Lawn scalping strikes fear into the hearts of many tall-grass-loving homeowners. But there are times when scalping will promote the health of your lawn. Before you set your mower at its lowest setting, learn more about what scalping is and when it can encourage healthy growth in your lawn.<\/p>
To scalp a lawn<\/a> is to remove more than one-third of the grass blade per mow. <\/p> If you mow your lawn regularly, scalping shouldn\u2019t be an issue since you\u2019ll remove only a small portion of the blade each time you mow. However, there are times when rain, vacations, or the busyness of life gets in the way and we skip a mow.<\/p> In most cases, scalping the lawn is not ideal. Why? You may have heard of the One-Third Rule of Mowing<\/a>. This oft-repeated rule states that you should cut no more than one-third of the grass blade per mow. Following this practice reduces unnecessary stress on the grass plant and roots and promotes a healthier lawn.<\/p> Scalping the lawn is a specialized technique that should not<\/strong> be used regularly. However, there are a few instances in which this technique can be useful:<\/p> Scalp bermuda or Zoysia lawns<\/a> in early spring before<\/strong> they come out of winter dormancy. Scalping will remove dead grass, buildup, thatch, and debris and help the soil to warm up faster. Faster soil warm-up means the green, new growth will occur sooner rather than later (and make your neighbors jealous).<\/p> So, what do you do with all of that crunchy, brown lawn debris? This is one of those rare occasions when you should bag your clippings<\/strong> (unless they\u2019ve been sprayed). But don\u2019t send them to the landfill. Add them to your compost pile, ornamental beds, or consider other options to get rid of your grass clippings<\/a>.<\/p> If your Zoysia lawn has not entered into a fully dormant state over the winter, get local advice. The extra stress on the lawn may not promote a healthy green-up as it would if it were fully dormant. <\/p> So, how low should you scalp your lawn in spring<\/strong>? A general rule is to cut warm-season grasses from \u00bd-inch to 1-inch tall<\/a> to promote a healthy spring green-up. Once the new grass grows in, cut it at the proper height for your grass type.<\/p> Scalping your Zoysia or bermuda lawn while it is dormant facilitates a stronger, more expedient green-up for your lawn. <\/p> Note on cool-season lawns:<\/strong> It is not<\/strong> recommended to scalp cool-season lawns. Cool-season lawns do not respond well to spring scalping as bermuda and Zoysia do. Scalping a cool season lawn<\/a> will encourage weeds and reduce the density and quality of the grass.<\/p> Lawn renovation<\/a> (replacing a large portion of the lawn or the entire lawn) usually involves removing most of the existing grass as a first step. You may use chemicals or fire to kill the grass completely or choose only to kill the weeds. <\/p> In either case, once the unwanted plants are dead, scalp the lawn (and bag the clippings) as the first step in the renovation process. <\/p> Next steps usually include using a dethatcher<\/a>, verticutter, power rake, or aerator<\/a> to remove thatch or further debris. Once all unwanted vegetation and debris are removed, you should have ideal seed to soil contact when you plant the seed<\/a>. <\/p> Scalping the lawn as part of a renovation is done with both cool-season<\/a> and warm-season<\/a> grasses.<\/p> Consider the pros, cons, and risks before you scalp your lawn.<\/p> \u2713 Allows more sunlight to reach the soil<\/strong>, which means faster green-up \u2717 May have to rent specialized equipment<\/strong> (like a reel mower) In general, grasses that spread by stolons are not suited for lawn scalping<\/strong>. This practice causes too much stress on these grasses: Zoysia and bermuda, both of which are warm-season grasses, are suited for scalping before spring green-up. These two grass types spread by stolons (above-ground stems) and<\/strong> rhizomes (below-ground stems).\u00a0 For most of the year, you\u2019ll want to avoid scalping your lawn. Here are a few tips to prevent an uneven, brown lawn throughout the growing season: If you\u2019d rather leave the hassle and debris to someone else, contact one of our <\/em>local lawn care pros<\/em><\/a>. They\u2019ll get your early spring lawn ready for the growing season.<\/em><\/p> When should you scalp a lawn?<\/span><\/h2>
Before spring green-up (warm-season grasses)<\/span><\/h3>
Lawn renovation<\/span><\/h3>
Pros and cons of scalping a lawn<\/span><\/h2>
Pros of scalping a lawn<\/span><\/h3>
\u2713 Removes dead grass blades and debris<\/strong> before the new grass grows in
\u2713 A natural way to encourage healthier grass<\/strong> (no chemicals)
\u2713 Creates better seed to soil contact<\/strong> for new grass seed
\u2713 Decreases the likelihood of erosion<\/strong> while the new grass grows in
\u2713 Reduces thatch levels<\/strong><\/p> Cons of scalping a lawn<\/span><\/h3>
\u2717 Timing needs to be correct<\/strong> for spring scalping or putting down new grass seed
\u2717 Creates a large volume of debris<\/strong>
\u2717 Scalping is labor-intensive<\/strong> \u2014 several passes with the lawn mower and hauling debris
\u2717 Can be costly to renovate a lawn<\/strong> (time, equipment rental, seed, fertilizer, soil amendments)<\/p> FAQ about scalping a lawn<\/span><\/h2>