I hit my grounding rod with the lawnmower, is it still safe?

You’re definitely overthinking the electrical side of this. A ground rod is basically just a giant electrode, and as long as the bulk of its surface area is still in contact with the soil and the connection to the panel remains solid, a mangled tip won't change anything. The bright copper you're seeing is just the cladding on the steel core. As long as that **Grounding Electrode Conductor** is still securely fastened under the clamp, you haven't lost any grounding capability. The biggest risk here is actually the mechanical connection. If the mower hit it hard enought to gouge the rod, it might have knocked the **acorn clamp** loose or partially sheared the wire. Take a wrench and just double-check that the bolt on the clamp is still snug. If the wire is still pinned tight against the rod, you’re good to go. Even if the wire itself got a little nicked, as long as it isn't hanging by a thread, it’ll carry any fault current it needs to without an issue. Since you mentioned it's all jagged now, I'd actually recomend driving it down another inch or two just so you don't catch it with the mower again or trip on it. Use a small sledgehammer and just tap the top til the mangled part is flush with the dirt or slightly below. Just be careful not to hit the wire or the clamp while you're swinging. It's alot easier than trying to pull the whole thing out and starting over.

But do keep an eye on that mower. Even if it isn't vibrating right now, hitting a solid steel rod can put a massive amount of stress on the engine's **crankshaft**. If you start noticing any oil leaks around the bottom of the engine or the blade starts tracking unevenly later on, that’s a sign the shaft is slightly bent. But as far as your house wiring goes, a few battle scars on the rod won't hurt a thing.

That’s a relief about the grounding. Since the copper is just a coating, does exposing the steel core lead to rust issues later? I’ve seen some old rods that look totally corroded and I'm wondering if a rusty rod still works as well as a clean one.

Also, is there a specific depth it has to be? If I hammer it down like you said, can I just cover it with mulch so it's totally hidden, or does the inspector need to see where the wire connects? I'd love to just hide the whole thing so it never happens again.

Rust isn't a huge deal in the short term. Those rods are thick enugh that even if the steel starts to pit, it'll take decades to actually compromise the ground. Most people worry way too much about a tiny bit of corrosion.

As for burying it, code usally says the top shold be flush or just below grade anyway. If you cover it with mulch, just make sure that clamp is rated for 'direct burial'—look for a 'DB' stamp on it. Most acorn clamps are, so you're likely fine. Just toss a flat rock or a paver over the spot so you don't find it with the mower blades again next summer.