Keep Moss From Growing Back
Removing moss is easy, but its only the first step. To get rid of moss in your lawn and keep it from growing back, you have to change the conditions in your lawn that led to its initial growth. While soil conditions dont necessarily cause or prevent moss from growing, moss growth is an indicator of some soil problems.
What Equipment Do I Need
All you need is some string, pegs and a sprayer. You can either use a small sprayer with a capacity of about 1 gallon or 5 litres, or alternatively use a knapsack sprayer which you carry on your back. These hold about 16 to 22 litres of mix and although need refilling less frequently, are more cumbersome to use and weighty for those of you of slight build, and not used to carrying heavy loads on your back. Remember 20 litres of water weighs 20 kilos or 44 pounds. You can of course leave a knapsack sprayer on the ground during use and partially fill it, but it will have to be constantly moved around.
A small capacity sprayer like this one is very useful
Image by permission Draper Tools Ltd
How To Prevent Moss From Coming Back
After all the hard work of removing moss from your lawn, you need to put in measures to keep it from coming back.
Moss spreads by releasing spores, which means there is no way to fully remove moss from your yard permanently. What you can do is address the underlying issues causing moss to grow. This is the best way to keep it from coming back.
Regularly watering and feeding your lawn the right way will keep it healthy enough that moss will be unlikely to grow.
For an added measure, add moss control products into your normal lineup. Lilly Miller has a line of products under the Moss Out! Brand that are highly effective and are also paired with fertilizers. You can find them locally, or .
Monitoring your soil acidity and applying lime is a longer-term fix, but one that cannot be rushed. This is also true in the cases of drainage installation. Once those issues are solved, you can address your moss issues in earnest.
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Why Moss Grows In Lawns
The first thing to understand before taking steps for killing moss is that moss is an opportunistic plant. It will not push out grass or kill plants to take hold. It will simply move in to a spot where nothing is growing. Moss in your lawn is normally an indicator that something deeper is wrong with your lawn, and the moss is simply taking advantage of the empty dirt that dead grass left behind. So really, the first step to truly ridding your lawn of moss is to first treat the deeper issue with your lawn.
First, check for the following reasons why your grass may be dying, as these reasons not only kill the grass but create an ideal environment for moss.
- Compacted soilsoil compaction kills grass roots and creates a smooth area for moss to hold onto.
- Poor drainage soil that is continually damp or even swampy will suffocate grass roots and also provide a damp environment that moss loves.
- Low pH Grass needs a moderate or slightly alkaline soil to thrive. If your soil has a low pH and is high in acid, it will kill the grass. Coincidentally, moss thrives in high acid soil.
- Lack of sunlightShade is notorious for making it difficult for grass to grow. It is also the preferred light for moss.
Removing Moss Using Chemicals
If youve really just had enough of your moss problem and want to bring out the big guns, then youll want to try using iron sulfate or another sulfate-based herbicide. These herbicides are a bit less common than other options, but they tend to have a very high success rate specifically when used on moss. The iron found in these mixtures weakens the moss dramatically, which then makes it easy to kill and remove. To really get the job done, use an iron sulfate treatment on the area, then spray it with the moss soap we mentioned above and finish by raking the affected area to pull up the moss once it has died.
Have other weeds that are wreaking havoc on your lawn in addition to the moss? Fit Turfs Bed and Border Weed Control is a great option for full-service treatment that will knock out those pesky weeds in no time. Contact our friendly customer service team today to schedule a consultation or to receive a price quote tailored to your specific project.
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Firing The Initial Salvo
How do you get rid of the moss currently growing in the lawn? Well, since moss is shallow-rooted, you may be able simply to rake it out. But if you do need to apply an herbicide, take note that there are both chemical and organic options. Among the latter, baking soda is sometimes used, as well as soap .
For example, some people recommend filling a garden sprayer with 2 gallons of lukewarm water and mixing in a box of baking soda. Others mix dish soap and water in a garden sprayer .
But, again, such efforts are only a first step. For long-lasting success, it is critical that you conduct an investigation into the root cause or causes of the problem.
Good Timing & Lawn Recovery
Moss produces spores generally in April. In Eastbourne it will be early, in Lanark itll be late and in Malvern the middle part of the month as a rule, but not guaranteed! It spores again in September. Therefore, doing the business before sporing, if possible is generally a good idea.
If possible can be a problem though. When performing any invasive treatment to the lawn we need the lawn to be able to recover and repair itself in as short a time as possible afterward. If it doesnt then you may swap a weed problem for your moss problem! Not a good idea, so this means warmth, fertiliser and moisture must be available to get the grass recovering.
Therefore, leaving the raking until early to mid April allows things to warm up a little. There is usually plenty of moisture around and the timing will be right for a fertiliser application afterwards. Though the raking out shouldn’t commence until things have warmed up on the basis you’ll want to over seed as soon as possible afterwards, any application of moss killers can be done several weeks before raking commences.
In autumn, just wait until the rains start. This will fire off the moss but will also mean the grass can recover with the rain and September sun.
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Moss In Lawns Now Youre Prepared
As the owner of LawnChick.com, Im obviously all about grass, and if you want to get rid of moss in a lawn or yard, the tips Ive provided in this article will help you do just that.
But if youre open to it, and are eco-conscious, there are certainly benefits from leaving moss in your yard, and even embracing moss and transitioning part or all of your yard to a moss lawn.
Can I Rake Moss Without Killing It First
You can choose to rake away moss from your lawn without using a treatment to kill it first. However, its generally better to kill it first.
The benefits of killing the moss first are:
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Using Ferrous Sulphate As A Moss Killer
Ferrous sulphate is often seen advertised as a solution to lawn moss. Most chemical moss killers contain ferrous sulphate, and when contained in a proprietary moss killer and correctly applied, it is effective.
However, it should not be used on its own as a moss killer, firstly because it is not approved as a pesticide, and secondly because used in the wrong quantities it is likely to do more harm than good, killing off grass as well as moss.
Reseeding A Moss Covered Lawn
If the moss in the lawn was particularly heavy and the bare patches are large then some seed may need to be applied afterwards as if left thin and bare moss can rapidly spread back into the open spaces.
There is no point spreading seed on top of moss. Grass seed needs to make contact with the soil in order to germinate so simply scattering seed would be a waste. For best results heavily scarify the lawn first.
Once scarified scatter a layer of seed on the bare soil, at approx 35g per m2. Bare seed will rapidly dry out so this should be covered with a layer of soil to help hold in moisture and heat. The new seed should germinate in 7-14 days but make sure it is done in late spring or early autumn when soil temperatures are 8 degrees or higher.
If this all sounds a bit too much we can take the care of everything for you. We offer a full lawn disease treatment service that will take call of all your moss and fungus. Choose from our Standard, Essential or Ultimate plan and we will take care of the rest.
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Killing Moss Naturally With Baking Soda Easiest Way
The easiest and efficient way of getting rid of moss is with plain old baking soda. This method is great for tackling smaller patches of moss or even crabgrass, and since its completely natural, it wont hurt the environment or your garden plants, soil, or water.
Before getting started, it is recommended that you wear a pair of gloves when making the baking soda and water mixture to kill moss naturally. The best time to apply this natural moss killing solution is in the afternoon when the grass is dry.
You can make the mixture as potent as you want depending on the density or quantity of moss, but the minimum is one tablespoon baking soda to one gallon of water. For small patches of moss, its best to start off with three tablespoons baking soda to one quart of water.
If youre dealing with large patches of moss, then you will have to step it up a few notches with eight tablespoons of baking soda to one quart water, and sprinkle some baking soda over the affected area to enhance its effectiveness. Check in a day or two, and repeat the process with higher mixture potency or rake and discard the dead moss appropriately.
This is a temporary solution, and you will have to do it frequently, somewhere between two and three times a week. If youre wondering how baking soda kills moss, it increases the pH to a level that is inhospitable to moss.
How To Kill Moss On Your Lawn
Moss in a lawn competes with grass, looks unsightly and can cause heart ache for your lawn mower as it struggles to cut through the thick growth at the start of the season. Some people like daisies, moss and other wild flowers spread throughout their lawn. However if your are puritanical like me about your lawn and believe only green grass should grow in it, you will likely want to eradicate moss. Fortunately it is easy to treat and measures can be taken to prevent it growing in the first place.
Moss looks nice on trees, but do you want it growing in your lawn?
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Killing Moss On Driveway
You can use iron sulphate on a driveway, but it does have a tendency to stain, and this is more noticeable on gravel or concrete. You could spray a patch in a area that isn’t prominent first, and see how it turns out. An alternative is to use a solution of bleach and water. Always use eye protection when spraying bleach solution.
What Causes Moss Growth On Lawns
Moss thrives in cool, shady, moist conditions, especially poorly drained grass.
It also grows on less healthy lawns, especially worn-out turf, and areas of sparse, patchy grass. The less grass coverage, the easier it is for moss to take hold.
Also, moss often comes about when your soil pH is too low , especially below a pH of 6, although it can also grow when your lawn is too alkaline .
Moss often grows in the spring or autumn, when the weather isnt too hot, nor too cold.
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The Importance Of Testing Your Soil
Mosses grow well in acidic lawns that are harmful to grasses. Grass grows best in lawns that are slightly, but not too acidic. You can test your lawns acidity by purchasing a soil test kit .
For optimal grass growth, your lawn should have a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0. Adding lime to your lawn will lower your soils acidity, making it sweeter, and therefore raising the pH level.
That said, adding lime to your yard is not a miracle moss cure, despite what you may have heard. But a lime application usually wont hurt your lawn either, and its pretty cheap and easy.
Additionally, lawn test kits will give you levels on other nutrients your soil might need. If your grass isnt healthy, it could just need fertilizer.
Lawns need vitamins, just as people do, and if grass doesnt have enough nitrogen, phosphorous, or potassium, its health suffers. Properly feeding and fertilizing your lawn will make it healthy enough to withstand moss growth, and you can even purchase fertilizer with moss control ingredients added.
However, lawns with other ailments can still fall victim to moss. Insects and disease will hurt your lawn, leaving it open to moss growth. Also, if your lawn has a lot of foot traffic, or your grass has damage from pets, moss can grow.
Surprisingly, one of the more common risks to lawns is mowing it too low. The optimal length for grass is about 4-inches and should be mowed down to 3-inches.
How To Control Moss On Hard Surfaces
Moss will also grow on hard surfaces, especially in shady, damp areas of the yard. While they wont damage the surface theyre growing on, they can make patios, steps, porches, and sidewalks slippery. Apply a product that is safe for use on hard surfaces, like Scotts® MossEX 3-in-1 Ready-Spray®, which kills moss, algae, and lichens without staining.
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How To Get Rid Of Moss On Your Lawn
Moss loves to grow in moist and shaded areas. It can spread quickly to take over your lawn. We know moss produces spores during April and September. So to tackle the problem before it spreads follow these steps below in early spring or late summer for a moss free lawn.
1. Spread a chemical moss killer
A Feed, Weed & Mosskiller is an effective way of removing moss. This is a granular fertiliser that works over 2 weeks to kill off weeds and moss and feed your lawn. Feed, Weed & Mosskiller will fertilise your grass giving it a great boost. It will also kill most common weeds such as dandelions and plantains over the same approximate 2-3 weeks.
2. Remove existing moss
After the moss has gone black and died it is time to remove it by scarifying the lawn. Depending on the size of your garden you may wish to scarify with a spring tine rake for smaller lawns or an automated scarifier for larger lawns. An automated scarifier can be bought or hired. It will remove more material at a quicker pace than by hand. When raking by hand aim to rake in the one direction, then at slightly different angles to extract the remaining moss. After scarifying you may notice patches in your lawn, this is just where the moss was. These patches just need a little overseeding.
3. Overseeding your lawn
How To Rid Your Lawn Of Moss
Moss becomes most prevalent in Winter when there is additional moisture around and a lack of warmth to dry out surfaces.
What is Moss?
Mosses are small green non-vascular plants that grow in clumps. They are generally only a few centimetres tall with extremely thin leaves.
Moss enjoys conditions that are wet, shaded and compacted. It is important to understand that moss itself isnt the problem, it is the favourable conditions that the moss enjoys growing in. Turf on the other hand, generally hates these conditions, so you need to act quick before the moss continues to spread.
How to remove Moss
If you are already plagued with Moss, then you will need to remove it to enable your lawn to repair and spread back into the affected area.
- You can do so by physically removing it with a spade or rake, being sure to get underneath it and remove the roots from the ground as you do.
- Moss Killer usually contains iron sulphate. Iron can be good for your lawn when it is deficient. But Moss doesnt like it too much, so an application of iron sulphate will usually cause the moss to die off.
- Mixing water and dish soap and spraying the Moss with it, is also another method often used to kill Moss.
How to ensure Moss stays away
The key is to focus on the cause of the problem, so that moss doesnt keep growing back again.
Aeration Aerating compacted ground will help the area drain better and allow oxygen and nutrients to the roots of your lawn allowing it to fight back against the Moss.
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