My lawn is full bermuda/buffalo. It is already starting to green through a little with this warm winter.

We are hitting the 80s this weekend and don't see any below freezing nights in the forecast.

If i scalp it now, would a freeze destroy my lawn? Just trying to get my lawn thicker this year than i have before

Scalp meaning cut it shorter than normal... not take it to dirt

It is the nomenclature i have always heard for the first cut of the spring on a bermuda lawn when you cut shorter to clear dormant grass and promote growth.


Thanks for all the helpful tips though.....................................

http://www.fairwaylawns.com/lawn101/mowing

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All Bermuda and zoysia lawns (only) should be scalped each spring. Scalping is the removal of dormant, straw-colored turf, and it promotes earlier green-up and helps prevent thatch and weed problems throughout the summer. March 15th through April 30th is a good time to scalp your yard.

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Thanks ATT

I saw that earlier; just wasn't sure if i should start earlier because of the warm winter

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Thanks ATT

I saw that earlier; just wasn't sure if i should start earlier because of the warm winter

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I would wait a bit longer. It seems like we (Austin) always get a surprise freeze in early March. I don't know where you're at, though.

I usually wait until I really have to start mowing due to all the new growth. When it comes to scalping, I usually don't mind being one of the later ones on my street with my first cutting.

I think the weeds are gonna be here early this spring.

In Houston and I put my first run of preemergent down this weekend. First fertilizer will come in a couple of weeks, weeds will come early this year for sure.

I'm just south of DFW. Already have weeds showing; sprayed last weekend to get them back under control.

Sounds like the consensus is to wait for now. I'll give it another 2-3 weeks and if i don't see a freeze in the forecast, i will probably cut then. We have had freezes into early april and had last freeze in January before

Tough to forecast

I scalped last year and then did a light top dress on my Palisades Zoysia. Lawn greened up quicker than ever.
Highly recommend to everyone.

Yeah, I'd wait another 3 weeks or so.

This is what I use every year. Take off your regular blade and put this on your mower. The one warning I give is DO NOT stop forward motion with your mower. If you do, the tines will cut a circle in your sod. It will grow back soon enough but your sod will look funny until it regrows. If you try to "scalp" with your normal blade you will put a lot of strain on your engine. This "dethatching" blade does not. You can also cut much shorter. After the dethatching blade is installed, set your lawnmower on concrete or asphalt. Adjust the tines to almost touch the concrete (1/4" above). You will be amazed at how short you can cut your lawn.


http://www.homedepot.com/p/16-in-Universal-Dethatching-Blade-490-100-H011/204322330

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I think the weeds are gonna be here early this spring.

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I just put out my pre Emerg in DFW today. I agree.

I mowed my lawn twice, lowering down to "scalp" height on the second pass to avoid choking out my engine with the strain. Double intake of beer recommeneed to go with the 2x mowing.

Yep here in CS they're already here. My grass never totally froze this winter. Stupid

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In Houston and I put my first run of preemergent down this weekend. First fertilizer will come in a couple of weeks, weeds will come early this year for sure.

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Same here

Love yard work, but not this

Push mower or lawn tractor?

quote:

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This is what I use every year. Take off your regular blade and put this on your mower. The one warning I give is DO NOT stop forward motion with your mower. If you do, the tines will cut a circle in your sod. It will grow back soon enough but your sod will look funny until it regrows. If you try to "scalp" with your normal blade you will put a lot of strain on your engine. This "dethatching" blade does not. You can also cut much shorter. After the dethatching blade is installed, set your lawnmower on concrete or asphalt. Adjust the tines to almost touch the concrete (1/4" above). You will be amazed at how short you can cut your lawn.


http://www.homedepot.com/p/16-in-Universal-Dethatching-Blade-490-100-H011/204322330

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If you have a thatch problem, a lawnmower blade isn't going to fix your problem long term. Aerating and top dressing with some compost will fix your problem.

That blade aerates as it goes.

http://www.rona.ca/en/blade---universal-16-in-dethatching-blade


Look at that one assembled. It cuts/trenches down as it spins, cutting up the thatch and and churning the soil, another way to aerate it.

It sure does claim to aerate the soil.... but that's certainly not the best way to do it as it doesn't get deep enough into the soil. Plug aeration is the way to go.

In North Houston and will probably rake (instead of scalp) to combat thatch and already emerging clover this week/end and then mow/fertilize to choke out what's left weed-wise.

Probably on the early side for scalping/prep, but one more surprise quasi-freeze shouldn't be enough to kill off anything.