Neighbour helping
I poached the picture below from Facebook because it showed a classic lawn care mistake. Scalping is the ultimate sin because it erases the grass below its growth points. More on that in a second.
Now, when I work privately, I do it solo because it’s simpler. I exploit myself but I also stress less. In the case above, a neighbour walked up and started helping, which is nice, but also strange. What if he gets injured or blows out a window with a rock? Who is liable?
The ultimate sin
Now, I can handle wobbly mow lines and even a few mohawks, but not scalping. Scalping is the ultimate sin because scalped grass can’t grow back. It eventually re-colonizes the bare spots by sending runners in, but it’s slow. Which means, the lawn looks like hell for a long time.
That’s why late season scalps can get you fired because grass stops growing late in the season as temperatures drop. Just as you need the scalp to green up. I’ve seen this done with a big ride-on mower and the boss was livid. I’m pretty sure the landscaper got an early layoff that year.
Why scalps are bad
Grass blades have meristems, or growth points. located in the lower third of every grass blade. When you cut off the upper third, the blade responds by growing. But if you cut below the meristem (scalp the grass) no growth occurs. The scalped spot stays bare until neighbouring grasses send in runners. Eventually the scalped spot should recover, but it’s slow. And the last thing you want your clients to see is scalped, black spots in their lawns.
Scalping is a beginner mistake; and it can also happen with line trimmers.
Pro tip: stop immediately
Years ago I personally witnessed a new, but supposedly experienced worker, run a commercial 30″ deck X-mark mower over the lawn edge. And he kept going, scalping the lawn edge for several meters. When you notice that your lawn is getting scalped, stop. Yes! Stop the carnage.
Your job as a landscaper is to cut lawns at the proper height and leave them looking healthy and beautiful. Scalping is the very opposite of that objective. Practice and never scalp your lawns.
It’s OK to tell your neighbours that you don’t need their help.
