Mowing wet grass

[1984isnow]

We have had rain more or less every day since mid sept, so the grass is looking a bit messy as I haven't been able to mow it. I'm desperate to get it done as can't stand the sight of it, but I don't know if I'll ruin my mower or turn it the lawn into a mudslide.

It's a big-ish garden and the mower isn't the biggest (have to empty it atleast 3 or 4 times when it's a normal length).

Shall I just wait until spring now or are there any tips to mow when it's wet?

I did mine last week, the problem is that the grass clumps in the blades. Every time the back became about half full I unblocked it and it was fine but be really careful that the mower is off as you could lose a hand if they started spinning. Also keep listening to the mower incase it sounds like it’s straining. I also cut mine longer than usual for winter.

Thanks notdaddy, think it will take me hours if I have to keep emptying more often (takes me about 1.5 hrs in normal circs!)

If it takes 1.5 hrs, I presume you have a petrol mower You wouldn't of course use an electric mower when the grass is wet.

I was going to say that scythes work well on wet grass, but perhaps not if you have 1.5 hrs worth

A compromise is to mow a strip round the edge and a path or two through the middle - a ragged lawn with tidy edges looks deliberate and it somehow makes the whole thing look tidy.