Scalping

Category: lifestyle

An accidental or intentional mowing error where the blades cut into the lower brown crown stems of the grass plant.

Scalping occurs when a mower deck hits a high spot or the operator drops the cutting height too low. Cutting below the green leaf line exposes the woody crown stems to direct sun scorch, frequently killing the grass cluster and leaving bare earth patches that weeds fill rapidly.

Common Examples

• The uneven slope caused the commercial mower to execution a severe scalping cut across the ridge line, destroying the canopy.
• Intentional early spring scalping is sometimes used on warm-season grasses to strip away winter dead growth and speed up green-up cycles.