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Many of us have been told we should not mow wet grass because it is dangerous. However, some landscapers have been working in the rain using their mowers and other gear to do their jobs. How can they use a lawnmower if it is dangerous to mow while it’s raining?
Some landscapers mow in the rain because their supervisors determined the weather conditions were stable for them to continue working. Though they do not want to work in the rain, it could cost them some serious money if they are not under a contract.
No one wants to work in the rain, but landscapers are still out there no matter what to get the job done for their clients. In this article, you will learn why mowing during rainstorms is dangerous for anyone, not just landscapers, and how landscapers can handle working in the rain.
How Are Landscapers Able To Work in the Rain?
Landscapers have a job to do, rain or shine, so they are always required to work if the conditions are not too extreme. Whether this means mowing while it is raining or pruning in intense heat, they are required to work.
Landscapers are able to work in the rain by following safety protocols and switching equipment if needed. If the rain becomes too intense, the landscapers may need to reschedule to avoid a safety hazard.
The last thing a landscaping company wants is an unsatisfied customer, so they will do whatever it means to work around weather conditions. In rainy conditions, they have to make a call if they want their workers out to do the job in the rain. Usually, this may mean they reschedule the appointment to keep their workers safe.
Landscapers Switch to Gas Equipment When it Rains
If the landscapers choose not to cancel the job, they usually switch to gas equipment.
Using electrical lawnmowers in the rain is dangerous since water is a conductor. If water gets into the electrical components of the mower, it could send shockwaves up the mower’s handles, potentially electrocuting or shocking you.
However, gas-powered devices cannot electrocute you, so they are much safer to use when the weather is wet.
Landscapers May Reschedule if the Rain is Severe
No one wants their coworker or worker to get hurt, and companies do not want to have a lawsuit against them for making a landscaper work in unsafe conditions. So, companies often reschedule the appointment for another day when the weather is too wet for mowing.
Here is a company’s statement on why they do not mow in the rain and what they risk if they do mow: “From our standpoint, it’s a big marketing watch-out that if you’re mowing when it’s too wet, there’s a perception problem. If the work doesn’t look as good, then we’re not viewed as the level of quality that we want to be viewed” (source).
When you see landscapers mow in the rain, you may think you can too. Before you turn on your mower and start, let’s discuss why that is a bad idea.
Why Is It a Bad Idea To Mow in the Rain?
Imagine a wet floor sign in the middle of the room you are walking in. You are more likely to fall if you walk in a damp area. Mowing in the rain is like walking on a wet floor sign – you may slip, and you could very severely injure yourself.
It is a bad idea to mow in the rain because you could hurt yourself. Aside from falling, you could be hospitalized from accidents while mowing in wet conditions. In addition, mowing in the rain may damage your lawn, and in the worst case, it can kill your grass.
Being in the rain, in general, is unpleasant. Still, adding rain into the mix creates a recipe for disaster. How, exactly, is what you may ask? Let’s discuss what could happen if you mow in the rain.
You Could Get Injured
According to Johns Hopkins School of Bloomberg Health, “each year, nearly 80,000 Americans require hospital treatment from injuries caused by lawn mowers” (source). So, mowing your lawn under normal conditions poses a safety risk, and adding water to the mix can only make your trimming activities more hazardous.
Anyone who mows in the rain is at risk of slipping and falling on the grass. While this doesn’t seem too dangerous, it could potentially be deadly.
According to the pros over at Total Landscape Care, “Slips, trips and falls cause 15 percent of all accidental deaths each year, and the main reason for these accidents is the walking surface” (source).
If you were to slip on the grass, you could fall on the mower and injure yourself. Falling could be a concussion, or you could knock yourself out. Both of these scenarios are deadly if not treated immediately.
Mowing In Wet Conditions May Harm Your Lawn
Mowing on wet grass is not the best for the lawn. It can cause your grass to die and leave ruts you can never fix on your turf. The water is weighing down the grass, so there is a less likely chance you can cut an even cut with the mower.
Damage to the lawn after mowing grass in the rain includes:
- Fungal lawn diseases
- Suffocated grass roots
- Lawnmower damage
- Uneven grass
Mowing in the rain can entirely ruin your lawn. When you leave grass clippings on a wet yard, they compact and create moisture pockets where fungus loves to grow. That’s how “brown spot,” a common fungal infection that leaves dry brown patches on grass, develops.
When you see these brown spots, you should treat the area with a fungicide and pick up any grass clumps to prevent this from happening again. Disposing of the wet grass clumps should keep any of these adverse side effects from taking hold of your grass.
Conclusion
Landscapers mow in the rain because they need to get the job done. However, they will likely attempt to reschedule if the weather is severe.
It is unsafe and damaging to your lawn to mow in the rain, so most landscapers will avoid it if they can.
In addition, just because you see landscapers do work in the rain, it does not mean you can as well. You probably are not as experienced at working in the rain as a landscaper, so leave it up to the professionals and wait to mow your lawn when it is dry.
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