Scalping turf on first seasonal mowing (3-30-09)

I am often asked if a lawn can be burned or mown very low (scalped) in early spring to remove much of the old dead leaf canopy from the previous summer. The reply is yes, but with reservations and restrictions. With burning, this practice is usually not very uniform, creates an awful amount of smoke and soot to deal with, there are ordinances that forbid burning in many communities, and the liability risk is great. Therefore, I strongly discourage burning, although close mowing or scalping can be benefial to many lawns depending on turf species if done early when the turf is just breaking dormancy.

Lawns of bermudagrass or zoysia can be cut very low (scalped) since they have a strong network of rhizomes (below soil runners) and stolons (above ground stems) that will quickly replenish the turf canopy with new rejuvenated growth if soil and air temperatures are warm enough for growth. Centipede and St. Augustine lawns can also be cut slightly lower than their optimum mowing height, but should not be “scalped” as they have only stolons to develop a new canopy.

Since there will be an excess of old clippings being removed this may be a time to collect clippings rather than leaving them on the lawn. They then should be utilized as compost and not considered trash to fill our landfills.

Published March 30, 2009

Dr. Wayne Wells is an Extension Professor and Turfgrass Specialist. His mailing address is Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Mail Stop 9555, Mississippi State, MS 39762. wwells@ext.msstate.edu