[kur1j]

I mowed Saturday. I have been mowing every 3 days. It has not really stopped sprinkling/raining for 3 days and it's expected to rain for the next 2-3 days. Ground is super soggy and wet currently.

How big of problem will this be? I would have mowed early but it hasn't stopped raining. How much of a risk do I have for the bermuda to start growing brown "legs" where I would have to rescalp?

 

[RaginCajun]

Just wondering why you'd have to rescalp? As soon as it starts to dry id cut high, then lower a couple days after that and so on until you get back to the original height.

 

[raldridge2315]

I disagree with the "cut it down a little at a time theory." I think that scalping back to the normal cutting height it is the way to go. It will recover in about the same amount of time with no damage to the grass --- no lawn mower ever, I repeat, ever killed bermuda grass. I will look bad for a few days, but fertilizer, water, and sunshine will fix that.

 

[kur1j]

@raldridge2315 Yeah, but wouldn't you need to scalp below the old brown crowns if they started to brown in you? When does that normally take place?

 

[raldridge2315]

Actually, in the past, I've taken it back to the normal height and maintained that cut. New growth comes from the stolons and rhizomes and not the stems. There is something to be said for going slightly lower than the normal cutting height. But I think it' has more to do with appearance as the old (brown) stems will be below the new growth height. I have gone !/8" below in the past also., but after a couple of weeks, I don't see a lot of difference.

 

[Redtenchu]

@kur1j your JD 220 shouldn't have any issues mowing in wet conditions if you have a short delay in rainfall. I would avoid standing water, but I often mow when the grass is still wet (make gentle turns). The mower's drum over wet ground will assist with flattening high spots. The mower WILL be covered in wet damp grass, but if you take a garden hose to it immediately after mowing will clean your reel amazingly well (dry it thoroughly).

 

[raldridge2315]

From the future radar presentation, it looks like the center of Alberto will pass west of the Huntsville/Madison/Decatur area. Unfortunately. that puts us on the east side of it with long lasting rain.

 

[Spammage]

@raldridge2315 Yeah, but wouldn't you need to scalp below the old brown crowns if they started to brown in you? When does that normally take place?

If it grows long enough to begin browning this year's new growth, then yes, you will have to scalp it down again. I doubt that will happen though unless you go 12-14 days without mowing. I would start at your existing cut height and see what happens. If you notice a small "scalping", then plan on either raising the cut height or scalping deeper to correct.

 

[kur1j]

@Redtenchu Thanks. I was going to try mowing yesterday if it cleared up any but it sprinkled all day long. I think it finally stopped raining at 7-8PM and by then was too late to mow.

Good to know that there shouldn't be any issues mowing in the rain though.

@Spammage thanks. Yeah i plan on trying to cut if i can earlier then than that.

I have some lighter colored places where the grass hasn't really thickened up yet from my original scalp. The biggest pain is the bagging of the clippings when it gets out of hand and having to rescalp. This whole year has been messy and annoying for doing anything in my yard this year it seems from leveling to excessive rain etc.

 

[Thor865]

@Redtenchu do you recommend collecting clippings when mowing wet grass? I have a GTC and have used that before to help disperse clippings and leave it in the up position. Still have gotten clumps before

 

[Redtenchu]

@Redtenchu do you recommend collecting clippings when mowing wet grass? I have a GTC and have used that before to help disperse clippings and leave it in the up position. Still have gotten clumps before

I tried to collect wet clippings once, but my deflectors are not set up for it and very little reached the collection bin. In the case of the OP, I would rather have grass clumping on the lawn to deal with over the potential of needing to scalp.

 

[J_nick]

As long as there's no standing water go ahead and mow in the rain. It will confirm your neighbors suspicions that you are lawn crazy. I've done it and the mower may look like Chewbacca afterwards but nothing a garden hose won't fix.