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It is not recommended to mow wet grass, including grass with morning dew. Mowing when wet can damage your lawn, your mower, and potentially cause injury. Wet grass blades are more likely to be torn rather than cut cleanly, which can lead to brown tips and increase the risk of fungal diseases. Additionally, wet clippings can clump together, smothering the grass underneath, and can clog your mower. For best results, wait until the grass is dry to the touch, which is often about two hours after morning dew has evaporated. Regular lawn mower maintenance is also important for a clean cut.

A standard home lawn mower with sharp blades can handle a thin layer of leaves without issue. You may need to make a couple of passes within several days to mulch leaves down, but your mower shouldn’t struggle. If your mower comes with a mulching kit, like an attachment to blow leaves out the side, that’s a good sign it’s ready for fall leaves. Set your mower to the highest or near-highest height for this project so it focuses on the leaves rather than the grass below.

You can mow the grass when it’s dry to the touch, usually between 2 and 5 hours if it was a light rainfall or morning dew. If the rainfall was significant, you may need to wait up to 2 days until the grass is dry. Touch the grass and soil to determine if it’s dry. Be sure to check in shady areas too, as those can take longer to dry out.

Stick to your watering schedule. As long as new grass is getting plenty of water from irrigation, it shouldn’t need watering right after you cut it. Watch for signs like yellowing grass that shows a new lawn isn’t getting enough water and needs more regular irrigation. If you want to water after mowing, wait until the afternoon. Hot, direct sunlight can scorch grass more easily when it’s wet, so it’s better to wait until the day has cooled off.