Find Out the Best Time to Mow Your Lawn

The Best Time to Mow Your Lawn Takeaways

• The best time to mow your lawn is in the mid morning (8-10am), followed by late afternoon (4-6pm)
• Choosing the right time for lawn mowing will ensure your grass remains healthy and strong
• Lawn mowing at night or too early can be disruptive to neighbours due to noise levels
• Stay of the grass, clean up any clumps, and water your lawn after mowing to ensure optimal grass health
• Healthy grass is more resistant to disease, pests, and extreme weather conditions.
• Depending on your city’s noise restrictions, you may not use any lawn power tools before 7-8am on weekends and 8-9am on weekends and holidays

What Time Can I Mow My Lawn?

Your grass creeps ever so slightly upwards each day, until one morning you wake up and it’s time to mow the lawn again. The sun is out and there’s a warm breeze in the air, so you head outside to start your lawn care routine. But then you stop and wonder – what time can I mow my lawn?

There are various factors to consider when choosing the best time to mow your lawn. Choosing the right time affects the growth and health of your home’s greenery, so it’s important to be mindful of when you mow.

Beyond grass health, you have to remember that each community has lawn-mowing regulations to minimise public disturbance. Lawn mowers have noisy engines (unless you have a robotic model) and if it’s dark outside, you’re potentially putting others at risk.

With grass health and community regulations to consider, how do you know when to mow your lawn? But fortunately, we’ve put together a guide on the subject to make your life a little easier.

Very Early Morning: 5-8 AM

The “5 am club” is a popular self-help trend that involves waking up early to get a head start on the day. However, while you can get a lot done, it’s not the best time to do your lawn-mowing chores. 

Early in the day, your grass is damp with morning dew. When grass is cut wet, it is going to rip, bruise, or gather in clumps, slowing the healing process longer. Your lawn is also more likely to mat, making it ripe for fungus and mould to spore.

It won’t just be your grass at risk, but your lawn equipment too. Wet grass early in the morning can clog your mower engine, negatively affecting its components. It also makes the lawn slippery which can slow you down, make it harder to move up an incline, and increase the chances of you having an accident.

Additionally, don’t forget some ordinances forbid residents to mow their grass before 8 am. This is due to the noise factor – no one wants to be woken up by the sound of a lawn mower at 5 am on a Saturday. Even lawn professionals are only allowed to start working after 7 or 8 am on weekdays. 

Mid-Morning: 8-10 AM

8 to 10 am or mid-morning is the best time for you to mow your lawn. During this time, the grass is standing high after drying up from the morning dew and puts your lawn in good stead for an even trim. 

Furthermore, your neighbours are likely awake, so you won’t have to worry about disturbing them with your lawn mower noise. It’s also right before the day’s hottest time, so you won’t have to worry about heat stroke or dehydration.

Mid-Day: 10 AM-2 PM

Remember that photosynthesis lesson from your 5th grade science class? Your grass starts the process of photosynthesis – converting sunlight into food – as soon as the sun comes out. The peak time for photosynthesis is midday, making it the worst time to mow your lawn. If you interrupt this process by cutting the grass, you’re compromising its growth and overall health. 

Even if everyone is fully awake and about their day, the heat can take a toll on you. The sunny weather means there’s a higher risk of dehydration, leading to heat exhaustion and heatstroke. If possible, wait until the late afternoon or early evening to avoid the midday sun.

Mid-Afternoon: 2-4 PM 

Even though mid-afternoon is not as hot as mid-day, your grass can still be damaged by heat and water supply disturbance. Although it’s tempting to bust out the mower since your neighbours are still in the office, we still recommend that you avoid mowing your lawn at this time. 

If you do trim your lawn at this time, just be mindful of kids playing outside or people taking a post-lunch stroll. Because it’s not as hot, and school has let out for the day, this is a busy time for people to be outside.

Later Afternoon: 4-6 PM

As the heat has gradually subsided, the late afternoon is the second best time to mow your lawn. The grass has had time to recover from the harsh midday sun and is more resilient to being cut. 

Like mid-afternoon, you’ll still want to watch out for kids playing and nearby animals scurrying nearby. Late afternoon is also when people are getting home from work, so be considerate of your neighbours by not making too much noise.

Early Evening: 6-8 PM

Since you couldn’t mow your lawn in the afternoon’s high heat levels, it’s forgivable to assume that the evening would be an ideal time. Unfortunately, there are downfalls to a grass-cutting session after hours. 

Ironically, because of the cooler temperatures, spores from mould and fungus can spread. Cutting your lawn when it’s cooler at night could infest your lawn with mushrooms in the long run. 

Furthemore, you’re hampered by the lack of light, making it more difficult (and dangerous) to see what you’re doing. Ideally, wrap up your mowing session before it gets too late.

Post-Lawn Mowing

After mowing your lawn, try to keep off the grass so your plants can recover from the day’s trim. You also need to clean up any large clumps and other debris so each grass patch gets a good amount of sun.

Lastly, it helps to water your lawn a little bit more than usual after your mowing session. The combination of heat and being cut will dry out your lawn quickly, so give it a good drink to prevent any brown patches. Meanwhile, here’s how to keep your lawn in tip-top condition.

By following these simple tips, you can keep your lawn looking great all summer long!

Frequently Asked Questions

What time am I not allowed to mow my lawn?

While each city has different bylaws, most do not allow lawn mowing or the use of any powered garden tools before 7 or 8am on weekdays. These noise restriction rules are intended to minimise disturbing sleeping neighbours. Mowing any time after 8pm is also generally frowned upon as your lawnmower noise can be disruptive.

What time can you mow your lawn on a Sunday?

On weekends and public holidays, it’s not just your lawn mower that’s not allowed to make noise – it’s other power tools too, including leaf blowers and trimmers. 

Again, your local council enforces these rules to avoid disturbing others who may be sleeping. And because most take the weekend off from work, starting hours to use all electric power tools are generally pushed later at 8 to 9am.

Here is a rundown of each Australian state and their respective noise restriction times:

South Australia

Monday – Saturday – 8am to 8pm 

Sunday – 9am to 8pm 

Queensland

Monday to Saturday – 7am to 7pm

Sunday and Public Holidays – 8am to 7pm

Victoria

Monday to Friday – 7am to 8pm 

Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays – 9am to 8pm 

Australian Capital City

Monday to Friday – 7am to 8pm 

Sunday and Public Holidays – 8am to 8pm 

New South Wales

Monday to Saturday – 7am to 8pm

Sunday and Public Holidays – 8am to 8pm 

Tasmania

Friday – 7am to 8pm

Saturday – 9am – 8pm 

Sunday – 10am – 8pm 

West Australia

Monday to Saturday – 7am to 7pm 

Sunday and Public Holidays – 9am to 7pm 

Northern Territory

Monday to Saturday – 7am to 7pm

Sunday and Public Holidays – 9am to 6pm

Why is Grass Health Important?

Aside from the aesthetic value of a well-manicured lawn, ensuring optimal grass health is important for various reasons. For one, a healthy lawn is more resistant to disease, pests, and extreme weather conditions. 

Furthermore, grass that is cut too short weakens its roots and slows down its development. This is because not enough sunlight is able to reach the blades, preventing photosynthesis from occurring. As a result, your grass will be more susceptible to damage and will take longer to grow.

Where Can I Find My Australian City Ordinances?

You can either go to your town or city hall and ask in-person, or look online on your city website. Your council should have a page with all of the bylaws and ordinances for your city.

Final Thoughts

After a long day’s work in the office, getting into the garden to mow your lawn can be therapeutic and calming. However, it’s important to know the best time to mow your lawn so you don’t end up damaging it.

If you cannot fit your lawn mowing session in between 8-10am, simply choose the next best time – late afternoon or early evening. Just be cautious not to mow too late at night as any power tool noise can disturb your neighbours. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy the process!

Let Sidepost’s Lawn Mowing Professionals Take Care of Your Lawn

If you want to keep your lawn pristine in the most convenient, hassle-free way possible, then sign up for Sidepost’s lawn mowing service. We will take care of everything for you, mowing your lawn within your prefered time slot without going ahead with community guidelines.

Contact us today at 1300 138 499 or book online! We’ll connect you to our local lawn care professional in Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, Hobart, and Brisbane and who will give you a free, no-obligation quote!