Scalping your lawn sounds a little dramatic for what is really just a good spring “haircut” for your lawn at the end of winter. What IS scalping my lawn?

A scalping cut

Scalping your lawn just means that you are removing the top layer of dormant (not dead) grass at the end of winter. Removing this layer allows for your lawn to warm up as the spring weather arrives. Warmer soil allows for grass to green up faster!

How low do I go?

According to our own #askpaul … you can mow as low as you feel comfortable. As long as you don’t mow all the way down to the dirt, you are good! When dealing with Bermuda and Zoysia in our region of the South, you are pretty safe to mow low. Don’t forget to bag your clippings!

When is the best time to scalp my lawn? 

Wait until the last of the sub-freezing temperatures to pass. If you scalp too early, your tender grass stems will be exposed to extreme cold. The best time for scalping in our region is middle to late February. 

Think of scalping your lawn like good skin care. You are removing all of the tough layers of thatch that have built up over the cold winter. Scalping is preparing your lawn for the spring sun and new growth that is lurking just under the soil. 

Less thatch means more light on the grass. More light means warmer soil. Warmer soil means stronger grass that greens earlier!

Your healthy lawn is just waiting underneath! 

Scalping your lawn is just one part of having a beautiful lawn. Keeping your lawn beautiful is a year round job and we are here to help. Your lawn and landscape are a huge part of the investment of your home. Our certified lawn technicians serve North Mississippi and the Memphis, Tennessee areas. You can easily spot our licensed and trained employees in their Lawn and Pest Solutions trucks. Contact us here to get a quote on your lawn. We are available 24/7 by messaging us on our website, texting, or emailing us. You can always call Lawn and Pest Solutions just by clicking this link. 

Here are some quick tips for scalping your lawn:

• Sharpen the blades on your lawnmower. Dull blades damage grass and expose it to diseases.

• Scalp when your lawn is pretty dry. Mud covered grass stems don’t get enough sunlight.

• Bag up your clippings from scalping. Debris left on your lawn is basically an undoing of the scalping.

• Don’t forget to use the clippings in your compost pile.

Scalping your lawn is just one part of having a beautiful lawn. Keeping your lawn beautiful is a year round job and we are here to help. Your lawn and landscape are a huge part of the investment of your home. Our certified lawn technicians serve North Mississippi and the Memphis, Tennessee areas. You can easily spot our licensed and trained employees in their Lawn and Pest Solutions trucks.

Learn more about the #lpsdifference and contact us here to get a quote on your lawn. We are available 24/7 by messaging us on our website, texting, or emailing us. You can always call Lawn and Pest Solutions just by clicking this link. 

Proper mowing makes an impact on the appearance of your lawn-more of an impact than you might think.  Follow these guidelines and your lawn will be a cut above the rest.

• Sharpen your mower blades 3-4 times per year. A dull blade leaves a less attractive ragged edge that can also leave your grass susceptible to insect & disease problems.
• Mow you lawn often enough that you only remove 1/3 of the leaf surface at each mowing. This will eliminate the discoloration you see after mowing.
• Mulch your grass clippings, as long as you follow the 1/3 rule.
• Change the direction of your cut every mowing.
• You may have an area of your lawn that suffered damage and is thin.  Remember the more often you cut, the thicker your grass will be.  If you leave your lawn uncut, it will grow up but will not spread as much.
• Start at a low cutting height in the spring to encourage thicker turf.  As the season progresses, you can gradually raise your cutting height.

Scalping Cut

Early spring is a great time to mow your lawn lower to remove the dormant, brown grass blades, particularly if you have bermuda grass or zoysia grass.  Some people will perform this lower cut, sometimes referred to as scalping, as early as January.  If you have not mowed your lawn at a lower height alreday, now is the time to do that.

When you are ready to scalp your lawn, these are the guidelines you should follow:

• Sharpen your mower blades first.  You want a clean, even cut.
• Cut the lawn slightly lower than the last cut you made in the fall.
• If you have bermuda grass, you can be radical with your scalping cut.  If you have zoysia grass, be more conservative with how low you cut.
• Be sure to bag the clippings so you don’t have all of that thatch piled on your lawn.

If we can help you with your lawn, please contact us!         [cta_button link=”http://lawnandpest.net/contact/” color=”cyan|red|blue|grey”]Contact us[/cta_button]

Lawn & Pest Solutions provides pest control, weed control, and lawn fertilization services to customers in New Albany, Oxford, Tupelo, Amory, Hernando, Olive Branch, Fulton, Houston, and Mooreville, Pontotoc, Southaven, Saltillo, and beyond.  Lawn & Pest technicians can be seen all over northeast Mississippi in their clean, white trucks.  If you have not already spotted us in Desoto County, be on the lookout!  We would love to meet you.