Best time to mow down bermuda Cancel The title field is required!

1. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   10/11/2017 9:10 PM

   Question,
   
   We are in SW MO, transition zone, and have had some of our Quickstand Bermuda creep out into our roughs, in some cases, it was spread our where we want to go ahead and mow this down to widen our fairways. Is this fall the best time to do that or should we wait for spring?
   
   Thanks!
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
2. Stephen Ravenkamp

   

   1 posts
   
   10/12/2017 7:10 AM

   Mel,
   I see no reason to wait. It will be going dormant soon, anyhow, so if it was me I would mow down prior to dormancy. That will give it a little time to get used to the new height. But I don't think it really makes a big difference whether you do it now, when it is dormant or in the Spring. I assume you don't overseed or you would already be scalping it anyhow.

   
   
   
   
3. Chase Best

   

   0 posts
   
   10/12/2017 12:10 PM

   Not saying do or don't but the bermuda is in storage mode right now getting ready for winter. I would think it could make the plant use its energy if reducing heights drastically.
   
   Chase Best

   
   
   
   
4. Paul Hallock

   

   6 posts
   
   10/12/2017 3:10 PM

   I would do it in spring, before it breaks dormancy or right as it does.

   
   
   
   
5. Keith Fellenstein

   

   0 posts
   
   10/13/2017 10:10 AM

   I would also wait for spring. Typically in the transition zone we are trying to raise heights this time of year to give the plant every opportunity to create and store carbohydrates for the winter. Do you see any advantage to cutting now? If not, play it safe and wait till spring.

   
   
   
   
6. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   10/13/2017 1:10 PM

   Fall is a bad time for doing bermuda. I would wait for early spring before it starts growing tall or rough height. easier to train it then.

   
   
   
   
7. Will Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   10/13/2017 4:10 PM

   Mel,
   
   I'm just down the road from you. We have Bermuda on 80% of the course. The best time to mow the Bermuda down would be when it is still dormant in the spring. The first 2 weeks of April. After it starts to green up you may want to put some ammonium sulfate down early to help with the fill-in. Good luck.
   
   Will Clark
   Eagle Creek Golf Club
   Joplin, Mo

   
   
   
   
8. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   10/16/2017 8:10 AM

   Scalping now will burn through the carbohydrates the plant is trying to store for the winter. Could lead to winter kill or a weak stand. I would also think it would be slow to green up and fill in before frost.
   
   Likewise, I never understood why some scalp Bermuda before overseeding for the same reasons mentioned above. And then wonder why their transition is a pain.

   
   
   
   
9. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   10/16/2017 3:10 PM

   Thanks all for the comments!
   
   I believe we will wait for spring, this way it will give us a chance to check and make sure we have irrigation coverage and change nozzles if needed, really take a good look at the amount of Bermuda we have in these areas, measure our "new" widths, and adjust our fertilizer orders/apps, get a feel for where and how we might remove the cool season still left, and put a plan of attack together to push the Bermuda where it might not be quite full.
   
   Appreciate all the responses!
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO