Scalp cut
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Scalping is like a crew cut.
You start to lower the height as the weather cools.
What is your cutting height now?
Anway stay where you are now, cause there is still summer weather to deal with in September.
At around October you can start to lower at 1/4 inch intervals. If your mower has height adjustment in 1/4 inch increments.
Lower once and cut for a couple weeks, then lower again, cut for a couple weeks.
Stay here at LawnSite. We will be coming across that topic in the future.
You start to lower the height as the weather cools.
What is your cutting height now?
Anway stay where you are now, cause there is still summer weather to deal with in September.
At around October you can start to lower at 1/4 inch intervals. If your mower has height adjustment in 1/4 inch increments.
Lower once and cut for a couple weeks, then lower again, cut for a couple weeks.
Stay here at LawnSite. We will be coming across that topic in the future.
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From what I understand, people who work with warm season grasses will give a scalp cut in the spring. It is supposed to make the grass green up sooner. Not sure if that is true though since we don't deal with warm season grasses.
And yeah, we too will lower the cutting height close to the end of the cutting season, but we don't refer to it as a scalp cut. We just lower it from 3 inches down to 2 and 1/2.
And yeah, we too will lower the cutting height close to the end of the cutting season, but we don't refer to it as a scalp cut. We just lower it from 3 inches down to 2 and 1/2.
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I will elaborate on scalping warm season grasses. I have about a dozen scalping customers. My customers says that it greens their lawn quicker, but I have fescue, so I am not certain. I know at times after I get done scalping there are green shoots exposed (sometimes). All I can really say is that it's a dirty, filthy job that pays well
MATT.
MATT.
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Different topic but Stay here at LawnSite. We will be coming across that topic in the future.
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Blant blant tada ta.......
Great help wiith topic.......
Cut it as low as mower will go to cut off the dormant plant tissue.
I do not do this.
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OK folks, don't know about all areas or all grasses, but aren't there some negative issues about scalping, as in really shouldn't do that?
Important issue being the fact that it gives weeds/weed seeds a real chance to propagate?
Important issue being the fact that it gives weeds/weed seeds a real chance to propagate?
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The reason why you can cut a bit lower in the fall is because the grass plants change their growth structure.
Cadet..................
Don't ever quote me!
You can't comprehend what you read, that is not my freakin problem. Pay Attention and keep Silent Cadet
"This is my first season and i have read several posts on a "scalp cut". Exactly what is this and when should i start to lower the height of the cut (central new jersey)"
Do you understand what his question is???
No you don't!!
Don't ever quote me!
You can't comprehend what you read, that is not my freakin problem. Pay Attention and keep Silent Cadet
"This is my first season and i have read several posts on a "scalp cut". Exactly what is this and when should i start to lower the height of the cut (central new jersey)"
Do you understand what his question is???
No you don't!!
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What is Most amusing is the 3 Members of the Ya Ya Sisterhood who have frequently posted that I am on their Ignore List are the ones who Most often respond to my insightful postings.
Strange...yet sad.
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For warm season grass, the first cut should be to remove as much dead top growth as possible. ( at the end of last season you should gradually raise your cutting height.) Do not cut lower than .5-1 inch. This should be done after the danger of a hard freeze but before new grass blades emerge. Mid march or when soil temp is around 55 deg. F. Bag the clippings. The grass will then start turning green when soil temp reaches 60-65 deg. This is all dependent on weather conditions.
Its a hassle to do but will make a difference in the overall appearance of the lawn.
Good luck..............................
Its a hassle to do but will make a difference in the overall appearance of the lawn.
Good luck..............................
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Of course I change it to it's proper name...
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Ultimate, you have an uncanny ability to taint every thread.
"certified"..don't you mean "certifiable"?
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ANYWAY - for the rest of you...please, tell me the cons of scalping and do you do this up here? It just doesnt sound healthy. Is it?
"certified"..don't you mean "certifiable"?
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ANYWAY - for the rest of you...please, tell me the cons of scalping and do you do this up here? It just doesnt sound healthy. Is it?
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CON's
open the canopy for weed seed germination, cut the plant tissue to short. To name a few, those are the 2 main factors though.
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Paul James (from HGTV) writes of the negatives of scalping in the following article.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_gardening_basics/article/0,,HGTV_3589_1659628,00.html
Used to scalp every spring, bought into the 'get rid of dead grass' thing. While it does do that, so will about two weeks of growing. After I quit spring scalping, I noticed that weeds began to get choked out, or never appeared. Used to scalp and then fertilize, BIG MISTAKE, swore I just spread bags weed seeds.
Also, if you scalp & have an unseasonably HOT day, it grass that's left can get fried.
Don't know where or why scalping originated, might be good to do in some circumstance, but I vote not.
Jimmy,
The lawns are slowing, but just because this what they should have doing in August since the rain stopped, but with all the rain before, they've grown like in May.
I've started to lower my machine in readiness for the fall. The only reason we lower the machine is to allow easier blowing of the leaves. I'm in Basking Ridge, come down and say high.....
Pete
Hey Mower babe, are you finally finding out what we were trying to tell ya, when you mentioned I was a bad boy for yelling at him???? You know I still love you...:blush:
And I like what you said. UL has a knack for slanting everything just enough so the less educated still questions things, and continues the thread, letting UL play his little games.
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And what exactly does this have to do with this thread? Was the information that I typed in my post incorrect? I wanted to make sure that it was known that we do not refer to lowering the blade in the fall as "a scalp cut". Never heard a fall cutting referred to it that way before. Lowering the blade sure, but not a scalp cut.
From my viewpoint, I see you as a member who likes to spar back and forth.
First it was Flex Deck and LGF. I take it now you two have kissed and made up? Now it's on to someone else. Was BHB ever your prey? I can't be quite sure on that one, but now it's Ultimate.
Is this the only way you can get enjoyment out of Lawnsite? If so, then maybe you are at the wrong forum.
Sean is very well aware of everything that goes on here at Lawnsite. No one should under-estimate him. He is a top notch guy who really makes Lawnsite a priority in his life. There are so many mundane tasks that he handles here, that Lawnsite members don't even know about.
Most Lawnsite members who find this site are just really pleased that an informative site like this one even exists. There is a wealth of information to be found here.
I'm sorry that you choose to dwell upon a few members that you don't like/don't agree with/can't stand, etc.
You should choose to read what you like, ignore what you don't, and move on.
Your sole concern at the moment may be Ultimate. My concern is something different and at a much larger scope.
I want to make sure that a few certain members don't use Lawnsite as their toilet while they conduct themselves appropriately at other forums.
www.lawnsite.com will continue to thrive and prosper because we have a great bunch of members here. Not only current members, but also because lawnsite.com is at the top of the search engines, and everyday new members are registering. Stay aboard, enjoy the ride, and let go of your prey.
This concludes this emergency announcement. Now back to our regularly scheduled thread.
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