When Should I Scalp my Bermuda Lawn in Atlanta, GA?
Scalping your lawn is the process of removing all the old brown winter foliage. Scalping is relatively easy, but messy.
We recommend scalping your lawn when the grass just starts to turn green. This varies year to year depending on the weather, but usually around April 1st is a good time. Scalping earlier can cause some problems with the lawn. If we get a late frost it can damage the new grass coming up, if you leave it long until there is no risk of frost the taller grass will protect the new grass blades.
The grass greens up based on soil temperatures in Cumming, GA; wait to scalp until we have nice sunny days that will warm the soil. Removing the grass will allow the sun to warm the soil quickly and green up the lawn sooner.
Scalping your Bermuda lawn requires mowing as low as you can without digging into the soil. Start with your mower at a 1-inch height and adjust higher or lower, depending on the smoothness of your lawn. Remove the clippings and discard them; do not leave them on the lawn.
A bit of advice wear a dust mask and safety glasses to protect from dust and pollen. Also roll up your car windows and sun roof. Learn from my mistakes, it is very hard to remove grass clipping and dust from a car’s interior and your spouse will not be very happy with you either.