It Can Be Hazardous Depending on the Activity
A lot of landscaping tasks involve working outdoors. Thus, landscapers are often exposed to the changing weather patterns in the atmosphere. These factors, for instance, rain, can cause significant delays in the jobs of landscapers.
Rainfall, whether a heavy downpour or drizzles, can significantly affect the progress of lawn care and maintenance services. First, no individual enjoys working in the rain. Thus, the landscapers will need to seek shelter during the downpour.
Apart from the challenges, mowing a wet lawn also comes with several risks. Mowing makes the most significant part of the landscaping, and wet grass is the least fun to mow and can result in getting wet boots and socks. Thus, the landscapers will have to wait a few hours after the rain stops to resume.
But the questions in the minds of many are, do landscapers work in the rain? If they do, what tasks do they do, and how? This guide offers an excellent view into the life of a landscaper during rain, how they can make excellent use of their time, and more.
Can Landscapers Work in the Rain?
The quick answer to this question is yes. However, what type of work landscapers do in the rain depends on several factors. First, the amount of rain will determine if these professionals will stall what they are doing or continue and what other tasks they can do.
For instance, most lawn maintenance and cleaning work can continue outdoors under light rain. Things like cleaning, blade sharpening, debris removal, or clipping clearance don’t have to stop because of drizzles.
However, no one will want to soak up in a heavy downpour and keep working, given the risks of the action.
Again, lawn mowing makes the most of landscaping. But, it’s not always a good idea to keep mowing the grass under rain or immediately after the downpour. Whether wet from morning dew or wet weather, cutting wet grass has several disadvantages.
Is It Advisable To Cut Wet Grass in St. Louis?
Whether in St Louis or not, cutting wet grass isn’t advisable. First, lawnmowers are susceptible to moisture, and using them on wet grass may damage the machines. Similarly, this activity may compromise the grass’s health, and it’s risky to the operator.
Also, cutting wet grass doesn’t deliver the most outstanding results and may leave the homeowner with a visibly dirty and unkempt sward than before the lawn care service.
Here are some disadvantages of mowing wet grass.
It’s Challenging To Achieve Even Cuts
Dry, straight grass is easy to trim and achieves a neat, even-cut result. However, water weighs the blades of grass down, making them bend and appear limply. As a result, the mower blades will cut through the grass strands messily, leaving behind an uneven finish.
The mower blades will also have a tough time cutting through thick clumps of wet grass, leaving some unevenly trimmed.
Also, the blades may not reach the grass strands lying low to the ground after the heavy rain. After the grass dries up, each blade rises and straightens (those cut and those not), leaving the lawn looking messy and uneven.
It Compromises the Health of the Grass
The main idea behind lawn care services is to maintain the beautiful appearance of the grass and keep it healthy. However, mowing the lawn during rain causes tears on the blades of the grass, making them susceptible to fungal infections.
Diseases like Anthracnose, Red threat, and leaf spot, weaken the grass and can cause large bundles of the turf to die, especially if the homeowner doesn’t take quick action.
It’s Risky for the Operator
Wet, slippery grass is a significant agent of slip and fall accidents. While the sneakers may have strong traction, they probably can’t meet the slipping risks of damp grass.
Falling on the grass alone can be disastrous enough. Now add it to the speed and pressure of pushing the mowing machine, and the risk of the spinning blades is even worse.
The danger of electrocution, mainly if the operator uses an electric mower, can also be life-threatening. Lastly, no individual wants to undergo the stress of washing clothes with wet grass stains.
Wet Grass Can Damage the Lawn Mower
Clumpy grass clogs mower blades and reduces their working speed. As a result, the mower engines will need to work harder than usual, accelerating wear and tear.
Also, the moisture from the wet grass can rust the blades and other mower’s metal parts. The rainwater can also seep into the fuel tank of gas-powered mowers, malfunctioning the engine.
While cutting grass even after rain may be necessary, the electric mower won’t help. The machines’ torque power is less than that of their gas-powered counterparts. Thus, it will be hard for the machine to cut any grass.
When Is the Best Time To Cut Grass?
It’s common for homeowners to mow their lawns after turning off the sprinklers. Whether it’s after rain, using sprinklers, or moisture following the early morning dew, landscapers should wait until the grass is dry before mowing.
The best time to trim the grass is mid-morning after the dew has dried up. Also, landscapers may consider taking care of the native plant in the late afternoon (after the hot afternoon sun has subsided and just before the evening arrives).
What Other Landscaping Tasks Can Take Place During Rain?
Landscaping involves several tasks. While the operators can’t work under the rain, the options of things landscapers can work in the rain are endless. For those in the landscape business, this is the perfect time to take care of some administrative tasks.
Here are some perfect landscaping tasks during rain.
Clean Up
Cleaning is an essential part of every landscaping job. But most people often leave it for the last minute. Instead of sitting and waiting, landscapers can take this time to clean up and make the home neat. Push the trash to the other side of the yard.
Also, they can consider clearing the construction dust, removing the debris, and anything that needs clearing.
Equipment Maintenance
Instead of waiting, landscapers can take the time to maintain any equipment that needs attention. For instance, they can change the engine oils and replace or sharpen the mow blades.
Schedule Jobs and Adjust Considering Weather Forecasts
Proper planning is a recipe for success, regardless of what type of job a person does. Thus, landscapers can take the time to plan their work, adjust schedules, and communicate with their clients.
The weather the following day may be suitable for work. Instead of waiting, the professionals may take the rainy time to work on tasks that don’t need to be outdoors.
Marketing
The business will only thrive when there are enough customers. Instead of idling around, professional landscapers can revamp their websites, put up more Ads, or try new marketing strategies.
Training Employees
The time landscapers are seeking shelter is sufficient to train employees. Most employees will remember what they were taught when they find a chance to practice on the equipment. While some equipment may need practical guidance, picture illustrations can also help.
What To Do if Lawn Care Is Urgent
Cutting grass or caring for a rain garden during a downpour has many disadvantages. Instead of risking, professional landscapers or homeowners may consider waiting for at least a few hours and resuming after the rain has stopped and the grass has dried.
However, some situations necessitate these services.
Here are some tips to ensure safe lawn mowing on wet grass.
Avoid Heavy Mowers
Heavy mowers compact soil, leaving tramlines on the ground. Also, compact soil makes it hard for oxygen and water to circulate freely in the soil and reach the roots of the grass. The landscaper can consider a lighter mower to limit the damage.
Ensure the Mower Blades Are Sharp
Wet grass needs all the efficiency a mower can provide to slit through the clumps evenly. Sharpening the blades will ensure the cutting process is easier and more efficient.
Consider Purpose-Made Mower
Homeowners and landscapers working on wet grass may want to use mowers with the ability to work under such conditions. The Etesia Mowers are a great place to begin.
Collect the Grass Clippings
While mulching improves the health of soil and plants, it’s best when using dry grass clippings. Instead of leaving the wet grass on the lawn, the landscapers can consider collecting and discharging the clippings.
Also, collecting the clippings will help avoid the clumps of wet grass and the excess accumulation that lies under the deck. Collecting will ensure that the mowed grass remains neat.
Lift the Mower Deck a Little Higher Than Normal
Wet lawn clogs easily and will make it hard for the mower to move and cut swiftly. Raising the mower deck by one or two clicks will reduce the number of grass clippings and limit the formation of large clumps.
Clean the Mower Underside Frequently
Cleaning the underside of the mower frequently while working ensures the wet grass doesn’t clog the blades. That ensures a clean cut and leaves the lawn neat.
