10 Things You Should Never Mow Over (But Probably Have)

There’s a good chance your mower has hit a few things it really shouldn’t have. Happens to all of us. But mowing over certain stuff isn’t just rough on your blades—it can ruin your deck, bend your crankshaft, or even send debris flying. Some things are obvious. Others? Not so much.

If you want your mower to last (and avoid some expensive repairs), these are the things you should never mow over—even though most folks probably have at some point.

Rocks and Gravel

Even small rocks can do serious damage. You’ll dull blades fast, chip the deck, or worse—send a rock flying like a bullet.

Gravel near driveways or paths is especially sneaky. It hides in tall grass or weeds and sounds terrible when it meets your mower. Check those areas before you mow.

Tree Roots

Exposed roots are bad news for both your mower and the tree. Blades hitting roots dull fast and can even snap.

Plus, cutting into roots stresses the tree and opens it up to disease. It’s better to mulch around exposed roots or adjust your mowing path.

Sticks and Branches

Yeah, small twigs might seem harmless—but enough of them can really mess with your mower deck or clog up the blades.

Bigger sticks are even worse. They can crack plastic parts or bend metal pieces if you hit them wrong. Always do a quick sweep before mowing.

Toys

It happens more than anyone admits. Balls, action figures, frisbees—you name it. They hide in the grass until your mower finds them the hard way.

Best case, you wreck the toy. Worst case, it damages the mower or sends sharp plastic flying. Give the yard a once-over before starting.

Hose or Sprinkler Heads

A hose left in the yard can wrap around the blades, shred itself, or even snap the drive belt. Sprinkler heads? They’ll crack, break, or rip right out of the ground.

Both are expensive mistakes that are entirely avoidable. Double-check before you fire up the mower.

Dog Chains or Tie-Out Cables

These can be a nightmare. A cable can whip around the blades, snap belts, or lock the motor up completely.

Not to mention the danger of metal pieces flying. Always make sure pet cables are up and out of the mowing path.

Garden Stakes

Wood, metal, or plastic stakes seem small until your mower finds them. They can bend blades, chip decks, or turn into dangerous projectiles.

Check around young trees, flower beds, or garden edges. Stakes often hide in grass taller than you think.

Metal Landscape Edging

If your mower bumps metal edging, it’s not a small problem. It can gouge the deck, ruin blades, or throw sparks.

Even if it doesn’t cause immediate damage, repeated hits will wear out your equipment fast. Trim near edging by hand or with a string trimmer instead.

Rope, Twine, or Netting

Anything string-like will tangle around the blade shaft in seconds. It can stall the mower, burn out belts, or even snap internal parts.

This is super common with netting used for gardens, sports nets, or leftover rope from weekend projects. Keep an eye out for it.

Old Tree Stumps

Low, ground-level stumps are blade killers. Even if you miss most of it, grazing the edge will dull your blades fast—or worse, bend the crankshaft.

If there’s a stump in your yard, mark it or grind it down. Otherwise, it’s a mower repair bill waiting to happen.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.