Should you mow the lawn when the ground is wet from a previous rain?

Question

Should you mow the lawn when the ground is wet from a previous rain?

Answer 1

You can try, but it doesn't cut well when it's wet, and a lot of grass tends to stick on the underside of the mower, and on the blades...and the resulting affect is less that you "cut" the grass, but that you "beat it into submission".

And it'll look like it, too.

Answer 2

You shouldn't do it.  But sometimes you are faced with the difficult decision of doing it if you know the next several days are going to be rain.  The only choice you have is to cut it now or let it go to a foot tall then cut too much of the grass and then send it into shock.  

Basically you should only mow when it's wet if you absolutely have to.  If the weather is calling for days of dry weather then wait an extra day for it to dry out.  But if it is going to be rainy for a week you really will just have to cut it or it will be too tall.  

Answer 3

You can, but there are some issues.  First, it can be slippery, making it a little dangerous, especially if there are hills.  Second, you'll want to use the bagging option, if you usually mulch.  Clogging is the issue if you tried to mulch.

Lastly, if the grass is wet, it will tend to lie flat.  Your mower's vacuuming ability will not work as well, so some grass simply won't get cut, because it is lying down.  When it dries, and the sun comes out, your cut will look more uneven.

Lastly, there'll be a little more soil compaction from the wheels on wet ground.