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Message
Lawn Height of Cut
Posted on 6/10/20 at 1:14 pm
Posted on 6/10/20 at 1:14 pm
I have a mixture of Palisades Zoysia and Bermuda lawn that I’d like to lower my HOC. Initially I was cutting with a push mower, likely around 2.5-3”. The lawn is fairly dense and thick, although recently I’ve noticed some thinning that seems related to compaction.
I recently switched to a Zero Turn and “calibrated” the deck so I have actual measurements to cut on and a level deck. I’ve been cutting it on 2.5” and it looks fine.
However, everything I read for these grasses seems like it’s too long. My yard is too big for a reel mower so I’ll be using the rotary ZTR.
Is the longer HOC actually a problem? I’d like to get the HOC down to 2” if possible. Under 2” doesn’t really seem feasible to me. I tried cutting it at 2.25”, but it didn’t look nearly as good as the 2.5” cut. I have some spots that are unlevel that I’ll fix later in the season.
So keeping with the 1/3 rule, how do you gradually lower the HOC without creating issues with the lawn?
I recently switched to a Zero Turn and “calibrated” the deck so I have actual measurements to cut on and a level deck. I’ve been cutting it on 2.5” and it looks fine.
However, everything I read for these grasses seems like it’s too long. My yard is too big for a reel mower so I’ll be using the rotary ZTR.
Is the longer HOC actually a problem? I’d like to get the HOC down to 2” if possible. Under 2” doesn’t really seem feasible to me. I tried cutting it at 2.25”, but it didn’t look nearly as good as the 2.5” cut. I have some spots that are unlevel that I’ll fix later in the season.
So keeping with the 1/3 rule, how do you gradually lower the HOC without creating issues with the lawn?
7
Posted on 6/10/20 at 1:19 pm to LSUtigerME
quote:Mow it at 2.5. Wait two days. Mow at 2.25. Wait two days. Mow at 2. Or something to that effect.
So keeping with the 1/3 rule, how do you gradually lower the HOC without creating issues with the lawn?
Posted on 6/10/20 at 1:20 pm to LSUtigerME
Cutting the grass at a lower height (on the grasses you mentioned) encourages lateral growth as opposed to vertical growth. Bermuda especially gets thin and stringy at higher mow heights. You might notice brown after you drop your deck and that is normal. Only the top portion of the leaf is green and after a few days of sunlight the color will come back.
The best way to drop the deck is to cut more frequently until you get to the height you want.
The best way to drop the deck is to cut more frequently until you get to the height you want.
Posted on 6/10/20 at 1:21 pm to LSUtigerME
Cut twice a week and you shouldn't ever violate 1/3 rule.
Posted on 6/10/20 at 1:25 pm to LSUtigerME
in addition to the previous replies, it is often recommended when reducing HOC to go down to one notch lower than what you want.
For example, you want to get 2" from 3" and your deck adjusts in 0.5" increments.
1) mow at 3"
2) a day or two later mow at 2.5"
3) then at 2"
4) then at 1.5"
5) then back to 2"
The reason for this is it will cut back the debris and dead material so you'll get more green at your new HOC faster. If you just go down to 2" and stop you'll probably have some brown for a while until it it rots away to expose more green foliage. Getting rid of the brown up front allows more foliar growth to be visible sooner.
For example, you want to get 2" from 3" and your deck adjusts in 0.5" increments.
1) mow at 3"
2) a day or two later mow at 2.5"
3) then at 2"
4) then at 1.5"
5) then back to 2"
The reason for this is it will cut back the debris and dead material so you'll get more green at your new HOC faster. If you just go down to 2" and stop you'll probably have some brown for a while until it it rots away to expose more green foliage. Getting rid of the brown up front allows more foliar growth to be visible sooner.
Posted on 6/10/20 at 1:26 pm to jimbeam
quote:
Mow it at 2.5. Wait two days. Mow at 2.25. Wait two days. Mow at 2. Or something to that effect.
That was basically my plan, just wasn’t sure if it was healthy to drop it too quick. For example, that’s changing from 3+” (pre-cut), to 2” in 4 days. Is this different than just cutting at 2” and being done with it? Should it be cut multiple times at the intermediate height?
Changing from 2.5” to 2” isn’t a big change, but what if wanted to get to 1.5”?
Posted on 6/10/20 at 1:30 pm to ronk
quote:
ronk
quote:
notsince98
Since related, that was another question I had is whether to kinda scalp it all again and then maintain from there.
I definitely noticed the browning when I cut it at just 2.25”.
Is a 2” HOC sufficient for those grasses? I’d like to go lower but that’s a lot of grass cutting.
Posted on 6/10/20 at 1:37 pm to LSUtigerME
Don't scalp again. The first mow of the year is a scalp and bag but that is it. Will your grass be green and healthy at 2 inches? Sure. It is like being 10 lbs overweight. You are not going to die from it, it's just not optimal.
Posted on 6/10/20 at 1:51 pm to LSUtigerME
Right now I cut @ 2 inches on my bermuda lawn. The first time you will see browning but after that it will get better. I will try and drop it another notch later this week after cutting yesterday.
Next year go ahead and scalp and bag on the first cut 1 notch lower than what you want to regularly cut at. Worked great for me this year.
Next year go ahead and scalp and bag on the first cut 1 notch lower than what you want to regularly cut at. Worked great for me this year.
Posted on 6/10/20 at 2:24 pm to BallsEleven
quote:
Next year go ahead and scalp and bag on the first cut 1 notch lower than what you want to regularly cut at. Worked great for me this year.
I scalped it early this year, but prob not really low enough since I was previously cutting a lot higher.
Lowest my mower could go is 1.5” unless I just drop the deck to floating.
Posted on 6/10/20 at 2:25 pm to ronk
quote:
Will your grass be green and healthy at 2 inches? Sure. It is like being 10 lbs overweight. You are not going to die from it, it's just not optimal.
I was experimenting with 2 inches earlier in the year, but man its pretty much perfect at 2.5 right now. Centipede & Rotary mower though.
Posted on 6/10/20 at 5:14 pm to jmtigers
quote:
I was experimenting with 2 inches earlier in the year
That’s a slippery slope.
Posted on 6/10/20 at 5:32 pm to jmtigers
quote:
I was experimenting with 2 inches earlier in the year, but man its pretty much perfect at 2.5 right now. Centipede & Rotary mower though.
I tried to get below 2 with my centipede but just couldn’t. Bumpy lawn and all. 2 inches is looking pretty good tho. My wife liked it better at 2.5 inches but you know the deal there.
This post was edited on 6/10/20 at 5:56 pm
Posted on 6/10/20 at 5:56 pm to LSUtigerME
It’s still early in the season and the heat is just kicking up. You can scalp zoysia and Bermuda to dirt and it will come back stronger. If you want to maintain it at 2” then go ahead and scalp it down as low as you can. It will look like crap for a couple weeks, but you will be getting all of the dead brown stalks out. Bag it all and water it till it starts to green back up to maintain it where you want. Lots of guys do mid season scalps to readjust height of cut on both grasses. Taking it down one notch at a time is just delaying the inevitable. Don’t worry about the 1/3 rule if you are doing a reset.
Posted on 6/11/20 at 7:54 am to SuddenJerk
I have zenith zoysia. Went back and forth when deciding on a new mower. Reel vs rotary. Ended up going with a 42" zero turn rotary. Yard is just a little to big to push all the time. Been cutting at 2" with no issues. No scalping issues. Want to try dropping to 1.5" eventually. Anyone have experience going that low with a rotary?
Posted on 6/11/20 at 8:08 am to JDat
quote:
Want to try dropping to 1.5" eventually. Anyone have experience going that low with a rotary?
I'll let you know tomorrow
Hopefully your yard is pretty level though.
Posted on 6/11/20 at 10:48 am to JDat
Last year I cut my palisades at 2.5 inches with a rotary but this year I have been at 1.5. I like the look of the lower cut.
Posted on 6/11/20 at 12:13 pm to tigerlife36
I'm trying to keep my Palisades at 1.25-1.5 and so far its been looking nice.
Posted on 6/12/20 at 8:39 am to LSUtigerME
I have Meyer 252 zoysia. I used to mow at 3” but lowered it to 2.5” last year. At 3”, the zoysia mashes down under the weight of the mower wheels and doesn’t spring back. So I lowered it to 2.5” to try to reduce that.
This post was edited on 6/12/20 at 8:47 am
Posted on 6/12/20 at 8:53 am to gumbeaux
I readjusted my mower deck and am going to try to lower the HOC a little more.
Probably have to cut it at 3” after this rain we’ve had. Hopefully can get it to around 1.5” or so in the next couple cuts.
Probably have to cut it at 3” after this rain we’ve had. Hopefully can get it to around 1.5” or so in the next couple cuts.
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