During the summer, you should mow your grass once or twice a week, as it is an essential gardening task. However, even with the best lawnmowers, the noise levels this specific activity produces can be anxiety-causing, unlike most gardening hobbies, which are peaceful and often almost meditative.
I thus have all the information you need to keep your neighbors amicable, regardless of whether you’re asking what time you can legally mow your lawn or you have a neighbor who constantly bothers you with loud lawn-mowing noises. Continue reading!
What time can I legally mow my lawn?
Although there are no regulations in the UK about when it is permissible or not to mow your lawn, the Environmental Protection Act of 1990 gives authorities the power to look into noise levels that are above legal limits between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
According to Natalie, managing editor at Rated People, “If you mow your lawn during antisocial times of the day, your neighbors might (and they have the right to) end up reporting you, and councils can investigate and issue warnings for noise complaints between 11 pm and 7 am.” “Chopping your lawn before 7 a.m. may be considered antisocial behavior or a “statutory annoyance,” particularly if your lawn mower produces a lot of noise.”
Additionally, after receiving a warning, if a person disobeys and keeps cutting the lawn during antisocial hours, they risk paying a fine of £110 to £5000 or maybe facing legal action.
However, what are those acceptable noise thresholds that one cannot exceed?
In general, noise levels that are up to 10 dB above the ambient noise level are acceptable. A gas lawnmower has much higher noise levels than an electric lawnmower, which has an average noise level of about 70 dB.
When is it too late to give the grass a trim?
I generally recommend mowing your lawn before 6 p.m. or, if it’s a weekday, 7 p.m. at the absolute latest.
“Your neighbors with young children will likely be attempting to sleep or at least going to bed at around seven or half seven, “However, if you consistently mow much later and keep the kids up at night, you will be quick to make enemies.”. because no one likes noise.
According to Jack Sutcliffe, co-founder of Power Sheds, “It is also regarded as more respectful to forgo cutting your grass if your near neighbors have visitors visiting and are hosting within their garden.” “The pollen may disturb visitors, and the loudness can be very annoying when hosting.”
When is it too early for lawn mowing?
As per our experts, the earliest time to start lawn mowing on a weekday is 8 am, and on weekends, you should start at 9 or 10 am to be safe. It’s beneficial for your lawnmower and grass health as well as your neighbor relationships since, according to Natalie, “the grass is likely to be damp from the previous night, leaving it more sensitive to injury.” For you, here’s one more grass maintenance tip.
“It is, in my view, antisocial to mow your lawn before 9 a.m. on the weekends and before 8 a.m. on weekdays,” says Steve. When we only get two days of sleep on the weekend, there’s nothing worse than waking up early. Thus, I believe that maintaining a 9 am rule is the best approach to maintaining good relations with your neighbors. Additionally, I suggest that if you’re up early and eager to start gardening, you should start with less noisy gardening tasks other than lawn mowing.
Conclusion:
While there are no rules in the UK that specifically specify when you can mow your lawn, municipalities can look into complaints of excessive noise made between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. under the Environmental Protection Act of 1990. Mowing your lawn before 7 am is usually frowned upon due to noise pollution, and councils have the authority to issue warnings or fines if complaints are made repeatedly.
To be mindful of your neighbors, particularly those who have small children or are entertaining, I advise mowing before 6 or 7 p.m. To protect the grass, which may be damp in the morning, and to avoid upsetting neighbors, it is advisable to begin lawn mowing as early as 8 a.m. on weekdays and 9 or 10 a.m. on weekends. Therefore, if you get up early, you can do quieter gardening chores like watering or pruning before cutting the lawn.
