Do you mow your grass after dark?

United States
August 18, 2007 8:51pm CST
I'm not kidding when I say this, but our next door neighbor is cutting his grass in the dark. Actually, right now, he's next door mowing the grass and it is pitch black outside, almost ten PM! And, except for a tiny back porch light, I'm pretty sure there's no other lights out. Unless you count moon light. Can you believe it! I'm sure he'll get lots of complaints from the other neighbors (not me, I'm a live and let live type of person). I'm surprised someone hasn't called the police yet. Though I guess he's not causing any harm by cutting his grass so late in the evening. I'm just surprised anyone would want to cut grass by the light of the back porch. Have you ever heard of someone cutting their grass after dark? Have you ever done that?
4 people like this
20 responses
@AmbiePam (85559)
• United States
19 Aug 07
The only reason I can think of that he would do it is if he is paying attention to the Ozone Alert Day. It is supposed to be better environmentally to not mow during the day, and I know this week a lot of place have had Ozone Alert days where they especially are cautioned against doing things like that during the day.
• United States
19 Aug 07
Are you kidding me? That would totally explain it then. Cause it's like living in the desert here. Except that it rains all the time and is perpetually hot year round. So, I am certain we would have some Ozone alert days. Hmmm! Well, that is definitely a new one for me.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85559)
• United States
19 Aug 07
Personally, I wouldn't care if it was Ozone Alert day. I would not be able to do that in the dark. But I know a lot of people really pay attention to that because they even announce it on the local news and sometimes the main network news. I don't really know if it helps any.
2 people like this
• United States
19 Aug 07
You know I was talking about that with my spouse this morning and he couldn't figure it out either. I just thought they meant a person was supposed to mow their lawn after the sun went down, but just before sunset, not literally after dark. That way you could still see, but there wouldn't be so many environmental issues. I hope someone clarifies this one eventually! Doesn't matter either way. My lawn mower is broken anyway! I have to hire someone to do the grass usually, so it's not something I ever have to worry about.
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
19 Aug 07
Do you live in Ashton Estates? LOL It could be me mowing. Our riding mower came with lights. So it was meant to be. Yes I have mowed after dark. You have to when you own a company. It is a flower bed installation and maintenance company. We mow for some people but it pays significantly less. So I have to work a longer day to do it. Sometimes it gets a little dark toward the end.
• United States
19 Aug 07
That's too funny! Well, I guess it could be you! Not sure what they call this place, just a regular neighborhood. But, then again, I'm the last to know about this kind of stuff.
@cikedo (3483)
• United States
19 Aug 07
My step-dad cuts the grass in the late afternoon once the sun isn't at its highest. Cutting the grass in the dark can be dangerous. You might run over something that shouldn't be there like a rock or something metal and if it goes flying someone may get hurt.
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Aug 07
I personally have never mowed my lawn after dark but I do know of someone who does. First of all, I live on a farm and live in a farming community so it is probably a big difference than where you are. The man I know that cuts his grass after dark is a hay farmer and he says he cuts it after dark because when the sun comes up in the morning it dries all the grass at the same time so his hay has been dried evenly and when it is baled, there aren't any damp areas of the grass. Why your neighbor is mowing his after dark is beyond me! I can understand not wanting to do that in the heat of the day but not so late!
2 people like this
@nonew3 (1941)
• United States
19 Aug 07
Because I live in an apartment complex, I don't have any grass to mow. Whoever is the grounds keeper, does that for those who live here. And, there are noise ordinance laws here that are strictly enforced in this area.
• United States
19 Aug 07
I've never cut my grass at night but here in Delaware its not rare to see people do it even though its not that hot during the day.
1 person likes this
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
19 Aug 07
I don't have a house, but based on how hot it has been around here lately, if I had a house, I might be doing it in the dark! Maybe not at 10pm, but in the dark. Even in the wee hours of the morning it has been over 90 degrees outside, much to hot to mow a lawn.
1 person likes this
@shelagh77 (3643)
19 Aug 07
Well, I am considered to be fairly crazy but I wouldn't do that. Maybe he had been nagged into exasperation and decided he would mow the wretched lawn to shut somebody up from telling him to do it? I am surprised nobody complained, too, since as you know that seems to be the prime entertainment of the lives of some people, rather than having a giggle at the odd behaviour as you did they like to cause trouble. I would not be too happy if someone made a habit of mowing their lawn late at night but it would depend on circumstances whether I got mad. There are some people who deliberately set out to annoy, and they eventually manage it . . . Have you spoken to him since he cut the grass? Is he OK now?
1 person likes this
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
19 Aug 07
Nope. But I've only cut grass as a teenager at my parents' place, and they'd never let me cut the grass that late.
1 person likes this
@royal52gens (5488)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I cut my grass after dark. So do my neighbors. Of course, all of us have tractors with lights. Why bother having lights if you are not going to use them??? When you have acres of land to mow, it is not uncommon to run out of daylight. The farmers around here plow the fields at night also. It is cooler and easier on the engines. The engines don't overheat as often. Many farms run 24 hours a day. They have to in order to make any money these days. In the winter, plowing snow from the roads and driveways is done at night because there is no traffic to contend with. I hope some of this helps you to understand why some people mow after dark.
• United States
19 Aug 07
P.S. What would you rather wake up to: a shaggy lawn or a neatly trimmed lawn???
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
19 Aug 07
hm, that seems rather odd...is there enough light where he can see what he is actually doing? mowing the grass in the dark (i think) would lead to mishaps...it cant be the safest (or the smartest) thing to do eh?
1 person likes this
• United States
19 Aug 07
It happens in my neighborhood a lot during hot spells. Either very early in the morning or after dark. I can't blame them. I've heard mowers going up until 9:00 or so. I think the latest I've ever mown a lawn was around 8:00 pm, just before it gets really dark.
1 person likes this
@Nardz13 (5055)
• New Zealand
19 Aug 07
Hi. Actually I believe you when you say your neighbour was cutting his grass in the dark, because in the past we also experienced our stoned neighbour mowing her lawns in the dark, which made us all peep and think what was she on lol... When we woke up the next morning she had streaks all through her lawns, they were not cut properly at all and she wouldnt come outside to fix them up lol... She was probably too embarrassed lol... That night turned into a funny day back them...
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
19 Aug 07
That's so strange because just the other night I suddenly heard a lawnmower and it was my next door neighbor mowing his lawn after dark. I don't know why he did it, we don't have ozone alert days and although we had some hot days, we also had some cool weather coming up (yesterday was like fall). I thought it was strange, but then these neighbors are strange. I just put it down to one more strange thing about them.
1 person likes this
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
22 Sep 07
Maybe it’s the only time he has to do it- Or is it super hot out during the day?? some people think mowing in the heat kills the grass—which it does- I have never mowed real late- but we normally mow in the evenings- after dinner time- it’s cooler.
• United States
19 Aug 07
Typically I don't, but I have before in the past. The summers get very hot here, often about 100 degrees, and night is the only time where it dips below 90. Otherwise, it's just too damn hot out there.
@brendakaya (2332)
• United States
19 Aug 07
We live in the country, and my husband does mow after dark sometimes. Our mower has lights on it, so he can see ahead of him. It's not as hard on him, since it's a little cooler then. It's not unusual around here.
@DanaMark (807)
• United States
19 Aug 07
I've finished mowing when it is getting almost dark, but I don't plan on it. There was a big storm coming the next day and I couldn't get to it until late. It was already pretty long and I didn't want to wait. Otherwise, I like to mow in the morning when it is not so blazing hot!
@lburns70 (182)
• United States
20 Aug 07
I have. Actually the other night I started when it was light but it got dark quickly. My mower has a light on it so I could see some but I didnt mow too much later after that. I was probably around 9 or 930. It has been so hot here that it was cool enough to mow in the dark.
• United States
19 Aug 07
It's actually good for the lawn. It won't burn like it will if you do it in the early day. I do it in the morning anyway since it's the most convent. But I can believe but you should probably do it earlier than 10. Maybe 7 or 8.