Used to let my Bermuda yards grow out to 2 in. or so going into dormancy before applying the barricade w/fall fert to help keep more winter weeds out. Made for a really big scalp job in late winter (10-15 55 gal. can liners full on an average sized lawn) but seemed to have less weeds to deal with. Also in OK, where the Bermuda goes completely dormant, I always scalped just before any signs of green up so that I could spray fast acting glyphosate after applying the spring barricade w/fert to kill anything that made it through the winter. Like you, I also found that it was easier to side discharge the first “lowish”pass, rake the clippings into piles and bag up, then drop mower down to lowest setting using the bagger. Otherwise you’re emptying the bag every 25 ft. and STILL having to mow a second time to suck up everything.
Charlotte, NC - I scalped Saturday (March 6th). Had about 1% green before scalp to .75". 4 days later of 70 degree weather I have about 5%. It will be another year dominating the neighborhood.
Hey Jason! I live in Waxhaw! Do you have Bermuda? I've had great Bermuda the last 2 years but never scalped. Thinking about doing it, any suggestions? ( concerned about freezing weather later in the month)
@@CharlotteSoccerHighlights Hey, on Lake Wylie. Yes, 3 year old Bermuda grass. Absolutely scalp, and then put down pre-emergent immediately. Suggestions? Wear a mask and tight fitting goggles, have a plan on how to get rid of the clippings. I back up to woods so I dumped them there. Expect it to take 3-5 mows. Get all of the clippings off the grass that you can or you'll end up with thatch tiger stripes after a good rain that will be impossible to get up. You shoul gain about 5 weeks of green on your neighbors from scalping
This is my first season with it so I have only used it the one time during my spring scalp. I pretty much did the same as you, mowed down to .250”, verticut, picked up debris, and then ran over it again at .250”. I had it set to about 1/4” into the dirt and it pulled up a ton of material so it did a really good job both verticuting and dethatching. Hopefully it is not as destructive when I have it set just above ground level for my verticuting throughout the season.
When dethatching, should I skip thin/bare areas I’m trying rehab with plugs so not over-stressing, or would the dethatcher actually help if it’s loosening the soil?
Regarding the leftover thatch, my trash company recently announced they are no longer accepting bags outside of their trash can. Can you think of any places that will accept the thatch/clippings?
I would Google brush recycling centers near you. I know there are several landfills around here that have mulch as well, so they might possibly take in some green waste. It’s too bad your city decided to stop collecting it!
I'd be curious to see what those clippings and dethatch look like after your process. I've never seen grass cut that short...but I've never seen Bermuda look so good later in the season.
Another great video! My sod was laid in mid October, so it is not fully established; the sod pieces have not connected yet. Is it still okay to scalp when half green?
You will hear people saying it will damage the crown under those circumstances, but I don’t think you can really hurt bermuda too bad. I just wait so I don’t have to scalp again later if it goes back into dormancy haha
Hi Rhett - have recently purchased a toro greensmaster 1000. It’s a 2015 with subaru 4.5hp. It’s mows so great. But moves slower than expected. Slower than my california trimmer. Is it running properly? No way it could scalp my lawn; it would not make it through
How much damage does this do to the mower? Never seen a greens mower used for scalping. Do you have to take it in after and get the blades freshly ground and how do you get all that dust out of the air intake etc? I scalp and de-thatch with rotary and sun joe then mow down to .4 inches and maintain at .6 to .75 with my greens mower. Might try your method but will try to find a used trucut that I can beat up and use as my scalp mower.
I absolutely would recommend getting a used Tru-Cut or McLane to pull off the grunt work in your lawn. With that being said, after scalping my reel was still cutting paper with no problem. Also, I’m looking to put a new reel on in the next couple of seasons anyway. I’ve never replaced it, and I’m willing to bet it’s the original reel.
I actually didn’t put down any fertilizer this past year, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to put some out a week or two before scalping. That should speed up the green up. Just make sure it gets watered in and you’re not just scooping up all the fertilizer when you scalp.
I have a Toro Greensmaster 1000 that I purchased used off of Facebook Marketplace. Funny story, I actually bought it the day before we closed on our home and my buddy let me keep it in the living room of his first floor apartment until the next day 😂
If you’ve got an exposed sprinkler head it’s not a bad idea. I normally don’t flag for dethatching (because it doesn’t get down very deep). I do flag when I core aerate though.
Yes you can. I actually waited about a week, but only because I like to keep my fertilizer applications around the 15th and 30th of the month. Or as close as I can get to those days. I spoon feed the lawn.
I noticed that you walked the course of your lawn many times and I was curious if you thought that doing this in a John Deere could potentially damage the lawn because of the tire tracks running all over your yard? I have a John Deere and a push mower so potentially the push mower would be much better for this? Great video as always and I liked the parks and rec shirt. 👍
Just make sure you’re switching up your mowing pattern and you should be ok. In reality the push mower would probably be “better” because I’m assuming it can go lower, but if your lawn is pretty big, I wouldn’t kill myself trying to walk it.
@@LawnInsider great. Not far from me. I’m in Richmond Tx. I’ll be following your process hopefully I can get my lawn to somewhat look like yours lol also started following you on ig. Great content 👍🏽
@@LawnInsider this video just made me feel about a million times better. I'm in San Marcos and been dethatching with a rake this week and someone came by and told me it's too early.
Starting in January I’m following your Advice on a Great Lawn. So please keep the Videos uploaded
Amazing how many guys with lawn channels think scalping is also de-thatching. Glad to see you know the diff.
Excellent video, very informative!
Nice lawn! Watching from Boerne TX
I appreciate it! Just wait a few weeks!
I’m just starting on my bermuda in the backyard. It’s thin and malnourished, but things are about to take off! Great video!
I think I’m ready to scalp this weekend!! 💪🏻😎
So glad I’ve got that part behind me! Although I think I’m bringing in sand in a couple of weeks haha
Used to let my Bermuda yards grow out to 2 in. or so going into dormancy before applying the barricade w/fall fert to help keep more winter weeds out. Made for a really big scalp job in late winter (10-15 55 gal. can liners full on an average sized lawn) but seemed to have less weeds to deal with. Also in OK, where the Bermuda goes completely dormant, I always scalped just before any signs of green up so that I could spray fast acting glyphosate after applying the spring barricade w/fert to kill anything that made it through the winter. Like you, I also found that it was easier to side discharge the first “lowish”pass, rake the clippings into piles and bag up, then drop mower down to lowest setting using the bagger. Otherwise you’re emptying the bag every 25 ft. and STILL having to mow a second time to suck up everything.
Charlotte, NC - I scalped Saturday (March 6th). Had about 1% green before scalp to .75". 4 days later of 70 degree weather I have about 5%. It will be another year dominating the neighborhood.
Hey Jason! I live in Waxhaw! Do you have Bermuda? I've had great Bermuda the last 2 years but never scalped. Thinking about doing it, any suggestions? ( concerned about freezing weather later in the month)
@@CharlotteSoccerHighlights Hey, on Lake Wylie. Yes, 3 year old Bermuda grass. Absolutely scalp, and then put down pre-emergent immediately. Suggestions? Wear a mask and tight fitting goggles, have a plan on how to get rid of the clippings. I back up to woods so I dumped them there. Expect it to take 3-5 mows. Get all of the clippings off the grass that you can or you'll end up with thatch tiger stripes after a good rain that will be impossible to get up. You shoul gain about 5 weeks of green on your neighbors from scalping
south texas about 30%, starting my early scalp now
All green in Central Florida. We were 90% dormant in mid Feb
I did this with a push reel mower. Scalped at 1”, detached, then scalp again. And now my body is ☠️
Strong work! Can't wait to see how the lawn looks later! Still waiting for Lubbock to start greening up!
Thanks man! It greened up a lot the last two weeks. Glad to get the scalping behind me.
Hey I use the same GM1000 and Ren-O-Thin here in DFW! I converted the Ryan to fixed blade reel though. Great video!
Right on! Does the fixed blade give more of a verticut than a dethatch?
This is my first season with it so I have only used it the one time during my spring scalp. I pretty much did the same as you, mowed down to .250”, verticut, picked up debris, and then ran over it again at .250”. I had it set to about 1/4” into the dirt and it pulled up a ton of material so it did a really good job both verticuting and dethatching. Hopefully it is not as destructive when I have it set just above ground level for my verticuting throughout the season.
I have the same amount of green in my yard just like yours
Awesome! I’ve already seen a pretty nice green up since the scalp! Yard will be all green in no time.
When dethatching, should I skip thin/bare areas I’m trying rehab with plugs so not over-stressing, or would the dethatcher actually help if it’s loosening the soil?
🌞Great video, man!! Too bad you don't have a landfill nearby to take the clippings.🌞 We are greening up here in Alabama, too.😎
Amen! But glad the scalp is behind me. Ready to see some green.
I have about 50% green up in Horneytown, NC.
if i live in southern california when is the best time to seed bermuda grass
Green up as of May 19
61%+ in the back, a bit less in the front
Regarding the leftover thatch, my trash company recently announced they are no longer accepting bags outside of their trash can. Can you think of any places that will accept the thatch/clippings?
I would Google brush recycling centers near you. I know there are several landfills around here that have mulch as well, so they might possibly take in some green waste. It’s too bad your city decided to stop collecting it!
I'd be curious to see what those clippings and dethatch look like after your process. I've never seen grass cut that short...but I've never seen Bermuda look so good later in the season.
Definitely takes a leap of faith the first time doing a lot of these things, but after seeing the results, you’ll be doing it every season!
Another great video! My sod was laid in mid October, so it is not fully established; the sod pieces have not connected yet. Is it still okay to scalp when half green?
If you’re able to pull at your grass without pulling up the edges of your sod, it’s fine to scalp it. Bermuda is very resilient.
Given the Bermuda is in dormancy, what would be the harm in scalping sooner, before any green is visible?
You will hear people saying it will damage the crown under those circumstances, but I don’t think you can really hurt bermuda too bad. I just wait so I don’t have to scalp again later if it goes back into dormancy haha
What part of Texas you in
New Braunfels
Hi Rhett - have recently purchased a toro greensmaster 1000. It’s a 2015 with subaru 4.5hp. It’s mows so great. But moves slower than expected. Slower than my california trimmer. Is it running properly? No way it could scalp my lawn; it would not make it through
No sir that’s not normal. Check all of your belts, more than likely that’s where your problem lies. Congrats on the new mower! You’ll love it!
Is this a good time to level uneven areas with sand?
If you’re in Texas you still have a little time!
How much damage does this do to the mower? Never seen a greens mower used for scalping. Do you have to take it in after and get the blades freshly ground and how do you get all that dust out of the air intake etc? I scalp and de-thatch with rotary and sun joe then mow down to .4 inches and maintain at .6 to .75 with my greens mower. Might try your method but will try to find a used trucut that I can beat up and use as my scalp mower.
I absolutely would recommend getting a used Tru-Cut or McLane to pull off the grunt work in your lawn. With that being said, after scalping my reel was still cutting paper with no problem. Also, I’m looking to put a new reel on in the next couple of seasons anyway. I’ve never replaced it, and I’m willing to bet it’s the original reel.
What kind of a toll does that scalp take on you reel blades? Do you have to send in to get resharpened or will just a good backlap do?
It definitely is not ideal, but I was able to adjust the reel to bedknife, backlap, and we were right back to cutting paper.
would it be to early for you to core aerate?
Typically you want to wait to core aerate until the grass is actively growing. I’ll probably do it in late April/May.
What did you do after you scalped and dethatch? Any fertilizer or anything you put down?
I actually didn’t put down any fertilizer this past year, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea to put some out a week or two before scalping. That should speed up the green up. Just make sure it gets watered in and you’re not just scooping up all the fertilizer when you scalp.
What brand/model reel mower you using ?
I have a Toro Greensmaster 1000 that I purchased used off of Facebook Marketplace. Funny story, I actually bought it the day before we closed on our home and my buddy let me keep it in the living room of his first floor apartment until the next day 😂
Great lawn and channel!
What is the name and model of your dethatcher? Did you buy it new or was it used?
Thanks!!
It’s a Ryan Ren-o-Thin and I actually turned it into a verticutter this year. I found it off of a local pickup on eBay.
50% green up on 1/2" tifway 419 in San Antonio Texas
Nice! Love the dachshund profile pic! We have one too!
When dethatching, do u have to flag ur sprinklers
If you’ve got an exposed sprinkler head it’s not a bad idea. I normally don’t flag for dethatching (because it doesn’t get down very deep). I do flag when I core aerate though.
Nice work.so after scalping do you apply any fertilizer or nitrogen?
Yes you can. I actually waited about a week, but only because I like to keep my fertilizer applications around the 15th and 30th of the month. Or as close as I can get to those days. I spoon feed the lawn.
60%
Greenville, SC
I noticed that you walked the course of your lawn many times and I was curious if you thought that doing this in a John Deere could potentially damage the lawn because of the tire tracks running all over your yard? I have a John Deere and a push mower so potentially the push mower would be much better for this? Great video as always and I liked the parks and rec shirt. 👍
Just make sure you’re switching up your mowing pattern and you should be ok. In reality the push mower would probably be “better” because I’m assuming it can go lower, but if your lawn is pretty big, I wouldn’t kill myself trying to walk it.
What part of Texas at you in???
New Braunfels, TX!
@@LawnInsider Same here!!!
What part of Texas are you in? Yards looking dang good!
I live in New Braunfels
@@LawnInsider great. Not far from me. I’m in Richmond Tx. I’ll be following your process hopefully I can get my lawn to somewhat look like yours lol also started following you on ig. Great content 👍🏽
@@LawnInsider this video just made me feel about a million times better. I'm in San Marcos and been dethatching with a rake this week and someone came by and told me it's too early.
@@ahernandez7944 I'm about to post the one week update this evening! Already have a lot of green coming in!
4/10” uhhhhhh? Don’t them there inches come in X/16ths
On a ruler they do, but not on a height of cut gauge. Measurements come in tenths of an inch.
OKC - No green at this point.
E