MOWING WET GRASS

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Sometimes Fall can seem downright perverse. It's raining, then sunshine, then cloudy and then raining again. So unless you are ready to tackle ankle deep grass, you may find yourself needing to mow wet grass. To reduce the stress on both you and your grass, here's a checklist. Keep in mind that using a push mower is the greenest way to go, since gas- powered mowers are big polluters.

• Sharpen the blade before mowing (like knives, a mower blade can never be too sharp).

• Set the mower deck as high as possible. A longer lawn is greener and more drought-resistant.

• Clean the bottom of the mower deck. Old grass clippings often build up here.

• Remove mulching attachments in favor of side-discharge.

• Mow late in the day, but before dew has started to fall, to get the driest grass. Mow so the grass is discharged onto the already mown area.

• If grass is really high and thick, mow just a half row at a time.

• Mow as often as possible to break up the clumps from earlier mowings. “Double-mowing” or mowing twice in the same day dramatically helps to break up the clippings.

• In the worst case, bag the clippings and use as mulch or compost.