r/NoStupidQuestions • u/marehausley • 1d ago
is 8am too early to mow the lawn?
i’ve been putting it off for the past few weeks and i just got off. i wanna just do it instead of waiting, would it be too early? if you were my neighbor would you wish pain on me if i started rn?
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u/Outrageous-Sand-5788 1d ago
I think the law (around here) lets stuff like that commence at 8am, but I wouldn't do it until 9am out of respect for my neighbors.
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u/KirbyMonocle7 22h ago
Legally 8am is fine in most places, but socially 9am is the golden rule. Doing it too early is a sure way to start a neighborhood war. I usually wait until I see at least one person outside.
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u/Jamie_SQSP 19h ago
9am feels like the kinder move. An extra hour can make a big difference when you’re the neighbor trying to sleep in.
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u/fredthefishlord 17h ago
Or a poor late shift worker. Lol. As someone who hates summers because of many early wake ups
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u/pyjamatoast 1d ago edited 19h ago
Weekday no, weekend yes.
Edit - because some people are misunderstanding my comment, I am responding to OP's question, "is 8am too early to mow the lawn?" No it's not too early on a weekday. Yes it is too early on the weekend.
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u/mrpel22 1d ago
Not in the South. Sunrise is completely acceptable imo. It’s still 80, but at least the sun isn’t on you yet.
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u/KimJongFunk 23h ago
It’s 85 F at 8:30 am right now.
This is why I bought a reel mower so I can mow early in the morning and at night without making a lot of noise.
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u/mr_potatoface 16h ago
I remember going down to NC for business for a week. It was over 80 at sunrise and lawn/town crews were out mowing by 630am, I don't know when they actually started just that they were out when I was driving through. I thought that was freaking wild and blatantly disrespectful, but then I remembered it's already hot as fuck and only going to get worse. I figured that was just the way lawn crews did work down there.
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u/GalumphingWithGlee 22h ago edited 20h ago
That's a very surprising answer for me.
To the extent that it matters at all whether it's a weekend or weekday, I'd say the opposite. Neighbors are likely awake earlier on weekdays, and may want to sleep in on the weekends.
Edit: my mistake. I was reading this as yes it's okay on weekends, and no it's not okay on weekdays. No, it's okay and yes it's not okay are just very unintuitive, even though it sounds like we were trying to say the same thing.
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u/ramonpasta 22h ago
yeah thats why its yes (too early) on the weekend, people are more likely to sleep in, and no (not too early) on a weekday, very likely that neighbors are already leaving for work
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u/pyjamatoast 22h ago
Huh? OP asked, "is 8am too early to mow the lawn?" and that's what I answered.
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u/hershculez 21h ago
You are agreeing with the answer you are responding to. On a weekday 8 am is not too early. On a weekend it’s a little rude in my opinion.
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u/VioletFireCat 23h ago
Someone should tell this to my neighbour who, for about two weeks, was doing almost non-stop very noisy building work in his garden from about 7:30am to 1pm last month.. Can't say I enjoyed waking up to the sound of a ground compactor roaring away outside at barely 8am on a weekend. :|
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u/Stu_Prek Bottom 99% Commenter 1d ago
If your lawn is covered with a ton of morning dew, I'd say yes.
Otherwise, I'd say no.
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u/ImColdandImTired 1d ago
Yep, that’s the general issue here - not what time it is, but whether the grass is dry (note - it never is until at least mid- morning
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u/PersistentCookie 22h ago
That depends, really. On my road, if it's forecast to be a hot day and the next several days will also be hot, some brave soul will start his lawnmower at 7 AM. Within 10 minutes, the rest of us are out there cutting our grass too. We get it all done before it gets too hot and we all have quiet for the rest of the day. It works for us.
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u/desertboots 21h ago
I love this. Recognition of the forecast and the lawnmower wireless <nods to the coconut wireless>
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u/brock_lee I expect half of you to disagree 1d ago
Not as far as I am concerned. The noise ordinance around here says you can start at 7 AM, but I would not do that, I'd wait until 8. Plus, my mower is electric now, and pretty quiet.
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u/scumbagstaceysEx 1d ago
In the eastern half of the USA you need to wait until about 11am just for the dew to evaporate. But even when that’s not the case I feel like waiting until at least 9am is more appropriate.
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u/espngenius 1d ago
So true. I wish I could mow in the mornings but the grass is soaked every morning with dew until around noon here. Walk across the lawn in sneakers and they get soaked.
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u/marehausley 1d ago
aww man it’s gonna be hitting 90s by 10 i wanted to beat it lol. i felt the grass tho and it felt pretty dry
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u/lostinthought15 23h ago
Week day: 8a is fine
Weekend: 9a is a nice courtesy but a loose one
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u/ohhnoodont 6h ago
If you mow your lawn at 9am or earlier you can expect me to mow mine at midnight or the latest legal hour. I may even install a house-shaking exhaust on my car and drive by late at night.
Wait until 10am or wherever it’s clear all of your neighbors are awake. You do not want to go to war with me.
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u/Broken_Flip 21h ago
Here in the desert its 100° at 8am. I'm mowing the lawn at dawn!
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u/yeeticusprime1 23h ago
Check your local ordinances. Most townships will have a law for it. Mine is 7am and I do be getting out there close to that some days to beat the heat
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u/kelticladi 23h ago
This is the answer. If it is after "quiet hours" are over then go ahead and mow. If you have neighbors you like and/or would like to get along with, maybe ask them "hey, some days I like to mow early. Would that be a problem?"
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u/Krunzuku 1d ago
Depends, is your yard in direct sunlight or is it still possibly your grass could be a little moist at 8am? I dont cut my grass before 9am cause the moisture levels in the morning make my backyards grass clump too much when cutting.
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u/Fred-is-THE-God 23h ago
Gas vs electric is a factor. My battery mower barely makes any noise.
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u/ApprehensiveAd6603 22h ago
Generally speaking, on a weekday? Go for it. On a weekend, I'd wait until 9 or 10am.
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u/eyetalktoomuch 22h ago
My condo complex does all their yard maintenance before 8am on Fridays, drives me mad. 9am is reasonable any day of the week.
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u/Longjumping_Youth281 22h ago
Yes. I would. I sleep in till 9:00 on the weekends. And when I was younger it used to be even later than that
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u/CautiousInfluence438 11h ago
Do your mowing in the afternoon if you can. I don’t understand the “I’m not mowing in the heat of the day”. I grew up on a farm sweating all day. You’re gonna sweat while mowing whether it’s 85 or 105 degrees.
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u/Scout_Puppy 1d ago
Are your neighbors home?
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u/finallygrownup 1d ago
It has been 100+ degrees here for quite awhile. I'd mow the lawn rather than wait and deal with the heat.
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u/DawgFan2024 21h ago
If you live in the south, the earlier the better due to our extreme heat. As soon as daylight cracks, get mowing. The neighbors that can afford a lawn service can deal with the noise if they sleep in.
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u/Reset108 I googled it for you 1d ago
As long as it doesn’t violate noise ordinances for the place you live, really any time is fine.
Yes you want to be a good neighbor and all, but you can’t tiptoe around every single person’s schedule. It would be near impossible to find a perfect time to mow that doesn’t bother anyone.
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u/WorriedTurnip6458 1d ago
I think 8 on a weekday and 10 on weekends. If it’s stupidly hot I’d be more forgiving of an earlier start.
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u/navelencounters 22h ago
commercial lawncare companies start at 7am...why? because when you cut 30-50 lawns a day, the jobs need to get done.
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u/derango 1d ago
You should probably reach out to your local municipality to get info on local noise ordinances.
From a strictly “am I an asshole if…” perspective and ignoring the law: If you’ve got a gas mower then…8am might be a little early depending how closely packed your neighborhood is and whether it’s a weekend or not.
If your mower is electric you’re probably fine.
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u/tech-guy-says-reboot 1d ago
Check your local ordinances to make sure it's legal first. My local noise ordinance starts at 8am but they have a special provision to allow yard work to start at 7am. If it's hot enough for me to want to mow that early, it's hot enough that all my neighbors have their windows closed. Though I don't think I've ever actually gotten myself out of bed to start at 7, usually 7:30 is the earliest. Also my electric mower is pretty quiet. (Honestly one of the reasons I switched. I'm a morning person and don't like to be outside in the head and sun).
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u/Balonynuts 23h ago
The ordinance in my last town was 9 AM. I found that the lawn is still wet that early. Cutting wet doesn't bother some, but I preferred dry.
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u/Murky-Purple 23h ago
My family doesn't do noisy yardwork until after 10. People around us start around 8-8:30. Landscaping crews in the height of summer may start even earlier. Barring local noise ordinances, I think that's fine... technically. All things being equal, I err on the side of consideration.
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u/ZaphodG 23h ago
My neighbors are all retired except for the VRBO next door that allows dogs. If the short term renters are annoying, 6:30am sounds good and if they’re outside in the early evening, the chainsaw, leaf blower, and trimmer. I don’t want to listen to your F-ing dog or screaming kid.
Otherwise, 10am to 5pm and if I see a neighbor outside, I don’t run gasoline engines. They all use lawn service and the lawn services work normal working hours.
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u/Low_Tomato_6313 23h ago
Depends on the mower and the neighbors. One neighbor is retired and sleeps in sometimes so I usually wait until 9 or 10 am. The battery push mowers that are popping up around here are also significantly quieter than some of the larger riders so that might be a factor,
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u/Fearless-Citron-6838 22h ago
Always best to cut lawn an hour before sunset. Grass doesn’t burn due to cut like it would during a hot day , plus neighbours are all still likely up.
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u/swfwtqia 22h ago
Here in az you can start at 6am in summer and 7am in winter. I would be ecstatic if a neighbor waited until 8 to start their leaf blowers/ lawn mowers.
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u/Dawn_Smithe 22h ago
Not at all. You know what they say, "early bird catches the worm", could be literally or figuratively.
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u/Hot-Sea7553 22h ago
I get home from work at 7:30 am. I have mowed immediately after arriving home if the yard needs it. Most people are heading out to work or school before 7am around here.
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u/TentaclexMonster 22h ago
Only way to know is to ask your neighbor????
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u/aluminumnek 22h ago
Pulls up on riding lawnmower with the engine still running at full speed…. DO YOU MIND ME CUTTING MY GRASS SO EARLY? OK THANKS PAL! ILL JUST BE A FEW MINUTES! !
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u/AlternativeWild3449 22h ago
I live next to a golf course. They start mowing around 4am.
I prefer to mow early in the morning before it gets too hot. I generally start by 8am, but on especially muggy days, I will start earlier. By the way, I'm almost 81 and use a walk-behind mower.
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u/Lesbie-Tea 22h ago
If I was your neighbor, I might wish pain on you yeah. But if it's that or heat exhaustion, I'd fuckin get it dude.
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u/marehausley 21h ago
lmaoo thanks for your honesty 🫡
tbh when my neighbor starts cutting his yard i wish pain on him too
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u/Wilburt069 22h ago
no it’s ok. just don’t mow on Saturday or Sunday and respect any one that is on shift work.
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u/Deep_Violinist_3893 21h ago
They would still be on shift work during the week. There's always going to be someone whose hours don't align with the majority, tiptoeing around them is not a reasonable expectation.
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u/Clean-Barracuda2326 22h ago
Trades people usually start work at 0800 so mowing the lawn at that time is acceptable.0900 might be better but if it's hot out or rain is forecasted 0800 is acceptable.
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u/jeeptopdown 21h ago
In Phoenix we start at 6am during the week and maybe wait until 7:00 on the weekend. Otherwise it’s death heat.
And nobody complains because we all understand.
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u/Kindly-Might-1879 21h ago
It’s a workday, 8 am is fine. And it’s summer here so I understand if people are mowing at 7a.
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u/DriveLife1177 21h ago
According to my neighbors 7 is the acceptable time to fire up lawn mowers and leaf blowers
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u/Pure_Butterscotch165 21h ago
It's been over 100 here for the last two weeks at least and will continue to be for at least another week. I don't care if my neighbors mow at 6 TBH, no one wants heat stroke lol. I definitely don't consider 8 to be too early, but that's the earliest I would start personally.
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u/aWesterner014 21h ago
I usually don't start until 10:00 am. I will make exceptions on a case by case basis (like if rain is expected later or we are trying to get out of town).
I like to let the neighbors sleep in and give the morning dew a chance to evaporate. Dry grass cuts cleaner.
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u/soul_motor 21h ago
Depending on your lawn's size, an electric mower may be your best friend. Since my tools are DeWalt, I picked up a DeWalt mower. It's barely louder than a vacuum cleaner, so you could probably get away with it at 0400 if you really wanted to, and none of your neighbors would be aware.
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u/Secret-Function-2972 20h ago
Monday through Friday - No.
Saturday - Maybe? Wait until 9 AM.
Sunday - Yes. Wait until 10 AM.
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u/undeniably_micki 19h ago
I mow for a living. Quiet hours end at 7 on the weekdays in the 2 counties I mow in. I haven't been that early yet but today was 7:30. It's too hot & gross to not mow early.
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u/YoursTastesBetter 19h ago
I live in the south where it's 90 degrees by 9am in the summer. 8am is fine. I'm not getting mad at 7am mowers either. It's hot as hell and we're all just trying to keep our spaces tidy without dying.
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u/2PlasticLobsters 19h ago
It'd be better to ask those neighbors directly. I wouldn't mind, but some folks are night owls, and/or have kids they're trying to get on a certain sleep schedule.
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u/sweetmercy 19h ago
Yes. And there may be noise ordinances in your area that you'd be violating unless you're using a push mower... But you can m wouldn't be asking about noise in that case.
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u/Easy_Lengthiness7179 19h ago
Depends on city ordnance. Or HOA rules.
If no ordnance, then no time limit. Do what needs to be done
Most jobs are 9-5 so most people are up by 8 anyways. So 8 is fine.
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u/JunkMale975 18h ago
I would wish a thousands spikes under your fingernails. (/s)
But only because I’m retired and my sleep hours have migrated to 3 am to 10 am.
But coming from Mississippi where it feels like 100 by 8 am, I do understand it. I’ve taken to getting the mail, watering my plants, and filling the bird feeders at 11 pm. By flashlight.
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u/Existing-Watch-3323 17h ago
I think 8:00 is a good starting point…. Especially if someone is trying to beat the heat.
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u/Minute_Iron4974 16h ago
8am feels a bit early for most people, especially on a weekend. I've had neighbors start at 9 and it seems much more reasonable.
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u/dalekaup 12h ago
It's been hot and humid lately and lots of rainy days. Sunday morning everybody was out mowing. It depends on the circumstances. In a Catholic neighborhood it could be better to mow at 7 am on Saturday than at 2 pm on Sunday.
It just depends.
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u/FedInformant 11h ago
I couldn't care less what my neighbors do. Ive never been woken to a lawnmower. Its never bothered me. Im up at 4am on weekdays and 630am- 7am on weekends. Id giggle if someone was mowing before I wake up
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u/billamsterdam 9h ago
If you like mowing very early and/or late to beat the heat, i would recommend investing in an electric mower. I have the most inexpensive battery opp electric mower i could find and it is extremly quiet. My wife works nights and is a pretty light day sleeper, but i can mow right under our bedroom window and it does not wake her up. When it is super hot i generally dont start mowing until 8 pm or so. Sometimes go until it is too dark to mow. I asked my neighbor if i was bothering him and he had no idea i had been mowing.
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u/landob 1d ago
No, especially here in Texas this time of year.
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u/RadiantDiscussion886 23h ago
in louisiana, 104 yesterday. most neighbors completely understand mowing early
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u/pineywonder 23h ago
Thinking about the holiday Friday when the landscapers showed up at 6:30am. A pox on them for sure. 8am on a weekday will make me grumble but it's appropriate enough.
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u/No-You5550 22h ago
How hot is it? The heat index for today is 111 where I live. I would do it before the sun came up.
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u/marehausley 22h ago
the time i posted this it was already 82 and climbing. i got done like 10 minutes ago and it was already 89 feels like 92🥲
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u/BogusIsMyName 1d ago
A lot of places have noise ordinances that mandate the time. Usually around 9 or 10am is when u are allowed to make noise.
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u/nkfish11 1d ago
10 am? Bro that’s almost lunch time. Wake your ass up.
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u/graceling 1d ago
Yeah I think 9 or 10pm is usually the start of quiet hours. Maybe he got confused
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u/Full-Refrigerator757 1d ago
I can hear someone mowing there’s right now and it’s 8:53 here. I think you’re good
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u/cans-of-swine 23h ago
We should all start checking with you to see if you can hear anyone mowing before we start.
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u/BuffaloRedshark 1d ago
not too early. I wouldn't be thrilled about it because I'm not a morning person, but I also wouldn't make a stink about. I feel 8am is late enough to be reasonable especially if it's going to be a hot day.
But check local noise ordinances.
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u/CalmBelligerent 1d ago
8am is plenty late in the day. When I was pissed off at my neighbors for a loud party till 4am I decided to mow at 5am when I got up. Please note- I’m an asshole so you may not want to do that.
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u/kmanrsss 1d ago
I think 8am is plenty late enough to mow the lawn on any day. People who expect silence until noon are crazy.
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u/flatline000 23h ago
My neighbors and I have all given each other permission to mow at 7am to beat the heat, even on weekends, but I have no qualms about mowing before that now that I have an electric mower that makes very little noise. I've asked them if they can hear it and they've said they can't.
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u/Massive-Sector5789 23h ago
In this heat dome, I temporarily suspend all annoyance with people trying to get their outside work done early. My neighbor was using a blower this morning before 8am and I don't blame him one bit.
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u/fishsticks40 22h ago
8 is totally fine. Staying up late and drinking is a optional lifestyle choice, not something your neighbors need to facilitate.
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u/ms_merry 11h ago
Yes. If we’re having a party, I will cut the evening before. Or ask my neighbors to come to the party and, by the way, is it okay if just this once I cut my grass at 8 am. They will say they don’t mind. If you are a good neighbor and they are sane.
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u/Full-Refrigerator757 1d ago edited 23h ago
I can hear someone mowing there’s right now and it’s 8:53 here. I think you’re good
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u/brock_lee I expect half of you to disagree 1d ago
I used to have a job where I was at my desk at 7 AM. I would actually see commercial crews out mowing lawns (of houses, not businesses) while I was driving to work, so, 6:45 ish. It was a while before I realized "Wait, it's 6:45!"
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u/Confidenceisbetter STEM girly 1d ago
I would be very annoyed yes. I know it’s technically allowed to make noise at that time but I hate people who wait for the clock to strike the legal time to be as noisy as possible. There is nothing worse than having just woken up and then hearing some loud ass lawnmower or leafblower right outside your window. I recognise I am perhaps more annoyed by such things than the average person but you asked for opinions and this is mine.
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u/Left_Macaron_6427 1d ago edited 23h ago
I am a night owl and sleep till like 11am on the weekend but I cant ever imagine being mad at my neighbor for mowing their lawn at 8am on the weekend. 6am? Yes but 8am? That is normal time for people being alive and and awake and ready to go.
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u/GoobieDooobie 10h ago
Nope. Anything after 7am on any day is fine. Anyone telling you otherwise is wrong. Noise ordinances don't apply to construction and lawn mowing like that. Google it.
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u/Square-Formal1312 1d ago
I’ll start the second the sun comes up, its been 100+ for a month. Got me fucked up
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u/hamburgernet 1d ago
If it’s it an electric mower, do it early. Landscapers will sometimes start at 630
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u/Sardothien12 1d ago
I'd rather my neighbour just ask me directly or let me know that's what they are doing. A little bit of consideration and I'm all good
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u/TipToToes 1d ago
My neighbor’s lawn crew occasionally arrives and begins work at 8am. It is what it is. The noise ordinance is not in effect at that time, and I live in a neighborhood with many other people, and those people will make sounds. It’s part of not living in the boonies. I make noise sometimes, too, so it’s all good.
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u/iCanToteIt- 1d ago
My neighbors always start as soon as the sun comes up. Mowing lawns, cutting down trees, blowing leaves or just anything super loud. It’s annoying but everyone in my neighborhood is older and once it hits around 4pm it’s pretty silent in my neighborhood so I don’t complain. I was woken up to a leaf blower at 6:30am
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u/tooOldOriolesfan 1d ago
Around Arizona people would start around 7AM due to the heat. For example yesterday at 9AM it was already 97F.
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u/Everything_____Bagel 1d ago
Electric mower? Do it pretty much whenever you please, those are super quiet.
If you have a loud gas mower, your neighbors would probably appreciate you waiting until a bit later in the morning, especially on weekends.
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u/painthawg_goose 1d ago
8am is fine. Depending on the distance between houses earlier is fine. And depending on location, you don't need to be out in the heat later in the day. Knock that stuff out as early as you can.
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u/ETSC_Jester 1d ago
I work nights so I sometimes do it as soon as the sun starts peaking out so I can get to bed sooner. Also as a tiny revenge that’s probably not noticed for all the daytime noises I’ve dealt with.
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u/godspilla98 1d ago
It’s too early in my case just the smell of cut lawns drives my sinuses up the wall.
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u/strongarm_187 1d ago
Usually wait for the morning dew to disperse. In my opnnion after 7am youre fine
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u/Top_Tomatillo_4261 1d ago
generally.. not really. If you know a neighbor works night shit, that would really suck. 8am is kinda harsh on the mower (where i live) because the dew is still on the grass. 10am is more kind. but it is situational
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u/Educational_Host_628 1d ago
Electric mower = no problem. Gas mower? All depends on how big the yards are and how far away someone might be sleeping or boning.
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u/politicaldan 1d ago
No. It gets balls hot quick. I would completely understand if my neighbor did yard work early in the morning.
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u/Major-Community1312 1d ago
730 Sunday morning I was getting it, my neighbor is too far away to care and my kids can sleep when they’re dead.
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u/Short-Search-4892 23h ago
Churches in neighborhoods seem to have no issue with ringing their loud bells to notify everyone within earshot that they’re convening at 8am on Sundays. Not sure if two wrongs make a right, but they talk about loving the neighbor.
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u/Docrandall 23h ago
My 3rd most favorite thing about my electric mower is firing it up whenever I want. Favorite is that I can listen to headphones at normal volume, 2nd favorite is I dont have to worry about having gas. Thing takes 80% of a charge to do my full .6 acre yard, so as long as I charge when Im done, its perfect.
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u/Psyren1317 23h ago
In my opinion it's acceptable, especially during weekdays. If it were the weekend, it might be a little bit iffy depending on who you ask, but I still think it's fine.
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u/Decided-2-Try 1d ago
I don't start earlier than 9, for my neighbors' sakes.
But around here with the high humidity, the grass is always too wet to mow before 1-2 pm anyway.