Mowing your lawn is an essential part of keeping your lawn looking neat and well-kept. However, if you are not careful, mowing uneven terrain with a lawn mower can cause scalping. This occurs when you cut the grass down so low that the blades of grass are exposed, resulting in a barren and damaged appearance. It is important to keep in mind that different types of grass should be kept at specific heights for optimal growth and performance in residential landscapes.
Scalping is typically an accidental occurrence and can lead to unwanted discoloration of the grass. If you notice a brown spot in your lawn, it could be caused by a variety of factors, including scalp marks. To identify whether this is the case, look for a depression in the ground near the mark and consider your mowing pattern. Uneven terrain in your lawn requires extra care, especially when mowing at a low height. Failing to mow correctly can result in unsightly scalp marks.
To prevent scalping when lawn mowing, it is important to mow at the correct height and to ensure that your lawn mower blades are sharp. Additionally, you should avoid mowing your lawn when it is wet, as this can cause the blades to stick and result in uneven cuts. If you have already made the mistake of scalping your lawn, there are steps you can take to help it recover. These include watering your lawn regularly, providing it with fertilizer, and allowing it to grow for a longer period of time before mowing again.
Avoid Patches in Your Lawn
If you have noticed the emergence of brown patches on your lawn after mowing, it is likely due to the unintentional act of scalping.
In the following discussion, we will explore the reasons behind this phenomenon and ways to prevent it from happening while mowing.
Determine Why Your Lawn is Scalping
To address scalping, it is crucial to identify the underlying reasons. This issue happens when grass is cut too short, causing brown patches to appear due to excessive leaf removal. Below are some possible causes of scalping on your lawn.
- Has the lawn been growing too long in between mows?
- Do you have an uneven lawn with varying levels, including high and low spots?
- Does your lawn have an accumulation of thatch?
Identify Scalped Areas
Pinpointing the area that has been scalped can help you determine the cause of the problem. If it is consistently scalped across the entire lawn, it is likely that your mower blade is set too low. If the scalping is isolated to certain areas, it may be due to uneven ground underneath the grass.
When Can Lawn Scalping Occur?
Scalping is the practice of mowing your lawn very short, which can cause brown dead patches on the grass. This method is commonly used on warm-season grasses that go dormant in the winter and can aid in stimulating growth in the spring.
When scalping, it is important to leave enough of the grass blade intact to absorb sunlight. If you cut too much of the grass blade, it can lead to brown patches due to the lack of energy absorbed by the grass. Scalping can also occur if your lawn has uneven levels or if there is a buildup of thatch, which is a layer of dead grass material.
The Problem With Scalping Lawns
When grass is stripped of all its leaves, it cannot absorb enough energy from the sun to undergo photosynthesis, the process that drives grass growth. Without grass leaves, it is difficult for the plant to take in sunlight, nutrients and air, and cutting the grass too short removes its life source. This makes it challenging for the grass to continue to grow. If a lawn is scalped excessively, it is probable that the grass may not be able to survive at all.
How to Fix Your Lawns Levels
If you experience scalping due to uneven lawn levels, you can fix the problem by adding soil or sand to even out the surface. This process is known as top dressing. It’s recommended to use sand such as washed plasterers’ sand or washed river sand for this purpose.
Before top dressing, it’s advisable to mow the lawn to a low height to ensure that the top-dressing material reaches the soil properly. When applying the top dressing, it’s important to spread it evenly and not apply more than 5-10mm at a time. You can use a lawn-leveller bar or the back of a rake to work the sand into the soil profile.
How to Reset the Height of Your Lawn to Avoid a Patchy Lawn
To prevent scalping caused by an accumulation of thatch or by letting your lawn grow too long in between mows, it is recommended to reset the height of your grass. This involves gradually reducing the height of your lawn over time by cutting it at a lower setting until you reach your desired height. It is important not to remove more than one-third of the total length of the grass blade at any one time. This allows the grass to recover and promotes healthy growth.
Pay Attention to the Terrain
To achieve a desirable low cut of your grass, it is essential to have a mostly even terrain so that the mower’s blade can effectively cut the grass at an appropriate angle. However, some parts of your lawn may have slight bumps or unevenness, resulting in compressed soil. When mowing over such areas, the mower’s wheels and deck will be at varying heights, which can increase the likelihood of scalping, especially when cutting the grass too short.
Reduce Your Lawn Height
To achieve this, you should lower the mower’s height by one or two notches below your usual mowing height. In case there is a build-up of thatch on your lawn, you might have to lower the mower a few more notches to access the thatch layer. However, you need to be careful not to cut too low and damage the runner in Buffalo lawns.
After mowing, your lawn may not look its best, but it will recover over the next few weeks. During this recovery period, it’s important to keep the lawn well-watered. On your next mow, raise the mower back to your preferred mowing height. This process should be carried out during the warmer months when the grass is actively growing and avoided during the colder months when growth is slower.
Be Careful on Hills
Cutting grass on a slope can increase the risk of inadvertently scalping your lawn. The steeper the slope, the more challenging it can be. It is recommended to keep your mower deck set at the highest level to avoid this issue. Also, take caution while turning on an incline and proceed slowly.
Scalp Wheels
Having scalp wheels on your riding mower can be beneficial in preventing scalping on uneven terrain. These wheels are small and attached to the side of the deck using a bracket. When a mower’s tire dips down into a hole, the scalp wheel helps to maintain the deck at an even height, compensating for the unevenness of the terrain.
With scalp wheels, the mower can achieve a more level cut without cutting off too much grass from particular spots. It is recommended to choose a riding mower that has at least four scalp wheels.
Mow Frequently
To prevent scalping from happening again, it’s important to keep up with regular mowing. As a general guideline, aim to mow frequently enough so that no more than one-third of the length of the grass blades are removed with each pass.
During the warmer months when the grass grows faster, you’ll need to mow more frequently to maintain this ideal length. Conversely, in the cooler months when the grass grows slower, you won’t need to mow as often.
Set the Height of Your Scalp Wheels Appropriately
Properly adjusting the height of your scalp wheels is crucial for their effectiveness and longevity. If the wheels are not set at the right height, they may wear out more quickly and not do their job properly.
It’s important to ensure that your scalp wheels are rolling smoothly while mowing, but you don’t want them to lift the weight of the mower deck when on level ground.
To set the height of the wheels, we recommend adjusting them to be about 1/4 inch higher than a flat and hard surface. This height is usually easy to adjust by selecting a pre-existing hole in the bracket.
If you need to remove or install the scalp wheels, it’s typically a straightforward process.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lawn Mowing
How Do I Mow My Lawn Without Scalping It?
To do this, give the lawn a low mow a notch or two below your normal/preferred mowing height. If your lawn has an accumulation of thatch, you may need to bring down the mower a few more notches to allow it to reach down into the thatch layer.
Why Is My Lawn Mower Scalping?
Lawn scalping could be caused by going on vacation and missing mowing days, a week of rain that makes mowing impossible while the grass shoots up quickly, or possibly just uneven spots in your lawn. Scalping is mowing the grass so low that you cut the blade off at the growing point or crown.
How Long Does It Take for Grass to Recover From Scalping?
Usually, it takes 4-8 weeks once the grass starts growing before you can’t see last year’s old grass. There are a few downsides to not scalping your lawn.
Why Is My Lawnmower Not Cutting Cleanly?
Loose, Dirty or Disconnected Spark Plug in Your Lawn Mower: Check it out, clean off debris, re-connect and tighten. Dirty Air Filter: Clean or replace. Fuel Not Reaching the Engine: Tap the side of the carburetor to help the flow of gas. If this doesn’t work, you might need a new fuel filter.
Should You Mow First or Edge First?
If you maintain a beautifully manicured lawn at a low height, mowing frequently sometimes more than once a week, then you are likely to mow first. You give the lawn a haircut and then you give it that crisp edge to finish it off.
How to Fix Your Lawns Levels to Avoid a Patchy Lawn
If your lawn has high spots causing scalping, you can fix this issue by top dressing, which involves adding soil or sand to level out the lawn. It is advisable to use sand, such as washed river sand. Before top dressing, it’s best to give the lawn a low mow to ensure the material reaches the soil profile, but make sure the lawn blades are still visible to receive sunlight and nutrients.
It’s important not to exceed 5-10 mm thickness when applying the top dressing material. Use a lawn-leveller bar or the back of a rake to spread the sand evenly and work it into the soil profile.
Additionally, it is recommended to fertilize the area a week or two before applying top dressing to provide the lawn with the necessary nutrients for faster and better growth. This will assist the turf in pushing through the dressing more easily and quickly.
Stop Patches in Your Lawn | Other Essential Mowing Tips
With the information provided, you are now prepared to prevent scalping on your lawn. To optimize your mowing, we have some final suggestions for you to achieve the best results.
- Make sure that the blades of your mower are sharp.
- It is important to mow your lawn when it is dry, and it is best to avoid mowing when the grass is wet.
- Maintain a consistent mowing height and avoid cutting the grass too short.
- Switch mowing directions.
- Mow during the cooler parts of the day, such as mornings or afternoons, to avoid mowing during the hottest part of the day.
- Keep at a constant pace.
Conclusion
Mowing uneven terrain with a lawn mower can cause scalping, which is an accidental occurrence that can lead to unwanted discoloration of the grass. To prevent scalping, it is important to mow at the correct height and to ensure that your lawn mower blades are sharp. Additionally, it is important to avoid mowing when it is wet, as this can cause the blades to stick and result in uneven cuts. To address scalping, it is important to identify the underlying reasons and ways to prevent it from happening while mowing. Scalping is the practice of mowing a lawn very short, which can lead to brown dead patches on the grass.
It is common on warm-season grasses that go dormant in the winter and can aid in stimulating growth in the spring. To fix the problem, it is recommended to add soil or sand to even out the surface, such as washed plasterers’ sand or washed river sand. When applying the top dressing, it is important to spread it evenly and not apply more than 5-10mm at a time. Resetting the height of a lawn is important to prevent scalping and promote healthy growth. It involves gradually reducing the height of the grass over time by cutting it at a lower setting until the desired height is reached.
Pay attention to the terrain to ensure an even cut. Lower the mower’s height by one or two notches below your usual mowing height, but be careful not to cut too low and damage the runner in Buffalo lawns. After mowing, keep the lawn well-watered and raise the mower back to your preferred height. Cutting grass on a slope can increase the risk of scalping, so it is important to keep the mower deck set at the highest level and take caution while turning on an incline. Scalp wheels are small and attached to the side of the deck using a bracket, and they help to maintain the deck at an even height.
Regular mowing is important to prevent scalping, and it is recommended to adjust the height of the wheels to be about 1/4 inch higher than a flat and hard surface. The most important details are to remove or install scalp wheels, fix lawn levels, and fertilize the area before applying top dressing. To optimize mowing, make sure the blades of the mower are sharp, mow when it is dry, maintain a consistent mowing height, switch mowing directions, and keep at a constant pace.
Content Summary
- Mowing your lawn is important for a neat and well-kept appearance.
- Scalping can occur when mowing uneven terrain with a lawn mower.
- Different types of grass have specific height requirements for optimal growth.
- Scalping can lead to discoloration and damage to the grass.
- Brown spots in the lawn can be caused by scalping.
- Depression in the ground and mowing patterns can help identify scalping.
- Mow at the correct height to prevent scalping.
- Sharp lawn mower blades are essential for preventing scalping.
- Avoid mowing the lawn when it is wet to prevent uneven cuts.
- Steps can be taken to help a scalped lawn recover.
- Brown patches after mowing may indicate unintentional scalping.
- It’s important to determine the reasons behind scalping.
- Long intervals between mows and uneven terrain can cause scalping.
- Accumulation of thatch can also contribute to scalping.
- Pinpointing scalped areas helps identify the cause of the problem.
- Consistent scalping indicates the mower blade is set too low.
- Scalping in specific areas may be due to uneven ground.
- Scalping is commonly used on warm-season grasses during winter.
- Grass should be cut to a length that allows for sunlight absorption.
- Grass stripped of leaves struggles to absorb energy for growth.
- Fixing uneven lawn levels can be done through top dressing with soil or sand.
- Gradually lowering the mower height over time can prevent scalping.
- Paying attention to the terrain helps avoid scalping.
- Lowering the mower height can be done to achieve a desirable low cut.
- Care should be taken when mowing on slopes to prevent scalping.
- Scalp wheels on riding mowers can prevent scalping on uneven terrain.
- Regular mowing is important to prevent scalping from happening again.
- Properly adjusting the height of scalp wheels is crucial.
- Fixing high spots in the lawn can be done through top dressing.
- Additional mowing tips include keeping mower blades sharp, mowing when dry, maintaining a consistent mowing height, switching mowing directions, and mowing during cooler parts of the day.
