Bermuda grass is one of the most popular types of grass to be found in North America. It has a green, fuzzy look and grows very quickly. There are some instances when it’s better to scalp your bermuda lawn instead of mowing it.
What is Scalping?
Scalping is the removal of excessive amounts of leaf tissue from a lawn mowing, which results in stubbly brown areas due to exposed stems and stalks.
Should You Scalp Bermuda Grass?
Scalping is not normally recommended for the warm season turfgrass due to stress, but it does have benefits like quickening spring green-up and weed removal.
When To Scalp Bermuda Grass
All bermuda lawns should be scalped each spring as early in the season as possible, to give it time for healthy growth later in the year. Scalping is typically done from March 15th to April 30th.
Here are some tips on when to scalp bermuda grass:
- The best time to scalp bermuda grass is in the early summer, when the grass is actively growing.
- If you are going to scalp bermuda grass, it’s important to remove as much of the old dead growth as possible before you begin. This way you will have a better chance of getting a good stand of new bermuda grass seedlings. If you leave too much dead growth on top, it will shade out and kill your new seedlings.
- Once your new seedlings have sprouted, keep the area around them mowed short so they can get plenty of sunlight and grow strong and healthy.
- Scalping bermuda grass is a great way to remove dead or damaged leaves and encourage new growth.
- It’s also a good way to get rid of the thatch layer that can build up in your lawn.
- You should only scalp bermuda grass when it has reached about 3 inches in height. It’s best to wait until you see the first signs of new growth.
- When scalping bermuda grass, always be sure to mow the lawn at an angle with the blades set as low as possible. This will ensure you don’t remove too much of the topsoil.