Scalping

Cutting a relatively uneven turf surface too short, especially with bumps or humps being present, and especially when using a rotary mower in those circumstances. Mowing the edges of lawns with rotary mowers that do not have a rear roller can easily result in the rotary blade cutting into the lawn edge as it can be difficult to hold the mower level when one of the side wheels is hanging off the lawn in a flower bed or shrub border. Where an entire surface has been cut too short then this would be called Shaving a turf surface, as well as Close mowing.