all you need is a backup camera and a portable DVD player.

Carscw said:

Now all you need is a backup camera and a portable DVD player.

Click to expand...

Well there is a Ipod and garage door opener also on mine which you can see on the right side rops bar, backup camera might be next. :laughing:

I do it all the time. Sometimes in the rain. The grass is often wet in the morning because of the dew and/or irrigation systems. I can't just wait until 10-11 to start mowing. Otherwise I would be mowing until dark. Besides, I can start early to not cook in the sun.

Nwatson99 said:

Well there is a Ipod and garage door opener also on mine which you can see on the right side rops bar, backup camera might be next. :laughing:

Click to expand...

I have the garage door openers on mine, I'll look into a backup camera.:laughing:

Lawnboy18 said:

I do it all the time. Sometimes in the rain. The grass is often wet in the morning because of the dew and/or irrigation systems. I can't just wait until 10-11 to start mowing. Otherwise I would be mowing until dark. Besides, I can start early to not cook in the sun.

Click to expand...

That is why some people install LED lighting on their mowers so if they are forced to mow at night they can.

LazerZLandscaping said:

That is why some people install LED lighting on their mowers so if they are forced to mow at night they can.

Click to expand...

True, but I don't think I would like it. Can't see as much while trimming and blowing.

Carscw said:

Now all you need is a backup camera and a portable DVD player.

Click to expand...

That & a wet bar and I'd be ready for some not-so-serious mowing:0)

djdicetn said:

That & a wet bar and I'd be ready for some not-so-serious mowing:0)

Click to expand...

It's called a cup holder. LOL

I do when I have no choice Right now the grass is growing real fast here. Even on a weekly schedule the grass is higher than I'd like. When it rains too hard to mow that gives the grass an extra day or two to grow plus its wet... really wet. Mowing high wet grass is a real pain. I pretty much have no choice but to go over twice and/or bag. Which I hate doing :laughing: