Scalping is good lawn practice
You may be seeing lawn care companies sending their troops out to mow turf whistle clean, a notch shorter than it’s been for a while.
That’s a practice called “scalping,” and it does have a few benefits. Admittedly, it’s about half aesthetic. Let’s talk about it.
If you do it yourself…
• It’s a nasty, dusty job. Wear dust-proof goggles and a respirator. Dry grass blades are covered with fungus spores, not to mention months of Texas dust and debris. Take your allergy meds first.
• Drop the mower down one notch. That’s almost always enough. Your goal will be to remove the winter-killed blades and any cool-season weed growth that has already popped forth.
• Bag these clippings. They’re outstanding organic matter. Your landfill doesn’t want them. Your compost pile does. Or make a thin layer of mulch out of them beneath shrubs or other perennials. But, composting them is best.
• It’s best to go right back over the lawn a second time at the same mowing height, but at a 45-degree angle. You’ll be amazed at how much more organic debris you’ll pick up in that additional pass.
The benefits of scalping…
• As mentioned, you’ll be removing much of the weed growth. Weak, early broadleafed weeds like henbit will be destroyed by the cut. Others will be set back dramatically. Grassy weeds will be kept in check so they’ll blend in with your turfgrass as it greens up with warming days of early spring.
• The sun’s rays will hit the bare ground directly. That will warm the soil resulting in more rapid green-up of your turf. Because the new growth won’t be diluted by old, browned blades the lawn will look better weeks sooner.
• And, as mentioned, your lawn will be more attractive. Scalping is an aesthetic experience – one you’ll appreciate as you see your lawn looking its best more quickly than others that have been left to their own accord.
If all this goes as I’ve described, you’ll become an advocate of this annual practice just as I have. That’s assuming you take my advice and wear your mask and respirator.