Gardening

Scalping a lawn refers to mowing it very short, typically down to a height of 1-2 inches. While this can be beneficial in some cases, such as removing thatch buildup, it can also be damaging to the lawn if done improperly.

Here are the steps to safely scalp your lawn:

1. Choose the right time: The best time to scalp your lawn is in early spring, when the grass is just starting to grow. This will allow it to recover quickly.
2. Mow the lawn: Set your lawn mower to its lowest setting and mow the entire lawn. Be sure to remove any clippings or debris that are left behind.
3. Water the lawn: After scalping the lawn, give it a good watering to help it recover.
4. Fertilize the lawn: Once the grass starts to grow back, give it a boost with a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen.
5. Avoid repeat scalping: Scalping the lawn too often can damage the grass and make it more vulnerable to disease and pests. It’s best to only scalp the lawn once or twice a year.

Remember that while scalping can be beneficial in some cases, it’s not always necessary or beneficial for your lawn. Be sure to consider the specific needs of your lawn and consult with a professional if you’re unsure whether or not to scalp it.

I normally list off stuff available at the big box type stores so people can easily find stuff that works at a good price.If you want to spend a little more and step up to the best stuff around this is what I use.

The Andersons PGF Balanced 10-10-10 Fertilizer with Micronutrients and 2% Iron (5,000 sq ft) https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FXR8R75/ This one is very mild and balanced. I use this in the early spring and fall when the lawn is starting up or slowing down.

The Andersons Barricade Professional-Grade Granular Pre-Emergent Weed Control – Covers up to 5,800 sq ft (18 lb) https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07NZ2BMMK/ I put down per-emergent at least once a quarter. This stuff is great to stop my neighbors weeds from spreading to my lawn.

The Andersons DuoCide Professional-Grade Lawn Insect Control – Covers up to 9,000 sq ft (18 lb) https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PH2ZZJH/ I typically place this down in early March, late May, and September to control grubs and other burrowing insects.

The Andersons Professional PGF Complete 16-4-8 Fertilizer with 7% Humic DG 5,000 sq ft https://smile.amazon.com/Andersons-Complete-16-4-8-Fertilizer-sq-ft/dp/B07SYLCKRH/ This is my spring fertilizer for when things need lots of energy to grow like crazy.

Advanced 16-4-8 Balanced NPK – Simple Lawn Solutions (32 Ounce) https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XWFL84R/ This is great for supplemental treatments in the whole lawn or troubled spots. I typically spray it the day before getting rain or my irrigation system running. I find that helps to get it watered in for a quick response.

For spreading all of the dry material I just use a typical hand spreader. https://smile.amazon.com/Hand-Powered-Engineered-adjustable-assembled-immediately/dp/B07KMWVBJS/

I also like to add home compost, composted manure, and cheap garden soil in areas needing soil improvement but you can find that your average big box store.

Some of you might have seen me in my front yard today with a big bag of chicken crumble and were wondering why I was spreading chicken feed on my lawn. Well we are getting to the time of year when soil temperatures are right for switching from chemical fertilizers to organic fertilizers. An organic fertilizer is a product that you add to your lawn for good fungus and microbes to break down to add nutrients to your lawn. In this case I used chicken crumble which is not advertised as an organic fertilizer but makes a great inexpensive one.I got a 50lb bag for $15 from Tractor Supply in Helotes for example.

So some of you might be tempted to go out and toss some harsh fertilizer on your lawn. Hold back on that one. After the shock our lawns got with the freeze start with some very mild and balanced mixtures. The best thing you can do is add something like composted manure that comes in with an NPK of 0.5-0.5-0.5. If you want to use a chemical fertilizer I recommend something similar to “The Andersons PGF Balanced Fertilizer” that comes in with an NPK of 10-10-10. Below is a picture of both products.

As far as other plants in your yard I recommend patience. Some of them went dormant hard after that cold shock. You might need to research best care of each after a freeze to treat them correctly. Don’t go and cut your tree/bush/shrub down because it lost leaves, like some have thought they needed to do. Some trimming might be in order but in most cases your plant will come back with some care.