Can You Weed Whack Wet Grass?

Often we only have one or two days a week that work out for us to do our lawn chores. Ideally, the weather will be perfect, and the chores easily completed giving you plenty of time to enjoy the rest of your weekend.

But what happens when the weather doesn’t agree with your plans, and instead of a dry, sunny yard, you are looking at a wet and cloudy one?

In these circumstances, is your lawn day a complete bust, or can you still weed whack and mow regardless of the unfavorable weather conditions?

What happens when you try to weed whack wet grass; will wet conditions damage your equipment or, worse, lead to self-injury?

Read on to find out if you can weed-eat wet grass.

Is It Okay To Weed Whack After Rain?

Yes, you can cut wet grass with a weed eater or a hand scythe, but using a lawn mower isn’t a good idea. The grass becomes heavier due to the presence of water, which slows down its movement, thereby making it more convenient to use a string trimmer or even a scythe. But are there any benefits of cutting wet grass?

Using a string trimmer in damp conditions comes with extra risks and considerations when compared to whacking on a dry day. When using a lawn mower on a shorter lawn, especially with dull blades, you will absolutely damage your turf and can seriously compact your wet lawn.

Similarly, weed-whacking wet grass blades can do little more than knock them over, leading to a patchy job when the turf is dry. 

Can Weedwhackers Deal with Wet Grass?

Weed whackers are powerful enough to cut through wet grass it is just that the conditions of damp grass blades can make it tricky to cut evenly and effectively.

Grass wet with morning dew can also be hard to weed whack, and when possible, it is best to wait until the sun is high in the sky for a mowing session or routine weed whacking.

For lawn help and to reduce clumps of lawn clippings, try to weed whack on dry days when possible. 

Electric weed eaters may have an even more difficult time working in the wet grass as there are even more safety issues to consider.

Generally, water and electricity are not a good combination, so if your weedwhacker is plugged in, you need the proper extension cords and the correct electrical outlets. Without the correct outlet or with the wrong types of extension cords, you could have equipment that shorts out, damaging the mechanical parts and risking injury to you.

Make sure to place batteries on a dry surface when changing them out if your string trimmer has that option. 

Weed Eaters and Wet Grass

While weed-eating wet lawns won’t lead to dead grass, it is recommended by most lawn care experts to only perform moderate to heavy lawn work in dry conditions to prevent lawn damage. Trimming around lawn objects and hand-pulling some weeds can be done even after heavy rains, but larger lawn trimmer jobs should wait for drier weather.

If you will be weed eating on a wet day, check out the effects of different types of trimmers to choose the one best fit for your task. 

Type of Weed Whacker	Effectiveness in Wet Grass	Results
Single Cord	Effective	Can cut through grass and smaller plants easily when the grass is dry or wet
. Braided Cord	Less Effective	Some grass will be knocked down and not cut especially when starting and stopping the weed eater
Blade	Not Effective	Since blades are designed to cut more rigid and thicker stalks and stems, wet grass will often be knocked over but not cut when a blade is used

Can You Weed Whack in the Rain?

It is not recommended to weed whack while it is actively raining, either with a gas-powered or electric weed eater. Rain can get into the machines and lead to risky operations or break the equipment.

Additionally, wet grass is slick and can increase the chance that you may slip and hurt something. Wet weeds can be tricky to kill, and if you simply knock over the plants, you will not prevent them from returning. 

To control weeds in the rain, you will likely be better off hand-pulling, raking, or using a spade, as the soft soil can yield the whole root ball, preventing resprouting and freeing your yard from aggressive weeds.

If you wish to use another form of weed abatement like herbicide or weed eating, you will need to wait until the blades of grass dry out, and the weeds will be susceptible to cutting and poisons. 

Why Shouldn’t You Whack Wet Grass?

While it is possible to weed-eat wet grass and knock down some dense grass, there are several reasons why it is not recommended. It is very unpleasant to try to do yard work on a wet and cloudy day, and often hands get cold and little tasks can grow increasingly difficult.

But more than that, it is nearly impossible to do a good safe job when weed-whacking in the rain. Below are the main reasons why. 

Bad Trim Job

Even though it feels like you are knocking down the wet weeds and grass to make it easier, come mixing time, you are likely not being as effective as you believe you are.

Weeds and tall grass blades may fall over but not be severed, giving the illusion that you have cut it but come raking time, you find that it is still firmly attached to the turf below. The frustration will grow when you need to re-whack areas of the lawn that have dried and are now obviously overgrown and patchy. 

Damage Equipment

The more water that can get into your equipment, the more likely it is that something, either mechanical or electrical, will break. If your equipment stays wet too long, it may not start without deep cleaning or replacing water-damaged parts.

Instead of a ready-to-go machine, you may end up with unreliable equipment that can cost money and cause headaches every time you try to trim your lawn. 

More Dangerous

When working on wet grass, proper safety equipment becomes even more important. Even if you usually weed eat in the summer with flip-flops and shorts (bad idea), you should take extra care if the lawn is wet.

Wear steel-toed boots with good grips, thick pants like jeans, and proper gloves and safety glasses before heading out. If you slip with a weed eater, you will be thankful for the protection between you and the whipping cords.

Due to the increased dangers, it is not a good idea to weed-whack wet grass.