[kur1j]

So is it normal to start scalping as the growing year progresses?

I scalped at .3, started maintaining at .5", was hitting dirt in a lot of places continually so i raised it up to .6 and been maintaining for the past 1.5 months or so at that HoC as I haven't been able to level.

It was looking really good at .6 but now I am seeing some yellowing and what I feel is some scalping. After a day or so of growth it seems to be less noticeable (which is why i feel its scslping).

So is it normal to have to rescalp through the growing year?! I don't feel I let it get to long. It never went longer than 4 days between moes since I scalped (except the 6-8 days immediately after the scalp).

 

[dtillman5]

I'm not sure, but my 419 Bermuda in Huntsville is being cut every other day to maintain my HOC. With all the rain, and heat we have had the grass is growing like wildfire. I could let it go 3 days and still maintain or be close to 1/3 rule, but it would be maxed out with 1/3 or more blade cut off at 3 days. Obviously everyone's grass, soil, and N inputs are different so mine could just be growing faster because of N input earlier in the season. I'm about to put my first application of PGR down this week hoping to slow top growth, and encourage lateral growth. Hoping I can get away with not cutting as much after PGR.

 

[FranksATX]

Yes. A Mid season scalp is sometimes needed to maintain a low HOC.

Also a healthy bermuda lawn will grow more than .2" over 4 days without PGR. You need to mow more often or apply a PGR.

You will need to scalp if you want to maintain .6" OR you can raise your HOC.

 

[viva_oldtrafford]

Yes, it's normal to run into some scalping. If it's not level, I'd suggest getting it level. If it is, you may need to verticut.

 

[kur1j]

Yeah I was planning on leveling early in the year as soon as I aerated but life pissed on the parade.

Now it's hot as hell and still finding "cheap" sand is a constant moving target.

These places are where I haven't noticed it scalping in that location before so I assume something is changing.

I'll set my groomer up again and see what happens.

I felt mowing every 2 days I wasn't actually cutting much. At 3 days I was cutting it enough to actually see I made a cut. Maybe bad way to look at it, but felt I wasn't doing anything at 2 days.

 

[Greendoc]

Whatever you do do not raise HOC. Cut it down and then PGR. Grooming or Verticutting is another good idea especially if it is happening where you cannot cross cut the lawn in differing directions.

 

[kur1j]

@Greendoc Yeah didn't want to raise the HoC any more. I really liked the way .5 looked even better in areas but was fighting watching mower dig up places.

Do you mean by "cut it down" as in lower the HoC below .6, then cut and PGR like a miniscalp? Or just leave it at .6 cut and PGR?

Just curious why the strong objection to raising the HoC? I see it recommended. Will it end up causing other issues to the turf?

I honestly rather scalp again then raise it any further. After seeing it cut low I don't think I can go back.

 

[Greendoc]

Yes. My sign that my HOC was too high to begin with is scalping as the year goes on. For Bermuda, I want to be at 0.3 if I can. I get there by any means necessary. Unless I am doing a grow in, no more than 3/4 lb N per month. Water, well, it rained biblically in your area. That is another thing. Lack of sun will cause grass to stretch a lot. I am doing well to get down a high rate of PGR before it starts raining because of the stretching issue.

 

[RayTL]

Glad you asked this question @kur1j ! I am starting to see something similar in my yard and was thinking about a mid season scalp myself.

 

[kur1j]

So from the sounds of it, if I'm maintaining at a low enough height (.3" or so), that would reduce my chances of the grass needing to be scalped through the middle of the year?

@RayTL
It kind of sucks because the grass was looking good. Then in about 2 weeks, it has started to look blah. It doesn't help that I've got some type of disease in the backyard either.

 

[RayTL]

@kur1j I hear ya brother. You should see the mutant oxalis that won't die in mine!

In my yard, I've noticed that I start to get the yellowing/scalping if I'm not able to mow enough, regardless of the HOC I'm maintaining. I notice it more so after if I hit it a big dose of N, which puts the growth into hyperdrive.

The scalp is on to reset it tomorrow!

Best,

Ray

 

[viva_oldtrafford]

So from the sounds of it, if I'm maintaining at a low enough height (.3" or so), that would reduce my chances of the grass needing to be scalped through the middle of the year?

@RayTL
It kind of sucks because the grass was looking good. Then in about 2 weeks, it has started to look blah. It doesn't help that I've got some type of disease in the backyard either.

There's no need to purposefully scalp the yard during this time of the year. My guess is that your grass is getting very grainy and/or very thatchy - perhaps from a good regime of N. Mow the grain out by mowing different directions. Thatch can be verticut, but you can also dilute the thatch layer by lightly topdressing the area in question - take your fert spreader, set on a heavy setting, and use sand instead of fertilizer. Topdressing is a good habit to get into, and it doesnt require near the amounts of sand you use during leveling

 

[kur1j]

@viva_oldtrafford

Well most of the real scalping I feel is from unlevel ground. In certain places it's hard to go in different directions.

Like below, it's hardly 20 feet from property line to the house. I would be there 30 minutes trying to cut from property line to the house going back and forth. In other areas I do go in different directions.

I'll give set my groomer up and give that a go and look into getting some sand for too dressing. Granted I still might level this year. Just need to get my *** in gear and man up and pay for it. Hard to swallow spending 350$ on sand though for 5yds .

Would the groomer on my greens mower be enough to reduce the thatch? Given when I would top dress, how much would you use?