Avoid damaging your lawn right after a rain by skipping certain tasks and focusing on others.
Lawn care right after a rain is often more detrimental than beneficial.
Soggy turf is easily damaged by both foot traffic and the weight of equipment moving over it.
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If disease is present, it spreads in the moist, warm environment that is common after a rain.
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1.
If the grass is wet,leave your mower parked in the garage.
Credit:Bob Stefko
Wet grass clippings cling to mower blades, preventing the mower from evenly distributing them over the turf surface.
Instead, the mower leaves behind clumps of soggy clippings.
In time, the concentrated clippings can smother patches of turf and create an unsightly lawn.
Mowing a wet lawncan lead to scalping and an overall rough cut.
The result is an uneven lawn surface and raggedly cut grass blades, which are more susceptible to disease.
Mowing wet grass is simply dangerous.
Wet grass is slippery, and the accompanying soggy ground can be slick too, especially on slopes.
Aerating right after a rain is a recipe for frustration.
Aerating an excessively wet lawn causes the soil to cling to the probes, creating a sticky mess.
The lawn aerator will easily sink probes into the soil, and the extracted soil plugs will freely dislodge.
Starting a lawn renovation project.
Delay removing turf, filling low spots, andlaying sodafter a measurable rain.
Most lawn renovation projects involve foot traffic and some heavy equipment.
Traffic of any sortfrom foot traffic to lawn tractorswill cause soil compaction.
Soil is especially prone to compaction right after a rain.
Compacted soil severely limits plant growth.
Wait at least a couple of days after a rain storm to tackle a lawn renovation project.
When in doubt, delay another day.
Once the soil is compacted, it is difficult to remedy.
A wet soil surface is not ideal for seed germination.
Turfgrassseed germinates bestwhen it is broadcast over dry or slightly moist soil.
Finally, a roller is pulled over the area to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
Rain-soaked soil makes these seeding steps nearly impossible.
Allow soil to dry for several days after a measurable rain before seeding.
Remember to minimize soil compaction and limit heavy equipment use on wet soil.
Check for drainage issues.
The hours right after a heavy rain are a great time to assess where water pools on your lawn.
Make fertilizer and aeration plans.
Use a rainy day to assess your lawn’s health.
Look for areas that show weak growth and thin coverage.
Research the causes of poor growth and then implement plans to improve the growing conditions.
Developing aregular fertilization scheduleand aeration plan might be helpful.
