Just scalped my new lawn, new Mclane mower cuts too short

myb18c – posted 15 October 2011 03:56

Just sodded my yard with el toro about 2 months ago. Been mowing with a rotary mower, but wanted a cleaner cut. So I purchased a Mclane reel mower from sears. But the longest length it cuts is 1 1/2″. Compared the the 2 1/2″ I used to cut it at. I basically murdered my yard. Scalped and brown. This is my first post. The guy I bought the grass from said, its okay. It will grow back. But will it fill in, or be scalped every other week? They don’t make the Mclane’s cut up to 2 1/2″ anymore. 1 1/2″ max. Any info will help.

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo2/mazdaspeed808/IMG_1140.jpg

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo2/mazdaspeed808/IMG_1269.jpg

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo2/mazdaspeed808/IMG_1279.jpg

[This message has been edited by myb18c (edited 15 October 2011).]

jugheadfla – posted 15 October 2011 08:20

yowsers, that is some serious scalping. Are you sure there isn’t something wrong with the mower? Looks like it did more than just scalp. The thing about Zoysia is yes it will grow back and heal itself, but this process is very slow compared to other warm weather grasses like St Aug.

myb18c – posted 16 October 2011 02:00

quote:Originally posted by jugheadfla:yowsers, that is some serious scalping. Are you sure there isn’t something wrong with the mower? Looks like it did more than just scalp. The thing about Zoysia is yes it will grow back and heal itself, but this process is very slow compared to other warm weather grasses like St Aug.

Brand new 20″ Mclane mower out of the box, set to its highest setting 1 1/4″. Been watering at 6am, 1pm, and 5pm. Just to keep it from drying. It’s hot here in Hawaii. Just priced out a Tru-cut today, and the cheapest one on sale is $1440. YIKES!!! The sod I bought was grown on plastic. Would that have anything to do with the grass not growing closer to the ground?

aleicgrant – posted 16 October 2011 13:17

ugh why did you keep going after the first pass 🙁

less is more when it comes to zoysia

myb18c – posted 17 October 2011 02:21

quote:Originally posted by aleicgrant:ugh why did you keep going after the first pass 🙁

less is more when it comes to zoysia

Been almost a week since scalping. I can’t believe its back green. Not full, but confident it’ll be there in about another couple weeks. Was just stems, now the leaves are sprouting back. Should I return the Mclane mower and go back to a rotary? I’ll add an updated picture tomorrow. Do all lawns start high. Cause around 1 1/2″ are all stems. After the first pass I called the distributor, and they said it was okay.

jod788 – posted 17 October 2011 12:43

Wow…that’s the highest setting on the mower? I wouldn’t want that mower – at least not in this climate I live in! I bought a $200 Fiskars 18″ push reel mower (no motor) -it cuts beautifully. Every review I’ve ever read on the mower is pretty much 5 stars – everyone seems to love it. Can’t beat the price either. Plus, it will cut up to like 4″. I cut mine at about 2.5″. Worth a shot – if you don’t like it, return it. If you do – you just saved yourself a lot of money.

aleicgrant – posted 17 October 2011 15:05

I know the fiskars was just down to $170 with free shipping on Amazon. keeping an eye out for it to drop again

mrmumbels – posted 19 October 2011 07:01

Holy! I would have stopped after the first foot.

Luckily it looks like it was healthy to begin with so you MAY recover before the winter.

Where are you located?

I scalped my first year once it was semidormant and it’s the last time i ever do that. Here in the Tampa area having it thick in the winter helps it from going fully dormant and also stops weeds from coming up in the spring.

myb18c – posted 19 October 2011 12:05

quote:Originally posted by mrmumbels:Holy! I would have stopped after the first foot.

Luckily it looks like it was healthy to begin with so you MAY recover before the winter.

Where are you located?

I scalped my first year once it was semidormant and it’s the last time i ever do that. Here in the Tampa area having it thick in the winter helps it from going fully dormant and also stops weeds from coming up in the spring.

I live on Oahu, which is in Hawaii. Its been about 7 days since the scalping. It is fully recovered. I will post pics sometime tonight. I ended up modifying the wheels on the Mclane mower.

myb18c – posted 20 October 2011 03:16

From this a week ago

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo2/mazdaspeed808/IMG_1279.jpg

To this today (watered twice 6am and 5pm one week straight)

http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo2/mazdaspeed808/IMG_1442.jpg

Actually mowed it at 2″ just to get it even.

Modified the Mclane mower to cut at 2.5″ when the max height was 1.5″ Problem solved. Good learning experience. No scared ’em, going grow back!!!

gregau33 – posted 05 July 2012 17:12

Can you please let me know how you modified your Mclane reel mower to cut at the higher cut range? I just bought one, and am waiting for it to come in. I have Empire Zoysia at my house, and it is the most thick and beautiful grass in the neighborhood. I just don’t want to do any permanent damage to it.

I have seen many people people who cut zoysia a little below one inch, and it looks great. Of course this is done with a reel mower (which you have). Maybe you took off too much at once??? What cut height are you cutting your zoysia at now?

Thanks

Houndawg – posted 03 November 2012 23:30

I like mine an inch or two deep. Seems like it keeps weeds away better.

Houndawg – posted 03 November 2012 23:36

You really can’t tell how deep it is until you walk on it. I like that thick plush feeling.