hey I see alot of u guys talking about scalping and was just wondering what that involves and what machines and things like that do u use
what is scalping?
DandG
1 - 20 of 30 Posts
Joined
·
173 Posts
Well is done with a mower. It caused by having youre blade too low and it makes like a circular mark on grass. It can also happen when your cutting on a hill or an unleveled surface. Basically its balding the grass
Joined
·
3,095 Posts
May want to add that sometimes at the beginning of the season, scalping is done on purpose by cutting at a very low height.
I am not sure of the exact reason for doing it, though. I think it has something to do with removing the dead grass so the new grass can grow more quickly? I'm a little ignorant on the reason, someone will have to clarify that.
I am not sure of the exact reason for doing it, though. I think it has something to do with removing the dead grass so the new grass can grow more quickly? I'm a little ignorant on the reason, someone will have to clarify that.
Joined
·
1,198 Posts
http://www.lawnsite.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=73829&stc=1&d=1172240686
scalping.jpg
Actually, I always considered 'scalping' as... what would happen to the lawn just before I said... "oops" after the lawnmower dipped in a hole or a unlevel spot of property... leaving behind me... up-rooted dirt.
)
![Image]()
scalping.jpg
Actually, I always considered 'scalping' as... what would happen to the lawn just before I said... "oops" after the lawnmower dipped in a hole or a unlevel spot of property... leaving behind me... up-rooted dirt.
)
Joined
·
1,653 Posts
I never cut the grass lower then 3 inches due to scalping or browing the grass. The higher the cut the healthier the grass looks as long as you keep the blades sharp
Joined
·
4,172 Posts
It happens when your blades start tilling the dirt instead of cutting the grass... not a good thing.
Joined
·
2,203 Posts
Yeah not a good thing to do and besides tearing up the lawn if the blades dig in really good it may cost you more than your reputation it may cost you alot of money by having to repair a bent crankshaft.
Joined
·
2,640 Posts
scalping, there are certain grasses ( i dont know which ones) that are scalped in the spring... there are photos here of a guy with piles of dead grass on the curb.... this is a common practice in some areas with certain grass.... it is not a mistake, unless you do it where and when it is inappropriate
Joined
·
2,640 Posts
there are guys on this board who do it, im sure they will chim in eventually...... i havent searched for the thread, but im sure its there, i beleive its prevolent in the south....
Joined
·
2,003 Posts
we used to do it in CA; the grass we had at the facility would get to be like a freaky, spongy mat if it wasn't done often enough. Made it easy to spot irrigation problems, though- just look for the big green blister.
We scalp bermuda lawns every spring.... it removes all of the dead grass and lets the new growth start out better... the lawn greens up faster, etc. in this case, scalping just means cutting the grass really low and remove all of the debris i.e. bag it. In our area of Oklahoma we're 90% bermuda lawns so it's a common annual practice. And you can't beat a Walker GHS for scalping... vacuums everything quickly and easily and we generally charge around 2.5 times the normal mowing rate.
Joined
·
2,640 Posts
i find now that it is also done in some areas to the end of the summer turf, to prepare form planting winter rye.....
http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=163946&page=2&highlight=scalp
Joined
·
2,640 Posts
that people dont scalp the lawn by accident.... like when going over a hill, you know the things that the anti scalp wheels on a mower help prevent,....
That aint scalping, that's just tearin up the yard.
For ages in time it was a spring ritual that St. Augustine was cut down to the soil line in the spring. The purpose was to remove all the thatch that had built up over the year. In those days people worked the yards constantly all year to make them grow and look nice. The normal process of having the cuttings decompose didn't work fast enough and thatch built up. There were and are many disadvantages to doing that not withstanding the cost. Weeds grow easily in this situation. Hardly nobody left in our area does it any more. Almost forgot they would also haul in some topsoil/compost/dillo dirt to cover the entire yard.....which was a very good idea!
So does anyone on here read a book once in a while instead of asking everyone else online about everything? I happen to have a several books that specifically state that scalping-even in the spring is bad- and as someone stated above creates a weak grass environment therefore allowing weeds to move in.
Also, has anyone ever heard about the rule of thirds? Never-ever,ever,ever,ever, never-ever remove more than one third of the grass blade at any one time on the same day as it weakens grass to the point that weeds and disease are more successful at taking hold in a yard.
Someone also said above not to mow grass below 3 inches. This is also not true for all types of grass, each type and species of grass has a preferred mowing height, or the height that the grass looks the best at and does the best at. How do you think golf courses look so good with half- inch tall putting greens? With most grasses, such as tall fescue, which has a preferred mowing height of around 3 1/2 inches tall, this would be severe scalping level. But knowing this, golf courses plant zoysia grass (preferred mowing height of 3/4- 2 inches) or bermuda grass (PMH- 1/2-2 inches) these grasses thrive at low levels unlike other species which would most likely die after these repeated "scalpings". Think about it would you be able to survive on a diet with a calorie intake equivalent to that of a toddler? No. Take this into account the next time your out cutting this season. Take a few minutes with a quick guide to determine the yard's grass specie and mow accordingly.
Now these things, including scalping patches by accident, aren't so much of a worry if your just cutting grass, but if your after that perfect, prize-winning look, then you should definitely know these things and practice them, or at least start buffing up on your grass knowledge. good luck mowing.
Jon
Also, has anyone ever heard about the rule of thirds? Never-ever,ever,ever,ever, never-ever remove more than one third of the grass blade at any one time on the same day as it weakens grass to the point that weeds and disease are more successful at taking hold in a yard.
Someone also said above not to mow grass below 3 inches. This is also not true for all types of grass, each type and species of grass has a preferred mowing height, or the height that the grass looks the best at and does the best at. How do you think golf courses look so good with half- inch tall putting greens? With most grasses, such as tall fescue, which has a preferred mowing height of around 3 1/2 inches tall, this would be severe scalping level. But knowing this, golf courses plant zoysia grass (preferred mowing height of 3/4- 2 inches) or bermuda grass (PMH- 1/2-2 inches) these grasses thrive at low levels unlike other species which would most likely die after these repeated "scalpings". Think about it would you be able to survive on a diet with a calorie intake equivalent to that of a toddler? No. Take this into account the next time your out cutting this season. Take a few minutes with a quick guide to determine the yard's grass specie and mow accordingly.
Now these things, including scalping patches by accident, aren't so much of a worry if your just cutting grass, but if your after that perfect, prize-winning look, then you should definitely know these things and practice them, or at least start buffing up on your grass knowledge. good luck mowing.
Jon
If they did do you really think they would be asking the question? Besides posting a question is easier than buying a book.
1 - 20 of 30 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
