Around here...Charlotte, NC...they recommend scalping and sanding as soon as the Bermuda greens up...

 

I would wait until you are about 80-100% green by that time you should still be able to give it one good scalp before the sanding and ensure a quick grow through. I think it's still a little too early to start sanding but then again it is bermuda and will probably recover regardless what you do I usually plan my scalping around Memorial Day but plan on doing it much sooner this year, just waiting for it to get mostly green.

 

Between now and Memorial day are you just cutting it around what you left it at last season, prior to your scalp?

 

Thanks for reply’s, I think around 80% is a good spot. Scalping again then won’t be too bad. I’m scalping in stages this year rather than trying to knock it all out in a weekend like previous years. Down from around 1.25 to about 1/2” now after 5 mows over last 3 weeks. I figure 2-3 more mows, alternating directions will get it sub 1/4” where I want it.

 

July/August is fine to aerate and sand, but not ideal imo. Sweet spot for me is around Memorial weekend since it's not blistering hot yet and will give the lawn enough time to peak around the 4th.

 

NC here. I did a level around April 21st last year, and it was perfect. I am going to shoot for about the same time again this year.

 

I’m thinking about doing some sanding early this year too. Especially while it’s cooler than June and July, but the higher amounts of rain we see earlier in spring will help settle it in and get some growth.

 

I did mine on April 19th, and it was mostly filled in a few weeks later. Weather always plays a factor, but in my opinion, this is the best time in NC to do a level. It's not as hot, and the yard will look beautiful by the prime summer months when you want to enjoy it.

 

I sanded mine last week. I sprigged last year so cut it down to 1/8" and did about 1 ton per 3k sqft. Spreading the sand was super easy and it got into all the low spots, the surface is incredibly smooth now. The 1/8" scalp was very hard on the turf and I'd expect it to take a while to fill in again. I'll try to level again on May 1st and July 1st.

 

Nice!

 

For completeness, my March 1st scalp and sand grew back fine, picture below, so I went for round 2 this weekend:

 

For completeness, my March 1st scalp and sand grew back fine, picture below, so I went for round 2 this weekend:
View attachment 8770

I see a spreader in the background... what did you actually use to spread the sand?

 

To clarify - are you all just doing sand at your spring scalp or are some of you scalping, waiting a month or two and then scalping again around Memorial Day to sand level?

 

I was intentionally sanding after a hard scalp to make it easier for sand to spread out. I feel like too many folks cake sand on high grass which doesn't allow it to spread out and fill the low spots as needed.

When I did it this weekend, I went fro 0.25" hoc to 0.18" and applied about 0.12" worth of sand. It was trivial to spread out and the surface feels fantastic. I couldn't imagine doing this mid summer. I'll probably do the same thing May 1st.

 

I am too old to sand in July--its now a march project. I did once in July and said never again. Much happier. I think aerating helps.