Don't Be Scared to Scalp :: Bermuda and Zoysia Spring Lawn Prep 

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Can I just say it’s great that you’re making videos again. Not lying I’ve been doing my SE FL yard for 4 years now myself, just recently was about to hire a landscaper to do it because I lost the fire in my belly. You’ve got me fired up again. I can’t wait to go out and enjoy the mow tomorrow. Thanks LCN

The first time I scalped my zoyia at my old house I did it in the back yard. It was prickly and looked terrible for a couple of months, but it came back after a few months and looked better than ever. The next two years before I moved out of there, I did the front lawn too. It does help give it a "reset."

I live in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and since our grass goes dormant every "winter," I normally to a semi-scalp on St. Augustine to get rid of the dead material on the top. It helps to make sure whatever I apply to the lawn in the Spring actually makes it to the soil. It also helps my lawn green up and fill in sooner than those who don't do it. With about 10K sq ft of turf, I generated 33 large garbage bags of dead material this year.

Bring on the Summer. Ready for the smoker, green grass, and a beer or whiskey while sitting on the backyard deck, with the kids running around. These videos in January and February get me excited for summer. I start prepping for spring and summer during Feb and Jan.

Central FL here. The last 4+ years of applying your biostimulants and products reguarily has my St Aug looking like it's best already, and it's Feb...really seeing the early difference this year and the appearance has never looked better, thank you.

I ain’t scared to scalp Bermuda Grass 👍🏾

I can't wait for 2023 season hear in New York the season should start in 6 weeks can't wait thanks again brother always a great show

Pacific Northwest chiming in - Oh how I pray for spring and yard work! 🌾

Hey Allen, thanks for the tips. Please keep the Zoyia tips coming

Love the echo blower and mower. I've purchased quite a few battery powered push mowers (garbage). Greenworks was the most recent, what a chore! Thanks for sharing 👍

GREAT VID. I grew up in Hawaii, used to live in Vegas and now live in Thailand. So I've been thru a few different climate zones to say the least. I watch your vids regularly and have learned so much. I want to do this as my lawn is a bit overgrown right now with those long brown legs. I need to do it soon as we are about to enter our rainy season. We can get dumped on at an astonishing rate that will turn my 1/2 acre into a lake in less than an hour. And that can go on for days. So if I don't get ahead of it now the grass can get so tall I'll have to start looking for the VC hiding in it. 😂😂 BTW looks like you forgot to add that hours per day link. Bless ya brutha!

I kind of do that with my TTTF in the early spring, just not that low. Blast it with N and prodiamine and wow! Man does it take off!

I have just started to clean up the leaves on the grass. I am going to mulch them in and then roll some lime on it. All I have done so far is roll a little 5-10-10 on it. We got plenty of rain this winter. I have not cranked up my mower since October. I have it set on 4, right now, and will drop it down to three to mow up the leaves. I do not like to cut below 3, because I have dips and high spots and foot stones that I could hit.

I know It's going to look fantastic, It already look great. I need some Zoysia in my yard so pretty. Thanks LCN great video.

Holy cow the production is crazy good. Love the vids Allen!

I just scalped my Bermuda down to .2 I can almost see the dirt. Talk about a Hard reset. Sheesh. I was dormant so i bagged my clippings. But you are right i hope to reel mow mine at .5 the full season with the clippings going back into the lawn.

Sick editing Allyn! I know you and your team work hard to pump out quality content! Great work my friend!

Last year I had a bipolar depressive episode and I had let the Bermuda grow so long that it was probably 4" above soil and had seed shoots. By that point, the nice grass blades were above the 1-2" mark and everything below was browned vegetation and the thick twig-like stolons/runners. I scalped it midsummer to get it back to a proper height. It looked like hell for a week or 2. I fertilized it heavy and watered a bit more each time. Gave it a mid-evening syringe as well (it was 110°). It came back great. Bermuda is like the guy who can't refuse a challenge even if it's nearly impossible. "Hey Josh, did you hear that David sold 150 cars last month? He worked every single day with no off time, normal shift. I bet nobody can beat that. Guy's a beast." So then Josh works every day, open to close, and spends $5,000 of his own money to buy a billboard for a month with his face and name on it to draw in a ton of customers and he sells 175 cars that month. 🤣

bag it and compost it, then when it's ready you put it back on your lawn/garden. Scalping without bagging is extra work. It's even better if you're prepared early and have compost ready to top dress after scalping, we are opposite seasons and I have got piles in various stages since I bagged one every 4-5 mows over the summer when it got a bit too long

I go one notch lower at a time, but Always with the bag on, you still leave some clippings around. Im in NW FL and it was 100 percent dormant from 22° Christmas Freeze. Wish YM had a 25-0-25-4

I really appreciate LCN uses everyday DIY type of equipment for his lawn. There are others on YT that offer lawn care advice but they have tens of thousands of dollars worth of equipment, reelmowers, etc. and are mowing their lawns like every 2 days. Sure it's probably the ideal way to do it but it's not practical for most individuals.

Well Allen we put this Empire Zoysia down about the same time. I've been thinking about scalping it every year we've had but been afraid. Last year I worked it lower so I went ahead and scalped it😢. Scary looking 😂. I put some fert on it so we'll see what happens in the next few weeks.

36 DAYS 7 HOURS 19 MINUTES 16 Seconds Until spring guys!!!!!

Production was 🔥🔥.

Semi-scalped my St Aug in south TX last week. After the freeze, was left with dead, brittle grass. Went down about 2" high and within a week, lawn is full green.

Glad ur back Al. Speaking of scalp I do it 2 a year usually on my cool season lawn the initial first mow generally drop it two settings on the mower. Then the second time tends to be late summer/ fall timing varies on this one depending what I'm trying to do or how things are looking. Overseed, drought, hoc has creeped up, etc

Your new videographer is in much need of a gimbal

Man it’s 40 here today and 45 Sunday with Blue Sky’s and I am itching to start working the yard. The only thing is that in Chicago today warm and Sunny Tomorrow 4 inches of snow. LOL

Thanks for this . I'll watch for the 12 hour day and then scalp the lawn and use the stress blend +rgs . My neighbors ask " how do you get your lawn to look like that ? I reply ' it's the lawn care nut formula ! 😊

I'm loving the last batch of vids you've put out Allyn, well done and nice to see an emphasis on regular equipment that regular yard owners have in their garages. 👌

Thanks Al.. I have had “cabin fever” and just did my scalp on my Bermuda.. come on spring..💪

I've pretty much followed the same steps with my Zoysia as you do for years but with one difference, I bagged all the clippings as I was always under the impression that there really isn't any nitrogen in the legs correct me if I'm wrong. Probably 95% of clippings was legs, hardly any green, if any, I normally get about 25-30 39gal bags packed full.

Amazing work on the edit LCN! The lawn will look amazing in no time flat

i liked the new editing style!

I’ve been away while my grass is dormant. Production quality is better than ever, Allyn! Great stuff!

Love the new video production, camera guy need to use a camera gimbal 🎥📹

Great video. I will try this with my Bermuda area. Most of my yard is St Augustine Palmetto and this year I am going to rent a dethatcher again and run that through all the Palmetto. I used to do it every 2-3 years but I am behind and it has been 5 years now I think.

Doing my Zoysia tomorrow as i live in Central FL. Thanks Allyn

Just in time. I rented a sod cutter and just when I got in the grove to clear my yard the drive belt slipped. A whole weekend wasted and now I have to push my irrigation appointment up

Oh man Allyn I’m jealous! It’s 28 degrees right now my grass is frozen solid 😂😂😂 great to see another lawncarenut video!!! 😊🤙🏾🔥🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Seiring berjalannya waktu tehnologi semakin canggih👍

I can't wait to see your project progress on the Bahiagrass

Appreciate all your tips Alan. I have learned so much from you and Doc

“Mostly down into the legs was my nickname is high school”

St Augustine vs Winter hard freeze in Texas has left my grass really uneven. 4 1/2 in deep mixed with 2 inch deep spots. Will this self level without having to use dirt/sand?

It would be cool if you had a “test” plot of St Augustine to try a semi- scalp or height reset on, and show us the results and recovery (hopefully). I’ve heard it can be down, but I’m to chicken to try it out on my own lawn. HOA pressure is real! Purpose would be to reset St Augustine to get rid of spongy , heavy stolen areas that only have leafy growth present in the top 2 inches of the canopy.

excited to see the result!!

Lcn I live in med west Iowa in the fall I cut my lawn as short as I can then when it gets cold that's when I lay down my winter fertilizer it shouldn't be long and I will raging

I have the lawnmower, weedeater, hedge clippers, blower and chainsaw. Ego batteries die after 3 years and are crazy expensive. Lawnmower doesn’t get low enough to scalp Bermuda let alone mow it low enough. Only reason I still have Ego is because I have ,less than 1000 sq feet of grass and primarily use the blower here in Arizona for the desert landscape in front.

Allen, who was filming you? They had a case of the shakes 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️

Appreciate the extra zoysia content lately!

Hi John a lot good and helpful info, I need your expertise, the Coast Guard Admiral lawn not being managed well by the contractor, zoysia is way too thick what should I do, I like to detached and scalp, zoysia is measuring 7inches at the side walk, please help

Nice intro sizzle for the channel!

I have centipede grass do I do that? I live in the Pensacola area and I have weeds like CRAZY since Hurricane Sally, Can I seed other grass in it? Next question is all the weeds are going back into the yard, aren't you concerned about the weed seeds??

I’m in a new construction home that they laid Bermuda sod in November/December. Can I throw down prodiamine? What fert should I throw down?

I have 43 years of thatching. Should I dethatch after grass goes dormant? Also, I have a reel cutter that can go to 1/4 inch. Is that too low? Oh I'm in Fort Worth TX Suburb/countryish. Full acre lots.

How long, after this, should (can) I mow again?

Per My Soil Co (see vid), there's no noticeable nitrogen returned in clippings. Clippings return measurable phosphorus & iron... nothing else.

Allyn, another great video! Can’t wait to get back out into my lawn here in northwest Ohio. I’m curious how you liked the Ego products. I’m thinking of replacing my trimmer, edger and blower this year. I have an Exmark zero turn that I love and won’t be replacing it anytime soon. Can’t wait for spring!

What push EGO mower is that? I'm not familiar with one that has a screen that can change modes... Eco, Normal, Turbo

I'm at 12:45 min days. Is it too late to scalp my zoysia lawn?

so, a few questions. I plugged my front lawn with amazoy zoysia. The plugs took real well and im about 60% zoy that is taking over a salad bar fescue/rye. I live in the people republic of northern Illinois. My length of day to do this would be late march, but I know the soil temp wont be enough for the zoy to wake up yet. Do I hold off on the fert? Would you think I should hold off for a better soil temp, or would the act of cutting it back make my soil temp?

Awesome job 👍🏾

First Aussie 😁 Al, Reset that lawn into submission. 😎

I was told that your scalp on Bermuda grass should be half of what your normal mow would be. I mow mine at 3 inches during the season so I scalp at 1 to 1.5 inches. If you scalp it to dirt like some recommend it will eat up a set of blades. Of course I'm scalping 2 acres!

Have you priced fertilizers, recently? Walmart wanted $40 for a bag of Weed&Feed. It is still sitting there, too. I will roll 10-10-10 before I pay $40 for a bag of Scotts.

Allen can you please help me I have St Augustine grass before I cut it is very green but after I cut it it is brown can you tell me what's going on with my St Augustine grass thank you.

Good to see you back Allyn! What about this St. Augustine down here in Houston, TX? It looks terrible! 😫😫😫

Good information!

First time home buyer of a new build. Just getting into lawn care. My sod was added around last November. I have Bermuda grass. It is finally showing a little green. Would you suggest scalping now and when would be a good time in my situation? Thanks!!!

Hey Allen, I'm a bit confused on when to start this process. In the beginning of the video you said to get started when your lawn is 2-3 weeks away from when it's starting to grow which is 12-12.5 hours of daylight (1:16 mark). But right after, you said when it gets to 12-12.5 hours of daylight, to start this process (1:36 mark). So, when should I start? 2-3 weeks before the long days start or right when the long days start? I'm in the panhandle here so the long days should be kicking in the 2nd half of March I believe. Thanks!

Allyn, switched entire lawn to ProVista last year and it looks amazing, located in Winter Garden. Have a few sprouts of wild Bermuda showing, when is the best time to apply Glysophate 41% ?? We need more videos for the Pro Vista crowd! Keep up the great videos.

My lawn was a new build fresh sod lawn that’s only about 6 months old. Can I scalp it this year? Bermuda in Jacksonville FL

I’m in southern Illinois and have zoysia in my lawn. Is it too late in the year to scalp?

So what if I don’t know what type of grass I have? some is st Augustine but the rest is wild Bermuda and who knows what. Doing really well in south east Texas but idk what it is 😂 the SA isn’t doing great , nor the Bermuda but whatever else I have is doing great and most don’t look like weeds! 😅

I am in North Central Florida and have Zoysia. I already have a good amount of weeds but would like to scalp and maybe even level a bit. Two questions: 1) Should I spray a post-emergent like Image for Southern Lawns before scalping or just go ahead and scalp and put down a post-emergent? 2) Is it too late to start scalping and leveling? If my understanding is correct, it seems like it would have been better to start 3-4 weeks ago but now is fine. I read through all of the comments and tried searching but wasn't really finding a clear answer so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Love the content,but the battery junk just ain't cutting for me.

Can you do this if your yard isn’t perfectly level- I’m afraid to destroy the high spots. Also- what’s the link to the daylight website you mentioned?

Signal Grass enters the chat……. 😂

I did a pre scalp yesterday on a st agustine/ Bermuda lawn.. followed by a pre emergent application, I usually do the scalp around March 15 is it a good idea to do scalp and detach at same time?

My Zoysha is dormant and have noticed some nutsedge popping through. I saw you like Pennant Magnum for nutsedge but what would you do this? Before scalping? Of so how many weeks before? Thanks!

I wish I had warm season grass I have fescue . Takes a lot of water in the summertime to keep it alive

Hey Allen i stay in Louisiana and have st aug grass. I mow at highest setting throughout summer but i had a huge kill in my yard at least 1k sq ft It was dead st aug after went dormant but it layed down the old grass blades and kept everything wet through winter not it's all rotten What should i do next year cut low before winter or that was just a rare scenario?

Same principle applies for cool-season lawn in Michigan TTTF/KBG grass type? Also what's the website for that daylight time

Should I put prodiamine after or before detaching/ scraping?

I’m in zone 7A, and my zoysia is usually not fully green until early May. Should I scalp before, or after the green-up?

I’m at 1” for the winter

Great video--as always. Are you using a newer model of the Ego self-propelled? I have not seen it in stores locally yet but--still winter here in the Great Lakes region.

@lawncarenut Allyn what would the settings be for a scotts whirl hand held spreader for the stress blend application?

Can you scalp in zone 6 climates when the grass is hibernating? If so when is a good time, when its silll brown, before winter, early spring or that 12 hrs thing?

Hello LCN, I'm thinking about replacing my Centipede with Zoysia in east coast NC. I've been studying your videos to give myself confidence. I thought I remember in one of your other videos, that if a person keeps it on mowing to keep it short that you are able to avoid the scalp. Is that only if your grass doesn't go dormant? Or, is it best to scalp every year before growing season?

I have a live oak tree that sheds a lot of leaves onto my Zoysia grass. Should I mulch these into the grass or is that adding too much acidity to the soil?

quick questions for you sir, which EGO mower push version are you using? I'm looking at going away from my old gas mower for the coming year, and trying to decide which electric mower is best. How big is your lawn in square footage and can your EGO do it all on a single battery charge? Thank you and great content as always!

Scalp 2-4 weeks before you reach 12.5 hour day length? Did I understand that correctly?

Very informative video. I just passed it on to my next door neighbor since he has zoysia. Didn’t you use to thatch your zoysia?

When do you drop top spoil on? I live in a part of Austin Texas that has a limestone and clay mixture for soil and has been challenging for my grass.

Do you utilize Atrazine to regulate the expansion of Bermuda grass in your St. Augustine lawn? I've watched your ProVista videos and collaborated with a spray company that suggested Atrazine as a herbicide suppressant instead of re-sodding.

Did you say to do it when your days are 12:30 or 4 weeks before that? I’m in central FL too

When using prodiamine is there a time that need to pass before kids can play on the lawn?