Lawn mower time restrictions. How Late Is Too Late To Mow Your Lawn

Noise Control

Just as litter degrades the landscape of the community, noise degrades the soundscape. The U.S. Census Bureau’s Surveys of Neighborhood Problems, conducted over the past three decades, has consistently placed noise among the top four issues of concern. Noise can interfere with normal residential and business activities. Persistent exposure can result in psychological stress and, at high enough levels, it can damage hearing.

What Constitutes a Noise Disturbance?

Noise events may occur at random.- on occasions when a code enforcement officer with a sound level meter is not available. For those occasions, County law has a provision establishing a noise disturbance violation. The noise disturbance criteria are more subjective, and dependent upon the observations and testimony of witnesses and/or a code enforcement officer.

• Unpleasant, annoying, offensive, loud, or obnoxious
• Unusual for the time of day or location where it is produced or heard
• Detrimental to the health, comfort, or safety of any individual or to the reasonable enjoyment of property or the lawful conduct of business because of the loudness

Under the law, it is unlawful to create a noise disturbance anywhere during quiet hours, including multi-family buildings and townhouses. The nuisance provision prohibits some noise disturbances anywhere at any time.

Noises associated with motorized vehicles (automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, dirt bikes and ATV’s) are regulated under the State Motor Vehicle Code by the Police, and not subject to enforcement under the Montgomery County Noise Control Law.

Download the County’s noise brochure, A Sound Solution (685KB, PDF)

Interior Noise at Multifamily Properties

Montgomery County’s noise control law does not contain any specific sound limits applicable to internal noise between units in a multifamily property. Issues involving routine sounds associated with living in a multifamily setting, such as loud voices, heavy footsteps, doors slamming, dropping objects on the floor, children playing, or running pets are the responsibility of the building manager or property management company to resolve.

Please refer to your lease or the covenants for your condominium or cooperative housing association to understand the conditions related to the entitlement of peace and quiet enjoyment of your living space. Failure of the building manager or property management company to provide a living space without recurring sound-related disruptions may constitute a breach of the lease or association covenants.

The Montgomery County Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs, 240-777-0311, can help with questions regarding your reasonable expectation of peace and quiet enjoyment of your living space.

Resolving Noise Control Issues

Step 1: Determine who to contact to report the issue:

• Report noise violations occurring during regular business hours
• Report noise disturbances from trash collection during quiet hours
• Report noise disturbances from animals

Complete the Two-Party Noise Complaint Form for noise complaints that are not witnessed by an enforcement officer. The law has a unique provision allowing residents to file a complaint through the form.

Interior Noise

Montgomery County’s noise control law does not contain any specific sound limits applicable to internal noise. The sound limits established in the law are for external noise measured outside at the property line. Click here for more information.

Outside Noise

Montgomery County’s noise control law does not cover noise from:

• Aircraft and railroads.
• Motor vehicles on public roadways.
• Emergency operations by police, fire or public utilities.
• Agricultural field machinery.
• Non amplified sound created between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. by sports, amusements, or entertainment events or other public gatherings operating according to the requirements of the appropriate permit or licensing authority. This includes athletic contests, carnivals, fairgrounds, parades, Band and orchestra activities, and public celebrations.

If you would like to proceed with submitting an outside noise complaint that does not meet the critera listed above, please click below.

Things You Can Do to Reduce Noise Problems

Whether you live in a single-family home, a multi-family building, or a townhouse or condo, you can help maintain a quiet environment by following a few common-sense guidelines:

• Monitor the volume of TVs, stereos, radios, and other sound-producing electronics in and around your home, especially during quiet hours. Pay particular attention to bass controls.
• Use power tools in your home, garage, or outdoors only during daytime hours.
• Limit outdoor activities that might generate undue noise to daytime hours.
• Check central and window air-conditioning units periodically to make sure they’re operating as quietly as possible.
• Take good care of your pets. A healthy dog receiving regular food, exercise, and proper shelter won’t bark incessantly.
• Make sure your family and guests are aware of, and comply with, quiet hours.
• Buy quiet when selecting equipment and appliances.

Businesses can also be good neighbors and comply with County Law by limiting the following activities to daytime hours:

• Construction activities
• Loading and unloading of goods and materials
• Use of electronic sound and public address equipment
• Use of power equipment mounted on motor vehicles

Also, keep noise control in mind when building or renovating and be sure to follow all the applicable regulations within the Noise Control Law.

It is also helpful to be mindful of noise throughout the day. Our community is changing because Smart growth and land use planning is clustering development into multiple-use areas. Traditional residential areas now share space with a variety of commercial uses. There is a greater opportunity for business noise to be a disturbance to those living nearby. Further, an increasing number of people now run businesses from their homes or telecommute. a midweek afternoon lawn service might now interrupt an at-home teleconference.

How Is Noise Measured?

The standard unit by which sound is measured is the decibel (dB), a relative measure of sound intensity. Decibels are calculated on a logarithmic scale (meaning that a measure of 40 dB is 10 times greater than one of 30 dB). Some examples of typical situations and their corresponding decibel levels are:

Typical Decibel Levels of Common Situations

Note: The Noise Law uses an A-weighted scale, measured in A-weighted decibels (dBA). A-weighting is an electronic approximation.

Intensity vs. Loudness

Decibels are a measure of sound intensity—the pressure of sound waves on the human ear. They provide a standardized, objective unit of measure and differ from a measure of the perceived loudness of a sound.

Loudness is a subjective measure because different people have different levels of hearing and don’t experience sound in the same way. Someone who is hard of hearing, for example, might not perceive a jackhammer as loud while someone with excellent hearing could be disturbed by the same noise. Both people, however, would experience the same level of sound intensity.

Be Aware! When continuous exposure to sound reaches 85 dBA (as in a factory), there is a great risk of permanent hearing loss.

Procedures Governing the Measurement of Noise Levels by Montgomery County

During business hours, Code Enforcement personnel from the Department of Environmental Protection investigate complaints by using sound level meters to measure dBA levels at property lines. After regular business hours, the Noise Law allows police officers to issue citations for noise disturbances on their own judgment and with the testimony of witnesses.

• Regulations in Chapter 31B of Code of Montgomery County Regulations (COMCOR). Download the Montgomery County Noise Law (56KB, PDF).
• Noise measurements are taken with a sound level meter meeting Type II specifications. The meter shall be certified annually with equipment traceable to NIST and ANSI specification S1.4 (American National Standard Specification for Sound Level Meters)
• Measurements are taken at the property line of the alleged violator as to determine the maximum A-weighted (dBA) sound level, which can include upper floors of nearby habited structures. (One exception is where the law specifies otherwise – e.g., at least 50 feet from construction equipment.)
• Measurements shall not be conducted in the presence of wind speeds greater than 12 miles per hour, nor in the presence of precipitation or fog. No measurement shall be made closer than 3 feet to any large reflecting surface.
• Before citing a violation of a noise limit the regulation allows a 2.5 dBA grace to account for all possible inaccuracies
• The measurement of noise produced by motor vehicles in transit is prescribed by State and Federal Laws. Enforcement by police officers is provided for by State Law.

Types of Noise

Interior Noise

Montgomery County’s noise control law does not contain any specific sound limits applicable to internal noise. The sound limits established in the law are for external noise measured outside at the property line.

Issues involving routine sounds associated with living in a multifamily setting, such as loud voices, heavy footsteps, doors slamming, dropping objects on the floor, children playing, or running pets are the responsibility of the building manager or property management company to resolve.

Please refer to your lease or the covenants for your condominium or cooperative housing association to understand the conditions related to the entitlement of peace and quiet enjoyment of your living space. Failure of the building manager or property management company to provide a living space without recurring sound-related disruptions may constitute a breach of the lease or association covenants.

The Montgomery County Office of Landlord-Tenant Affairs, 240-777-0311, can help with questions regarding your reasonable expectation of peace and quiet enjoyment of your living space.

Music PA Systems

Outdoor amplified sound can be a pleasurable experience at a restaurant, music event, or party, but it can create noise problems for surrounding neighbors if not adequately controlled. Other forms of amplified sound, such as an outdoor PA system used at a place of business or sporting event, can be another source of unwanted noise, which can sometimes carry a considerable distance from the source.

All outdoor amplified sound must comply with the decibel limits established in the Noise Control Law, which are measured at the nearest residential receiving property line. The established limits are:

Yard Maintenance Leaf Blowers

• All residential yard care and landscaping activities and commercial equipment operation may not begin until 7 a.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends and holidays.

Leaf Blower Noise

The primary noise concern related to landscaping and yard care is the use of leaf blowers that might cause unnecessary and unusual noise disturbances.

A leaf blower is defined as any portable device designed or intended to blow, vacuum, or move leaves or any other type of debris or material by generating a concentrated stream of air. Leaf blowers include devices or machines that accept vacuum attachments.

In July 1989, after extensive discussion, testimony, and public hearings, the Montgomery County Council amended the County Noise Law (Chapter 31B, Section 31B-11, Montgomery County Code) to specifically regulate noise from leaf blowers. The amendment became effective July 1, 1990. It was reconfirmed and included in the comprehensive revision of the Noise Control Law that became effective March 13, 1996.

Leaf Blower Standard

A person must not sell, buy, offer for sale, or use a leaf blower at any time that has an average sound level exceeding 70 dBA (A-weighted decibels) at a distance of 50 feet.

This requirement is in addition to any other noise level or noise disturbance standard that applies under the Noise Law. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must apply the standard in accordance with the most current leaf blower testing standard of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Manufacturers, distributors and retailers are encouraged to submit design and performance data to DEP on all units offered for sale in Montgomery County to demonstrate compliance with ANSI standard. They are further encouraged to conform to the labeling recommendations of the ANSI standard. Without such information and labeling, DEP may order suspension of sale of a specific unit until such test and performance data is obtained.

DEP may inspect—and on its request a person must produce—any leaf blower that is sold, offered for sale, or used in the County, to determine whether the leaf blower complies with the law. A person who relies in good faith on a manufacturer’s written representation of the sound level of a leaf blower that has not been modified is not subject to a penalty for violation.

It is the intention of DEP to facilitate voluntary and amicable compliance with this Law among all concerned. However, upon conviction, violators are subject to a civil fine of 500 for the first offense, 750 for subsequent offenses, and other relief as allowed by law.

How Late Is Too Late To Mow Your Lawn?

If you’ve landed on this page, chances are that you’re facing one of two scenarios: 1. You want to mow the lawn at night, or2. Your neighbors have started the mowing engines, and you’re wondering whether it’s too late to do so. As a general rule, it would be too late to mow your lawn after 8:30 pm. If you mow the lawn later than this time, there’s a higher risk of complaints from your neighborhood. Other factors influencing the latest time to mow the yard are the season, your location, and local council regulations. In this article, I’ll be exploring the controversial idea of mowing the lawn during the nighttime and the issues for doing so.

Is It Illegal To Mow Your Lawn At Night?

Firstly, let’s talk about the legalities around lawn mowing activity during sensitive times. The Noise Control Act of 1972 establishes a national policy to deter certain activities that may interfere with the health and welfare of surrounding residents. There is no blanket rule or law that applies across all States. The regulations and penalties to control unwanted noise rest with the individual State and Local governments. Municipalities across the country have different regulations and strategies that are tailored to their communities. These ordinances can include decibel-based standards, nuisance standards, quiet zones and restrictions based on zoning, setbacks, time-of-day regulations, and outright bans on some noise sources, such as gas-powered leaf blowers. For example, the City of Keller in Texas has a noise ordinance that prohibits the use of lawnmowers between 10 pm and 7 am on weekdays, and 10 pm and 10 am on weekends. Similarly, West Palm Beach in Florida has noise protocols on power tools and landscaping equipment. Their Code of Ordinances disallows the operation of noise-producing lawn mowers, lawn edgers, weed trimmers, blowers, power tools, and other noise-producing tools between 8 pm and 7 am. Other municipalities regulate noise disturbances by decibels. For example, the City of Boston sets an “unreasonable level of noise” code where anything louder than 70 decibels is not permitted at any time, except for allowed construction. This rule would exclude the use of gas lawn mowers as they are, on average, 85 decibels loud! Hence, be sure to find out from your local government about acceptable lawn mowing activity policies.

Say Hello To Your Neighbors

Getting to know your neighbors will eliminate the chances of triggering them from noise disturbance. It’s a win-win on both sides as your neighbors would expect the times of mowing activity, and you would feel at ease knowing you can get the job done without any complaints. Meeting your neighbors can be intimidating for the introvert, but it doesn’t need to be complicated. A simple knock on their door and introducing yourself with a smile will break the ice most of the time. Explain that you prefer to mow the lawn during a particular evening, and you’re wondering whether it would be any inconvenience to them. If they have kids, express your concerns that your mowing activity may disrupt their sleep and ask what the latest time you could do your landscaping duties. Opinions vary on the latest time to mow the lawn. I have reviewed a few internet discussion forums on this topic, and the general consensus is that usage of mowing machinery should end by 8:30 pm in summer and earlier during the winter season. Others say it’s time to turn off the engines when it gets dark or when you can no longer see the trimming lines. Caution should be taken if mowing after these times, as your neighbors could be having dinner and putting their kids to bed. The evening is when people get home from work and want to relax after a hard day. There’s nothing worse than dipping your feet into the bathtub and suddenly hearing the roaring engines of the power tools, lawnmowers, and leaf blowers. You never know the tolerance levels of your neighbors. In one extreme case, a 62-year-old Ohio woman was murdered when she started mowing her lawn around 9 pm. The woman was preparing to sell her house so that she could be with her relatives in Columbus. Unfortunately, her landscaping task was cut short by the short-tempered neighbor who pulled the trigger on this poor lady.

Use Electrical Mowers During the Night

If mowing the lawn after sunset is the only option, consider using an electric mower since they are quieter than the gas-powered mowers. In a research study (Pollock et al.,2018), it was found that at distances within 400 feet (122 meters), gas-operated garden equipment had perceived loudness that was two to four times more than the electric models. The low-frequency sounds produced by the internal combustion engines are responsible for transmitting more audible noise over long distances and into homes. At distances further than 800 feet (244 meters), the noise difference between the two was less noticeable. Unless you live in the countryside, using electrical mowers would make a significant difference for your neighbor’s mood.

Should You Be Mowing the Lawn At Night?

There are legitimate reasons why one would choose to mow the lawn late into the night. Whether that be extended work schedules, long commutes, or family commitments, mowing in the evening may only be the only option. However, there are several factors that may deter you from mowing the lawn at sun-down. Choosing to mow the lawn at night poses several risks, including breaching local regulations, resulting in fines and penalties, complaints from your neighbors, and visits from the police. Apart from the potential disturbance of the loud mowing engines, there’s another good reason you shouldn’t mow the lawn during the late evening; that is the dew that settles onto the grass. Dew is the water moisture that forms due to condensation as the temperature cools late into the evening. These are the water droplets that you see forming on the grass and weeds.

• Dew adds weight to the grass, bending their posture downwards. Mowing is best performed when the grass is dry and upright for a clean-cut
• Cutting damp grass will tear rather than cut it
• Promotes fungal diseases on your lawn that look like brown patches
• Wet grass sticks to the lawnmower blades, encouraging rust and corrosion
• The wheels of the mower sink into moist soil

As you can see, it’s best to avoid mowing the lawn at night. The best time to mow is mid-morning, around 10:30 am when the grass is dry. When the grass is cut, it allows time for the lawn to heal before going into the evening.

Final Words

As a general guide, the latest time to finish the lawn mowing activity is 8:30 pm. Though, during the winter season, you should think about finishing up before dark to avoid any potential conflict with your neighbors.

If that’s the case, talk to your neighbors and see what’s best for all parties. Having that open line of communication ensures happy residents and happy grass!

Is It Illegal To Mow Your Lawn Early In The Morning or At Night? – Nighttime Mowing Safety

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Mowing is an essential lawn care practice that should be done regularly to encourage healthy grass growth, eliminate pests, prevent accidental damage, help your lawn recover faster, and get nourishing mulch.

Even though you can mow your lawn at any time of day or night, most lawn mowers are noisy tools, some as loud as 80 dB and 90 dB similar to a small rock concert.

Have you ever said to yourself, “Who the heck is mowing their lawn at night” while you are hunkered down inside for the night? I know I’ve said that a few times. But how late is too late to mow your lawn? And is it even legal to mow your lawn early in the morning or at night? You might think there are no issues in doing so but actually different states have different laws about this and some towns and counties as well.

We all have perhaps done this at least once or twice right? Mowing after the sun sets just because you’re trying to get it done because you already started, or perhaps there is weather coming in the next day that you want to get ahead of.

This begs the question — is it illegal to mow your lawn early in the morning or at night? The answer however is a bit tricky.

Mowing your lawn isn’t per se illegal, but running a horrendously loud lawnmower late at night or in the wee hours of the morning is not something your neighbors would appreciate, which could lead to police intervention.

Below I’ll highlight the most strict rules that I know of and give some safety guidance if you do need to mow at night.

Is Mowing Lawn at Night Good for Grass?

It’s a good idea to first understand whether mowing your lawn at night is indeed good for your grass health or cause damage to your turf. Some lawn care professionals claim that it doesn’t matter what time of day you mow your lawn, while others strongly disagree, and say there’s an optimal time to perform the task.

But most will agree that early morning (6-8 am) is the worse time to mow lawns because the grass is covered with fresh morning dew. This dew overlay can make it hard on your lawn mower, form clumps, and cause the grass to tear, resulting on poorly cut grass.

And when grass tears or is cut poorly, it becomes susceptible to infections, caused by diseases and fungi. Mid-morning or late afternoons are considered optimum times to mow your lawn, and here’s why!

By mid-morning, the dew on the grass has already dried out, and the heat of the day hasn’t peaked yet. The grass at this time of day also has time to fully recover before the onset of the full heat of the midday sun.

Late afternoon (4-7 pm), that is after the period of the midday heat, is also a great time to mow your lawn, as it causes less stress for the grass, owing to the gradually cooling temperatures. This gives your grass enough time to heal before nightfall.

There’s often a big debate on whether moving your lawn at night is beneficial for your grass. But as mentioned earlier, dew tends to settle on grass when temperatures drop in the night and early morning, making it more likely to be affected by fungi and turf diseases. Dew-wet grass is also hard to cut, and may cause damage to your lawn mower.

To reduce the chances when mowing your lawn at night, you can use a reel mower. Using a reel lawn mower is a great idea, as it provides a clean, even scissor cut compared to rotary lawn mowers that tear the leaves apart.

This not only leaves finer trimmings without any clumping to create natural mulch that decomposes quickly on your yard but also seals in the moisture on grass blades to keep out disease organisms.

What Are The Laws For Mowing After Hours?

For the most part, it’s not illegal to mow your lawn early in the morning or at night, because there’s no law in any of the 50 states that restricts you from doing so. However, and as mentioned earlier, lawn mowers can be extremely loud, which may merit police involvement.

Many jurisdictions have laws defining loud music as a criminal offense, where the exact definition of what constitutes loud sound varies by location. These restrictions are during specific hours of the nighttime, for example between 11 PM-7 AM.

So, whether it’s your dog barking excessively or you’re running your lawn mower across your lawn early in the morning or at night, you are in essence being a nuisance to your neighbors.

What’s worse is that your neighbors can even sue you for money damages if you continue to disturb them by mowing your lawn in the middle of the night. Your neighbors can even order you to stop the noise via a court order aka “abate the nuisance,” in legal terms.

How to Prevent Legal Action when Mowing Lawn Early in the Morning or at Night?

If you have a genuine reason for mowing your lawn at night, the best approach is to speak to your neighbors about the issue it may cause, and resolve the issue amicably.

Normally, mowing your lawn once a week is the rule depending on how fast your grass grows, you and your neighbors can reach an agreed time for you to cut grass at night.

If trying to solve the problem head-on doesn’t work out, you can use a high-quality reel lawn mower for the job. Reel lawn mowers aren’t just inexpensive tools but require little or no maintenance, are environmentally friendly and produce less noise.

Take for example the Scotts Reel Mower, which is considered an American classic to this day, because it doesn’t produce any toxic fumes for the environment to absorb, and doesn’t do anything more than whisper during use.

Reel lawn mowers are also safe to use especially when mowing at night, because they stop when you do, and don’t throw rocks or debris.

Are Electric Lawn Mowers Quieter than Gas Lawn Mowers?

If you have a larger size lawn real estate to cut, using a reel lawn mower may not be the right tool for the task, especially if you want to get the job done quickly. This leads to two choices — electric lawn mowers or gas lawn mowers.

But the big question is — are gas lawn mowers quieter than electric lawn mowers? Short answer is “NO”, and here’s why!

In terms of numbers, the gas lawn mowers emit a decibel level between 90 and 100 dB, whereas electric lawn mowers are roughly 75 dB. That may not sound as much, but it is actually pretty significant, considering that 100 dB is 8x louder than a level of 70 dB.

How to Make a Lawn Mower Quiet?

There are myriad different things you can do to make your gas lawn mower quiet. However, if you’re going to mow your lawn regularly at night, you may be better off investing in a quiet electric lawn mower such as the Greenworks corded lawn mower.

The first thing to do is to take a closer look at the muffler of the gas lawn mower for any signs of damage. Even though the job of the muffler is to reduce exhaust noise, a damaged muffler can cause a loud, low roar or rumbling sound. Another great way to make your lawn mower quieter is to install silencers to reduce the noise produced by the tool.

Nighttime Lawn Mower Safety

When it comes to safety when mowing lawn at night, there are two important aspects to consider — safety for yourself, and mowing the lawn mowing safely to prevent damage to accessories in your lawn such as sprinkler heads.

Safety Lights

If you have camper lanterns in your garage, you can attach them to the front of your lawn mower with duct tape to see clearly in low light conditions.

Camper lanterns however aren’t the best lighting sources for lawn mowers, and can add weight to your lawn mower, and make it unstable during use.

As an alternative, you can install a pair of sleek yet powerful CREE LED headlights that provide 60-degrees 19-watts high output. Plus, they are rustproof, dustproof, and waterproof, and come with an adjustable bracket to easily change the direction of the light beam to avoid going over tree limbs, rocks and other debris.

While lawn mower lights will help you maneuver the lawn mower in the right direction, you should wear a hard hat with a light to help you see the turf ahead. You can even hold a flashlight in your hand, but this is going to get uncomfortable after a while, especially if you have a large area of turf to cut.

Electric Mower Options

If you’re using a gas or a cordless lawn mower, then you don’t have to worry about tripping over or dragging around a pesky power cord.

But if you have an electric mower, then you should ideally connect the power cord of the lawn mower with a retractable extension cord reel. You can either choose to lock the cord in place when pulled out, or retract it back automatically to keep it out of the way.

Don’t cut the grass when wet, as the turf may be slippery, or may jam the blade of your lawn mower.

Safety Clothing

It is highly recommended that you wear steel-toed footwear instead of tennis shoes, sandals, flip flops or bare feet for protection against the lawn mower blade.

When is the BEST TIME TO MOW YOUR LAWN?

Your grass will appreciate it if you mowed later in the am, like from 9-11 over the summer months, as that will give your grass time to recover throughout the day, plus the morning. dew should have dried up by then.

Final Thoughts

Hi, Alex Kuritz here. Growing up I remember that my family had one of the best lawns in the neighborhood. Richly green and lush. I did a lot as I grew up in terms of caring and tending for not only my family’s lawn but also my neighbors. I can say I have years of experience, and I am here to share it with you.

When is it antisocial to mow the lawn? The rules from garden experts

The noise of lawn mowing can carry through a neighborhood, so cutting the lawn at times when you’ll cause minimal disturbance to those nearby is a must for good relationships with everyone who lives there.

While the best lawn mowers are relatively quiet, there’s still the potential to wake up those sleeping later at the weekend, or unsettle kids when it’s bedtime if your mowing activities are at antisocial hours.

Here, the experts give their verdict on when is – and when definitely isn’t – the right time to mow.

When is it antisocial to mow?

There are times of day when it’s antisocial to mow the lawn. ‘Growing up, my family had a rule – no noise before 10 on the weekend,’ says product expert at Homes Gardens Alex David. ‘Lawn mowing, strimming, and even bouncing a basketball were all out of the question before 10am.’

Bear in mind that lawn mowing hours aren’t necessarily just a case of being thoughtful about your neighbors’ peace. In any case, your municipality may limit when the lawn can be mowed. There may also be limits placed on noise levels that includes noise emitted by lawn mowers. But aside from playing by the rules imposed where you live, you should do right by those nearby for neighborhood harmony.

Time your lawn mowing

Avoid early hours at the weekend

‘Respect your neighbours sleeping in and having a peaceful start to the weekend,’ says Alex. ‘There are few things as irritating as working hard all week only to be woken up early by the whine of power tools. It can throw off your whole weekend.’

Keep the mower in the garage in the evening

‘It’s also antisocial to mow too late in the evening,’ says Alex. While it’s tempting to get a quick mow in after work, ‘if your neighbors have young kids, they’ll be winding down from 5pm, and you don’t want to keep them awake with the sound of your mowing.’

The Lawn Bible | 17.99 at Amazon You can’t go wrong with The Lawn Bible for more tips on lawncare. Written by David R. Mellor, groundskeeper at the iconic Fenway Park, this helpful book is packed with information on mowing.

Skip occasions when neighbors are hosting guests

‘If your neighbors have guests visiting, I’d also leave the mowing for a day,’ advises Alex. ‘Not only is the noise grating, interrupting their conversation, but you don’t want to throw up a load of grass pollen that could irritate people as they’re trying to enjoy their day.’

The general rule on when to mow the lawn

‘I still stick by that family rule – no power tools outside 10am to 5pm,’ says Alex. ‘Not only will your neighbors thank you, but it’s a healthy approach to yardwork. It necessarily gives you limited hours of work, so you aren’t making yourself overwork on weekends when you should be resting and relaxing to get ready for the coming week.’

As Head of eCommerce, Alex makes sure our readers find the right information to help them make the best purchase. After graduating from Cambridge University, Alex got his start in reviewing at the iconic Good Housekeeping Institute, testing a wide range of household products and appliances. He then moved to BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, assessing gardening tools, machinery, and wildlife products, including dozens of lawn mowers.

Which lawn mowers are quietest?

It is possible to make less noise at the times you are mowing with the right choice of mower. ‘Battery mowers are by far the quietest type of mower to use,’ says Amateur Gardening expert Steve Bradley.

‘Some manufacturers have been able to muffle their machines very effectively and will provide a decibel level at average running. These machines are getting quieter and the battery technology, in terms of running time, recharging and weight, is improving all the time. For the back yard user, they are the future.’

Another quiet type of mower is a reel. aka ‘push’ or ‘manual’. mower, like this Greenworks reel mower at Amazon. These are old-school mowers without a motor. to operate them, all you do is push them across the lawn. This makes them incredibly quiet, but they’re nowhere near as effective as battery mowers, which are still a better option for quiet mower.

Steve has written (or co-written) over 40 practical gardening books. He has been Gardening Correspondent for The Sun newspaper since 2002, answering hundreds of readers’ letters every year. He also has a weekly column in Amateur Gardening magazine.

Do you have to mow your lawn?

You do have to mow your lawn when local ordinances require it. Homeowners’ association covenants can also have rules on maximum grass height.

Not abiding by the rules can result in fines and worse, so always be aware of the local stipulations when thinking about lawn maintenance. Bear in mind, too, that when you do mow the lawn you shouldn’t remove more than one-third of the height of the blades. Leave your lawn unmowed for too long and you might not be able to follow this guideline to avoid falling foul of the requirements when you do come to cut it again.

When should I stop mowing?

Timing when you should stop mowing your lawn depends on local climate and grass type. Typically, grass becomes dormant once temperatures are below 40 to 50ºF in the daytime.

Be sure to stop before the first frosts are expected if your climate means you experience these conditions.

How short should I mow the lawn?

In summer, keep your grass between half an inch or an inch. In autumn, it can be inch to to an inch and a half. Other than that, be sure to obey the 1/3 rule. never cut your grass by more than a 1/3 at a time, as this puts stress on the plants makes the lawn look bare.

Ultimately, it comes down to a little common sense. If it would annoy you to hear mowing too early or noisily, then it will annoy your neighbors too. Consider everyone around you and you’ll never go wrong.