A different week's problem. It isnmore sensitive to bottoming out and destroying spindles than the old one.

Oh, Toronado, I have been there in those first pics!

IN cases where the ground is very wet, I would mow, just before the HOA screams.

I have a couple of thoughts.

1. Always mow at the mower's highest setting unless you have bermuda, centipede, or creeping bentgrass. The grass will develop deeper roots which can grab resources like moisture and nutrients from deeper in the soil. Also the higher canopy helps to stop germination of weed seeds.
2. Never mow when the grass is wet. We grass clogs the blades and undercarriage of the mower.
3. Never mow when the soil is moist (wait several days after watering and/or a rain event). Wet and/or moist soil WILL compact when you drive or walk over it.

Getting much rain there Toronado?

It was a bit dry late in the winter and we are making up for it. The last 3 weeks I have had similar experiences mowing down in the low spot.

This time since u know, the neighbors were home to help pull it out if I got stuck playing, instead of letting it grow or coming back with the trimmer, I was adventurous.

dchall_san_antonio, thank you for taking the time to compile the tips. You seem well versed on the matter.

Down low there where it can stay damp I have mostly one of the creeping grasses. So in agreement with your list it seems the summer sun and evaporation beats absorption.

If I am going for something different than the typical yard of monoculture do you have any advice?

Generally I want my yard to be green. If I catch a good spot of blooming whatever I might mow around it, or give the blue and yellow flowers their chance weather permitting.

However I MUST mow down the honeysuckle and grapevines before they spread.

This is a one off, 1950s house where my guess is they did not scalp the top soil (or do quite as good drainage work). Fertility is no problem. One year I round upped then tilled a 20x20 ft patch and planted pumpkins. Boy did they spread. The non runner, non tan in the winter grass that I have up the hill just came back magically.