Survey: 250 homeowners share when they mow and why

Survey: 250 homeowners share when they mow and whyIt's 7 a.m. The roar of a mower's engine steadily drowns out the faint whispers of a sound machine. Ugh, Bob's mowing at seven? It's Saturday, is the first thought. 

"Alexa, what's the temperature today?" 

"Good morning," Alexa begins. "Right now, it's 85 degrees Fahrenheit with a high of 100 degrees." 

Okay, Bob, you get a pass ... guess I should mow, too.

The scenario above provides a narrative summary of some of the responses we heard when we asked 250 homeowners what time of day they mow and why. 

Those living in the hottest parts of the nation, where temperatures can maintain in the 80s throughout the night and then march toward triple digits as the sun comes back around, were more understanding of an early morning mower. 

Others despise anyone who mows before 8 a.m. 

"I work night shifts," one respondent wrote. "I've only got a couple of hours at best before one of my neighbors is mowing their lawn on any given day right outside our bedroom. I've moved to a back room so I hear it less, and I blast a sound machine. I'm lucky. Not everyone has the spare space." 

Key Statistics

Many homeowners mow after 8 a.m. to be considerate of their neighbors

According to our survey, most mowers waited until later to mow to respect their neighbors. Many mentioned that 8 a.m. on a weekday and 9 a.m. on the weekend were acceptable times to mow their yard. 

Approximately 11 million adults work during the night shift, counted as logging hours between 1 and 5 a.m. That's 7.4 percent of the workforce. 

The National Association of Home Builders found that the median number of housing units in a subdivision is 50, while the average subdivision sits on 25 acres. All this to say, there are likely to be a few night shift workers in each neighborhood. 

Many more are thinking of the close proximity of their home to their neighbors. In a typical neighborhood allowing only single-family detached homes, about three homes occupy the same acre. 

Lots are close. 

Many mowers remain aware of such things and hold off. Others cited their busy schedules, and that they mow when they can. Not out of any ill intent, just necessity. 

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Related: Homeowners share why they mow themselves or hire a pro

Many respondents say high temperatures are why they start mowing before 8 a.m.

For many homeowners, the temperatures in their region are why they decide to mow early in the morning. The average temperature in Texas last summer was 85.3 degrees, with an average daily high at 98.3 degrees. Many other states also see uncomfortable temperatures throughout the night and dangerously high temperatures maintained during the day. 

Mowing before 8 a.m., for these respondents, stems from maintaining a level of personal safety. Mowing in the summer months increases the risks of heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, which is a medical emergency.  For many of these homeowners, their lawns will adapt to the heat and no longer require mowing, and doing so could hurt the turf. 

Homeowners should not only look after their well-being and avoid the dangers heat can cause but there are also a few ways they can look out for their lawns as well: 

1. Try to mow when the temperatures are cooler, such as in the early morning or late evening. The heat also stresses turf, so choosing a cooler time may help. 

2. Raise the height of the blade on the mower to reduce the stress on grass blades.

3. Water the grass thoroughly after mowing to help cool the grass and prevent it from wilting.

4. New lawns should not be mowed when temperatures are above 70-degrees. 

Some grass does better in heat. They are drought-resistant. And there are those that homeowners should avoid mowing during extreme temperatures. 

Knowing such information can make the difference between maintaining a healthy lawn and causing severe long-term issues. Here are some of the grasses to be mindful of and avoid cutting if it gets too hot: 

The optimal time to mow to keep a yard healthy

While many respondents had to mow at certain times based on their schedules and the temperature, there are optimal times to mow. The exact times might differ slightly based on regional climate and time of year, but the following information provides a solid foundation for homeowners looking for the best times to mow:

• Early morning mowing is perhaps the worst time to mow. The morning dew will likely be covering the grass. This can make it hard on a mower and cause the grass to be cut poorly, which can tear it. When wet grass is exposed and harmed, it provides the perfect entryway for disease and fungi to infect grass — a bad combination. 

• Most professionals agree that mid-morning is the optimum time to mow the lawn. The reason is that the lawn needs time to heal before the evening. The theory is that if your grass is cut when the lawn is too hot, it may burn the grass. 

• Though it is generally safe to mow your lawn midday, it is not optimal. Besides working during one of the hottest parts of the day, it will stress out the turf. But, so long as it is a regular cut, and you aren't cutting more than the top third of the grass, you should be safe. 

• The afternoon is the second best time of day to cut your lawn. If you can't get out in the morning and don't want to risk burning your lawn, the late afternoon can be a great time to mow your lawn.

• Cutting your lawn too late in the day is just as bad as mowing too early. As night settles in, so does the dew, which could expose the grass to disease and fungal infections.

Homeowners with electric mowers say their quieter equipment allows them to mow whenever

Let's compare: the decibels produced by a gas-powered mower are comparable with a motorcycle (95 decibels), while electric mowers make about the same noise as a washing machine (75 decibels) — a big difference. 

That's why homeowners with electric lawnmowers say they can mow whenever they want without disturbing their neighbors. Respondents with electric mowers said they mowed at 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. with no concerns or disgruntled neighbors. 

The electric lawn mower owners listed a few other reasons why they like their mower besides how quiet they are: 

• Easier to maintain 

• More convenient for storage

• Not having to store gas 

• No smell, no fumes

• Batteries work with other tools

Quick Summary

We asked 250 homeowners when they mow their lawns and why. Many homeowners mow after 8 a.m. out of courtesy to their neighbors, while several other respondents mentioned high temperatures forced them to mow earlier than 8 a.m.

Homeowners with electrical lawnmowers felt they could mow any time, day or night, since their quiet equipment would not disturb others.