Mowing at the correct time and height increases lawn density, keeps pests away, and makes your yard more attractive. Sometimes a jam-packed daytime schedule can make you think about cutting your grass at night. Find out, is it illegal to mow your lawn at night?
No, there is no law restricting you from mowing your lawn at night, but the excessive noise produced by the mower violates the comfort and welfare of your neighbors. This can attract complaints, lawsuits, and fines from the authority.
Is it illegal to mow your lawn at night?
For most people, nighttime is the best time to cut their overgrowing lawns and spend their day doing other things. Using a lawnmower at night isn’t illegal in any state, but the noise and disturbance it may cause to the neighbors at night make the whole thing illegal.
Both electric and gas lawnmowers produce noise above 70 decibels. Most local ordinances restrict noise at night to 55 decibels and below during quiet hours. This applies to all outdoor activities that may cause interference and annoyance, including partying, construction, and home or ground maintenance.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has elaborated on noise levels affecting health and welfare. By mowing at night, you are breaching these regulations, and the action can attract lawsuits and fines. Therefore, it is reasonable to understand that mowing at night disrupts your neighbor’s peace and welfare.
Apart from the noise factor, mowing at night is also unsafe for the grass, the equipment, and the mower operator. During the night, there is no sufficient light to see the details. You can easily trip and hurt yourself or knock hard your lawn mower against an obstacle.
In the wee hours of the night, dew starts dropping on the grass, and the lawn becomes wet. Mowing wet lawn grass is highly discouraged by turf experts. Wet grass clippings can smother and kill your lawn. The clippings will also stick on the deck and clog your lawnmower blades.
Nighttime is always the best time for grass to recover after mowing. By mowing at night, you expose the weakened grass to the elements the following day. This can be the beginning of troubles on your lawn. Weak grass makes a perfect place for the growth of weeds and fungi.
How late can you mow your lawn?
The answer to this question entirely depends on where you live and what your local ordinance laws dictate about noise at night. There are places you are allowed to mow as late as 10. pm in the night, but the most important thing is to let your neighbors know about it, and possibly you agree on it.
Ideally, mow your lawn as late as 7. pm, and I don’t think you will have any trouble with your neighbors or the authority. Beyond this time, most people are having family gatherings indoors and outdoors, and it will not be great to disrupt them with noise or fumes.
What time can I legally mow my lawn?
Depending on where you live, you may not be required to mow your lawn until 7 or 8 in the morning during the week and at 9 am during weekends. So before creating any ruckus, research or call your local officials to confirm the right time.
Mowing too early in the morning or late the night can attract fines. More so, the action will typically create bad blood with your neighbors. I know you don’t want to live in a society where everyone perceives you as irresponsible.
What is the Best Time to Mow your Lawn?
Now that you understand why mowing at night can be illegal, it’s probably good to also know about the best time of the day to mow your lawn. Let me tell you that, even if legal, starting too early in the morning is a bad idea.
Every plant is still dewy in the early morning, between 6 am and 8 am. It is unhealthy and hard to cut wet grass. The best time to mow your lawn is between 8. am and 10 am. You shouldn’t worry about the dew or offending your neighbors.
Cutting grass between 10. am and 12 noon is also not a good idea. At this time, the grass has already lost plenty of water to the sun. Trimming grass in this state leads to more dehydration and will take longer to recover from the heat damage.
Running a lawn mower from noon to 4 .pm is now the worst idea. At this time, the weather is too hot, the grass is dehydrated, and your equipment can overheat. In most parts, the day becomes cooler beyond 4 pm, so you can start mowing all the way to 6. pm.
After 6. pm, you should wrap up your mowing activities, clean your lawn mower, and rest. By this time, everyone is trickling back into their homes, and not a good idea to disturb them after a long day of work.
Can I use a Reel Mower at Night?
Reel mowers are quiet as compared to electric and gas lawn mowers. You can use a reel mower in a well-lit yard to trim your lawn at night without disturbing your neighbors. However, some local ordinances still prohibit gardening activities during the night. As said, confirm with the officials before you start mowing.
Also read: Can you ow over leaves?
Final Thought
We have seen that mowing your lawn at night is not usually welcome in many localities. The action can attract complaints from neighbors and fines from the authorities. Consider mowing your lawn during the day when the grass is not wet, and there is not too much sunlight. Always make reference to your local ordinance laws.