By Jeff Floyd
Certified horticulturist and arborist
Our average last freeze is around the third week of March. Spring fever has already reached a fever pitch by this time. The medley of rich colors in nurseries tends to further worsen our common sense. Every step I take through that kaleidoscope aggravates the zeal to do something in the yard. One mistake a lot of us will make this year is lawn scalping.
Scalping, or mowing extremely low, is unnecessary and often not beneficial. One reason often cited for scalping is to remove dead grass, destroy weeds and give the yard a clean look. Sure, being cooped up for several weeks gives us a strong motive for working in the yard. Scalping is dirty and time-consuming. Once all the debris is stuffed into the dumpster, we feel accomplished.
However, scalping damages the growing point of bermudagrass and the above-ground runners of St. Augustine. Repeated scalping may completely ruin large areas of turfgrasses, especially when an underpowered mower or a dull blade is used.
Scalping may lead to less turfgrass and more weeds. Perennial weeds aren’t killed by scalping. They tolerate stress better than turfgrass. Also, mowing grass close to the soil exposes weed seeds to the open air. Once stirred up and exposed to a little sunlight, these hidden problems will sprout.
A better way of waking up your lawn in the spring is to treat it as you do during the growing season. Once it begins to green up, put your mower on it. Mow at your summer height and avoid excessive water or fertilizer unless it’s not growing. If you’re mowing, then grass must be growing.
Vigorously growing grass typically has enough nutrients. If its growth begins to slow, spoon-feed it with a fertilizer of mostly nitrogen. Phosphorus fertilizers contaminate stormwater and groundwater. They also contribute to thatch buildup leaving the appearance of a grass that needs to be scalped.
Avoid scalping this year and see how much less work it takes to have an attractive lawn.
