[Redland1]

Trying to figure out what the ideal HOC for my lawn with a rotary would be.I want it to be nicer than the neighbors lawns but don't want to cut it more than twice a week not because I'm lazy but just because I am pretty tied up with business.Also I don't want to level,or go reel low.So I guess what I am trying to get at is at what height will the lawn look better than the rest without having to cut more than twice a week and still be low enough where it looks good to anyone outside of the reel low community?

I will still be fertilizing monthly at 1bs-2lbs N per 1k.

 

[Cheesetoast]

Under 2"

 

[Alan]

Under 2"

+1

At least, if possible.

This was cut today with a rotary, but as low as my setting would allow and a blade lowering hack(washers between the blade and the engine axle to lower the blade some). I would say this is at about an 1" or so. Reel is out of service at the moment-waiting on parts.

https://postimg.cc/image/96i8ja5xn/

 

[Redtenchu]

A PGR will also help.

 

[Redland1]

It's scalping areas on the Honda's 1- 1/8" setting.



This is just before I cut it with no scalping showing.

 

[Redland1]

And this is the Latitude 36 at 1 3/4" setting.Its scalping and leaving crop circles lol.

 

[Redland1]

Under 2"

+1

At least, if possible.

This was cut today with a rotary, but as low as my setting would allow and a blade lowering hack(washers between the blade and the engine axle to lower the blade some). I would say this is at about an 1" or so. Reel is out of service at the moment-waiting on parts.

https://postimg.cc/image/96i8ja5xn/

It looks great.Your home and property are very nice and I can't wait for the day that I can find a home with some land to get out of suburbia.What state are you in?

 

[Redland1]

I'm going to try cutting at 1 3/4" this time to see if it doesn't scalp if it does the next height above that is 2 1/2.

 

[Ral1121]

If you do some sand leveling, it would make it a little easier to cut using a rotary. Those scalped circles are from areas where the ground is un even and a wheel falls into a low area

 

[Redland1]

If you do some sand leveling, it would make it a little easier to cut using a rotary. Those scalped circles are from areas where the ground is un even and a wheel falls into a low area

My yard has a lot of uneven ground.It looks like they built the homes around here on hills.So it might take a sh*t load of sand to level.

 

[Ral1121]

I have the same problem. It is a multi-year project. You will be surprised how much better it gets after a couple sandings

 

[Redland1]

Just cut the Latitude 36 at 1 3/4" and it scalped like crazy.It was dark green before the cut.



The Tif 419 did not scalp at that height.

 

[DC3]

I'm at .75" and I bag. Get about 2 mows a week, but I have top dressed 2 times... And about to sand. It's beautiful, but a lot without pgr (currently), and a lot with as much fert as I'm throwing down.

I'd mess with the height. Keep cutting lower (1/3 rule) until your scalping is excessive, then raise it a notch. $0.02

 

[Bunnysarefat]

I've seen bermuda at 3 inches that looked great. It can look good at many heights. IMO the problem when you start going taller is that you can't have bermuda at 3 inches look great for very long, maybe a month or two then it gets a little weird. You're just not going to get 6 great looking months out a your bermuda lawn at such a high HOC. This is just my opinion based off my observations.

I'd say just cut it, if it scalps then let it grow out and try again on the next notch up until it doesn't scalp then keep it there and no higher.

 

[Redland1]

I've seen bermuda at 3 inches that looked great. It can look good at many heights. IMO the problem when you start going taller is that you can't have bermuda at 3 inches look great for very long, maybe a month or two then it gets a little weird. You're just not going to get 6 great looking months out a your bermuda lawn at such a high HOC. This is just my opinion based off my observations.

I'd say just cut it, if it scalps then let it grow out and try again on the next notch up until it doesn't scalp then keep it there and no higher.

That's what I'm going to end up doing.Hopefully it won't scalp at 2 1/2".Wish the next notch up was 2" though.

 

[tnbison]

Rotary at around 1.25" Definitely scalps in areas though. One of these days I'll level with sand.

 

[fp_911]

I had to mow with my rotary all season until this past weekend. Here is a shot from ten days ago at 3/4" which is the lowest the Honda HRX217 will go. I wouldn't recommend going this low unless your yard is pretty flat though. I still get some scalp marks here and there but I know where the low spots are and mow them in a way where it minimizes the damage. Thankfully my reel mower is back in action again so I'll be mowing at 0.5" from this point forward.

 

[Redland1]

Rotary at around 1.25" Definitely scalps in areas though. One of these days I'll level with sand.

Your lawn looks awesome at that height.How often are you mowing?

 

[Redland1]

I had to mow with my rotary all season until this past weekend. Here is a shot from ten days ago at 3/4" which is the lowest the Honda HRX217 will go. I wouldn't recommend going this low unless your yard is pretty flat though. I still get some scalp marks here and there but I know where the low spots are and mow them in a way where it minimizes the damage. Thankfully my reel mower is back in action again so I'll be mowing at 0.5" from this point forward.

The cut looks great at that height with the rotary.

 

[SCGrassMan]

Keep in mind if you keep cutting at the same height it will adapt and stop looking scalped eventually. A lot of folks with Bermuda scalp it to the dirt in the spring and then even when cutting at 0.5" there's no scalping showing.