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Question about reel mower grass cutting and results
Posted on 7/23/24 at 4:21 pm
Posted on 7/23/24 at 4:21 pm
I just bought a triplex mower to cut my yard. 2653a John Deere. Still adjusting to the dos and donts and how to cut comfortably and confident with it. Been getting a lot of rain lately and haven’t been able to cut as often as I should due to ground saturation. Did cut yesterday to try to help my situation for when it dries. Didn’t go as planned. Noticed uneven cutting and yellowing of grass. I know it’s because grass was taller than normal. My question is does cutting every two days instead of 3/4 days help with this and does cutting it shorter get to look better?
With the rain of late, I plan on doing a height of cut reset. Just did a measurement of how high I have been cutting and didn’t realize I was cutting at 1.5 inches. Never measured it before and just cut like it was because I thought it was low enough. I do have unlevel yard and will sand level next year but will all of this help with the yellowing in blotches?
1-Height of cut reset
2-Cut every two days rather than 3/4 days
3-Sand level
With the rain of late, I plan on doing a height of cut reset. Just did a measurement of how high I have been cutting and didn’t realize I was cutting at 1.5 inches. Never measured it before and just cut like it was because I thought it was low enough. I do have unlevel yard and will sand level next year but will all of this help with the yellowing in blotches?
1-Height of cut reset
2-Cut every two days rather than 3/4 days
3-Sand level
3
Posted on 7/23/24 at 4:29 pm to shoelessjoe
quote:
1-Height of cut reset
2-Cut every two days rather than 3/4 days
3-Sand level
That's the gist of it, unless you use PGR.
How low did you go on your first attempt?
Theoretically, with bermuda, going from 1.5" to under 1" will reveal a lot of brown. Hence, the 1/3 rule.
What kind of bermuda do you have?
If common, it is quite difficult to keep it looking dark green under 1". I just raised by HOC (rotary) because it's easier to keep it looking lush around 1.25
Posted on 7/23/24 at 4:55 pm to bayoubengals88
It’s common Bermuda. I had last cut on the 17th before cutting again yesterday, the 22nd. I knew I was past due a cut but didn’t think it was going to look that bad. That’s 5 days and I usually cut every 3 days. Thinking of lowering it to 1 inch and cut every two days instead. Next year, sand level and put top soil in big dips right before I put down sand so not to use as much masonry sand. Will core aerate before leveling as well. Been pushing 46-0-0 every two weeks and chelated iron every month. Using PGR next year as well to help it get right as well.
This post was edited on 7/23/24 at 4:57 pm
Posted on 7/23/24 at 5:12 pm to bayoubengals88
quote:
Hence, the 1/3 rule.
Dammit!! Totally forgot about this! Now that I’m thinking about it, I was cutting every two days during May and half of June but started waiting until 3/4 days because it was hard for me to see where I was cutting because it was so short. Didn’t adjust because of the hottest part of year, late June and July, and grass started growing faster because of the heat, fertilizer and rain. It has been growing faster and haven’t cut it often enough. WHAT A DUMBASS!! Thanks for the help!!
Posted on 7/23/24 at 6:19 pm to shoelessjoe
quote:
It has been growing faster and haven’t cut it often enough. WHAT A DUMBASS!!
no big deal. It grows fast as you know! I think it maybe be a bigger problem that you are trying to mow low on an uneven lawn with a large reel mower.
But I could be wrong. I don’t know how uneven it really is.
Posted on 7/23/24 at 8:00 pm to shoelessjoe
I'd also check out Bermuda lawn dominators on Facebook.
Posted on 7/23/24 at 8:08 pm to LordSnow
Already joined
Posted on 7/23/24 at 10:32 pm to shoelessjoe
Follow-up question. Should I stop using the reel mower for the next few cuts since I am trying to catch up with all the rain? Cut yesterday but thinking of waiting until rain stops, then try the HOC reset after I get dry weather.
Posted on 7/24/24 at 6:46 am to shoelessjoe
I couldn’t tell you. You know your lawn better. I certainly would avoid making ruts.
I was cutting every day or every other at just below 1”.
Just now I went four days and raised HOC. Be patient (if you can) and take what the rain gives you.
I was cutting every day or every other at just below 1”.
Just now I went four days and raised HOC. Be patient (if you can) and take what the rain gives you.
Posted on 7/24/24 at 6:55 am to shoelessjoe
Be very careful on bermuda lawn dominators. Most of those guys don't know jack shite and give really horrible advice.
As for your lawn if it is thick and if you try to cut too much off with a reel mower it will typically be wavy and need a double cut-north/south and east-west. The yellowing/browing is caused by the mow and shouldn't be of much concern. Just mow one notch lower than you plan to maintain your lawn and then mow every other day if possible. Fertilize a couple days before you reset the height so that way the grass is prepared to grow.
As for your lawn if it is thick and if you try to cut too much off with a reel mower it will typically be wavy and need a double cut-north/south and east-west. The yellowing/browing is caused by the mow and shouldn't be of much concern. Just mow one notch lower than you plan to maintain your lawn and then mow every other day if possible. Fertilize a couple days before you reset the height so that way the grass is prepared to grow.
Posted on 7/24/24 at 7:44 am to ronk
quote:I’ve been having to do this the past 2 weeks. Never been a PGR guy because I enjoy mowing, but not when I make that 2nd perpendicular pass in 100% humidity and 95 degree heat.
double cut-north/south and east-west
Posted on 7/24/24 at 7:59 am to Tifway419
Any of you Bermuda guys have "float" issues yet this season with your reel mowing?
If so, are you scalping / verticutting...or just double cutting?
If so, are you scalping / verticutting...or just double cutting?
Posted on 7/24/24 at 8:19 am to Ziggy
I have. It just depends on how often I cut. If it starts happening I"ll bring it down with a rotary.
Posted on 7/24/24 at 9:03 am to ronk
quote:
I"ll bring it down with a rotary.
I have to do this if I miss a mow or 2. Adjusting my reel mower is a pain in the arse so I have to use a rotary to get it low enough for it cut effectively. At the rate we're going it will be next week before I can even start to get it down.
Posted on 7/24/24 at 12:02 pm to shoelessjoe
Been cutting mine at 5/8. Dropped it to 7/16. Got some scalping. With this rain I haven’t cut in 5 days. Front yard is getting long. So will have to raise so not to get browning
Just decide how short you want to go that’s gonna require aeration, verticutting and top dressing lot of goon info on Bermuda dominators on face book and they have a reel mower group also.
Are you in baton rouge
Just decide how short you want to go that’s gonna require aeration, verticutting and top dressing lot of goon info on Bermuda dominators on face book and they have a reel mower group also.
Are you in baton rouge
Posted on 7/24/24 at 12:06 pm to Ziggy
Yep. I’ve verticut twice already if you got Bermuda you gonna get floating. It’s inevitable if it gets to long and I use grass catcher it’s worse do to the added weight of the grass
I double cut all the time
I double cut all the time
Posted on 7/24/24 at 8:23 pm to ole man
What are you using to verticut?
I haven't been able to cut since Saturday due to all this rain...
I haven't been able to cut since Saturday due to all this rain...
Posted on 7/25/24 at 12:59 am to ronk
quote:
Fertilize a couple days before you reset the height so that way the grass is prepared to grow.
Been spraying 46-0-0 every two weeks. 1/2 pound per 1k
Posted on 7/25/24 at 9:15 am to ole man
quote:
Sun joe
I figured - that seems the machine of choice to use for verticutting.
Thank you sir.
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