How To Get Rid Of Moss In A Lawn
| Moss in the lawn can be a problem |
WILLHow to get rid of moss: Step 1 – Understand the cause
- Is the affected area covered by shade? If your grass plant does not receive enough light, it may be weakened and bullied into submission by the more dominant moss
- Is the area in a natural basin of the garden? Most lawns are not flat so water may run and collect in pools. This is not good for grass – but excellent news for moss
- How short is the grass? Mowing your grass too short can weaken it, especially when the plant is under stress
How to get rid of moss: Step 2 – Remove the moss from the lawn
| Scarifying removes thatch and moss |
Word of warning:DONT PANIC!How to get rid of moss: Step 3 – Change conditions
- Spike your lawn. Use a garden fork to spike your lawn – The Gardeners Journal wrote an article on how to do this. Again, there are tow-behind options for lawn tractors or powered walk-behind units you can hire. This process achieves two things. Firstly, it reduces compaction. The soil becomes looser and air can reach the roots of the grass plant. Secondly, it improves drainage. Water will drain away quicker. This improves growing conditions for your grass and makes life difficult for moss.
- Feed the lawn. When did you last treat your lawn to a good meal? Regular feeding in spring or in the early part of summer will give the grass the nutrients it needs to grow. Talk to your local garden centre about suitable weed and feed products
Moss Likes Clay And Wet Soils
Problem: Grass like any plant needs air around the roots. This can be limited in clay or compacted soils. This is not ideal for the grass and it can become stressed and weak. Growth will be slow, colour poor and it wont take long for moss to show. In addition, wet soils are often cooler than dry soils and this also reduces grass vigour.
Solution: You may be able to improve the drainage, or at least increase drainage in the top 2 just by hollow tining the lawn. It may need doing every autumn depending on your soil and local environment.
To further improve the drainage in heavy clays it requires the addition of sand or a sandy soil mixture. Unfortunately you usually need so much that it becomes impractical. Hollow tining and brushing sand into the holes will make very little difference as the depth and density of the holes is usually inadequate. Top dressing with sand is also not the answer as the sand is on top when you need it below the clay soil to have any draining effect!
If the clay content is so high the only way is to start from scratch and rotovate a suitable free draining mixture into you existing soil after removing your old turf.
For large lawns an alternative may be to install drainage pipes. Youll need a specialist drainage contractor for this as its not just a matter of putting in a bit of hardcore and a few pipes!
Tips On Using Moss Killer
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How To Repair And Improve Your Lawn
Looking to repair or improve your lawn? It can be as simple as patching, aerating, dethatching, and practicing proper mowing and irrigation methods.
Everyone wants a lush green lawn. But no ones a stranger to the occasional patchy, bare spot of thinning grass. The good news is you dont always have to start from scratch. There are several surefire ways to whip your lawn back into shape. You can patch any balding sections, mow and water properly, and aerate and dethatch to see serious improvements.
When it comes to maintaining a healthy, flourishing lawn, This Old House Reviews Team recommends hiring a professional lawn care company. Industry leader TruGreen offers overseeding in select areas, and all the fertilization, aeration, and weed control you need to get your lawn thriving everywhere but Alaska.
To get a free quote from TruGreen, call 866-817-2287 or fill out this form.
Solving Moss Problems In Lawns
Moss invasions such as this call for adjustments in lawn growing conditions.
Moss invading lawns is a common problem. Moss thriving in lawns signals that grass is weak and has thinned for some reason, allowing the moss to take over. There are many potential causes, including excessive shade, compacted soils, poorly drained soils, low soil fertility, high or low soil pH, and poor air circulation. Poor lawn care practices are another source of moss problems. General lack of care, including irregular mowing and little or no fertilizer applications are common problems leading to poor turf growth.
Adding limestone is a common “remedy” mentioned for moss control, but is not suggested unless a soil test has shown the pH needs to be raised. Many soils in northern Illinois have high pH values adding limestone will make this pH go even higher, adding to the lawn’s problem. Ferrous ammonium sulfate or ferric sulfate can be used to control moss to some extent. The moss will temporarily burn away, but tends to return fairly quickly. Raking out moss is another option usually followed by reseeding.
Modifying site conditions to favor lawn grasses and discourage moss is a suggested way to manage the problem. Too much shade for acceptable grass growth is a common underlying cause for moss invasion. Pruning trees and shrubs to improve air circulation and light penetration is a good starting point. Evaluate the site to make sure the proper grass for the conditions is being used.
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Will A Waterlogged Lawn Cause Moss
A waterlogged lawn is a problem that could enable the condition of your lawn to deteriorate into a lawn that has patchy and bare areas and this would be a condition that could enable moss to grow into these bare patches.
Moss does tend to thrive in damp conditions so if you have a permanently damp lawn this would make it a prime area for moss to take over, however, if your lawn is waterlogged and underwater this is not good for any plants.
When your lawn is waterlogged the condition of the grass will quickly deteriorate and if it is underwater for long enough the grass will completely die and this is a disaster in the fight against moss.
Aftercut Ultra Green Plus
Aftercut Ultra Green Plus prevents moss in your lawn without scorching it, giving your lawn a better chance to achieve beautiful results. The fertiliser includes a water management technology that when watered, moisture is released and drawn deep into the soil. As moss roots do not grow deep into the soil, water is unavailable to the moss, therefore causing the moss to dry out. Thats why Moss can easily be pulled out of the ground.
Furthermore, the feed that is contained within Aftercut Ultra Green plus helps to strengthen and encourage the grass to grow stronger and thicker and promises to achieve greener grass in just 3 days . If a lawn is full and thick it creates a hostile environment and crowds out the moss eliminating its chance to grow.
Finally, Ultra Green will make your lawn more stress resistant so it becomes more durable during spring & summer, helping the grass to withstand drought.
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What You Need For This Project
Tools
Rake it Out
Because moss has shallow roots, you may be able to get rid of it simply by raking it out. Vigourously rake your grass to ensure the moss comes out. A bit of grass might also come out, but grass has longer roots and will be able to survive a thorough raking.
Step Things up with Baking Soda
Try organic options first, with two main ones available:
Test the pH of Your Soil
Use a kit to determine the pH of your soil. Sometimes if your soil is too acidic, you may need a more alkaline soil to effectively compete with moss. Garden lime is a good tool to use in this case, as are compost and fertilizer.
Check the Moisture Content of Your Lawn
One of the strongest signs of a poor-draining lawn is water that puddles in areas and doesn’t dissipate. Poor-draining soil, such as a high clay content or high-traffic areas, can create excellent growing conditions for moss.
To combat high clay content, help it drain better by adding organic carbon, humus, compost, manure, or other organic matter.
Reduce Excessive Shade
Keep an Eye out for Other Stressors
Pesticides: The Last Resort
Will This Method Let Me Fix A Sloping Yard
Answer: The process of how to level a sloping lawn is a different and much more in-depth one than the primary leveling method for bumpy lawns described above. If your lawn needs to be re-graded, youll need to find your highest and lowest points, measure the angle or grade between them and correct accordingly.
Re-grading is often a more extensive project than homeowners choose to tackle on a DIY basis, so calling a professional landscaping company may be worthwhile if youre planning to change the slope of your entire yard.
When youre finished you wont believe how much easier it is to mow your grass.
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Kent & Stowe Scarifying Rake
A Scarifying Rake is ideal for encouraging healthy lawn growth by removing thatch, moss and dead grass cuttings opening up the soil surface to improve airflow and the uptake of nutrients and water preparing the ground for sowing new seeds and cutting through topsoil. Use this tool after mowing the lawn and prior to putting down lawn seed by using in a pull motion to scrape the moss from the lawn.
Hose Pipe And Sprinkler
If the weather is on your side you might not need to water the lawn.
However, if its dry and no rain is forecast, youll need to keep the soil moist to help the new grass seed germinate.
Use a sprinkler with a fine spray setting. This will keep the lawn damp without drowning the grass seed or washing it away.
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Does Cutting Grass Too Short Cause Moss
Cutting your grass too short could weaken your grass and allow moss to invade your lawn.
You may have noticed the recurring theme in this article of things that cause moss in your lawn is that generally, they can only occur when your grass or soil is not in the ideal condition for grass.
It all depends on the variety of grass on your lawn and your local climate on what the best cutting height for your grass is.
It is best to mow your grass to different heights at different times of the season, but, if you are a person who thinks scalping a lawn when you cut it so you have to mow it less often is a good idea you shouldnt be surprised when moss starts to take over your lawn.
How To Kill Moss In Lawns
It looks nice and green, but it could be smothering your grass. Learn how to prevent and control moss.
Got the green fuzzies in your yard? You’ve got moss! At first, you might not see it. After all, its green. But when you look more closely, perhaps you notice that shady part of your lawn has turned into fuzz. Moss may look nice on rocks and trees, but in lawns it means trouble. Controlling moss in the lawn starts with understanding why you have moss growing in the first place.
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How To Get Rid Of Moss In Your Lawn Step
As I mentioned, even a well-cared-for lawn might have a bit of moss in it from time to time in which case, you can treat it fairly gently. On the other hand, if your lawn is more moss than grass, then treatment will be much more invasive. Either way though, like most things when it comes to lawn care, timing is important. In order for your lawn to recover quickly and look the best it ever has, you need to choose a time of year when conditions are best for grass growth. That means doing it in either the spring or autumn when theres plenty on rain, sun and warmth.
Factors Leading To Moss Growth
- Overly wet soil – This is the most common factor. Poor drainage will lead to damp soil. This reduces grass growth and leads to moss exploting bare soil. Moss need wet conditions for spores to spread & reproduce
- Soil compaction – Excessive traffic or use of lawns can lead to compacted soil. This makes grass growth more difficult and leads to damp soil which again encourages moss growth
- Cutting grass too low – Overly enthusiastic grass cutting. Often we cut our grass too short, especially the first cut of the year, which should only see the grass being topped. But far too often I see lawns being somewhere between white & yellow in colour after a first cut. This is not suitable, it will stress out the grass, reducing growth & lead to moss growth. Scalping grass will also lead to moss
- Low fertility – lots of food means lots of healthy grass blades and as a result less moss on your grass
The above factors need to be resolved to ensure long term moss control. But before we concern ourselves with the long term, we need to solve the short term issue of moss on our lawns.
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How To Remove Moss From Your Yard
There are a few different ways to remove moss from your yard:
- Fix the problems that allow moss to grow
- Manually remove the moss from your lawn
- Use a chemical or other liquid-based solution
To fix the problems that allow moss to grow you should understand what conditions permit moss to growth. Moss grows in areas with heavy shade, poor drainage and on compact soils. This probably describes many lawns in your neighborhood or even your yard.
Take a look at your yard and see if there are any trees or shrubs preventing direct sunlight from reaching the grass for more than 34 hours a day or for 68 hours of filtered light. If so, trim the limbs blocking the sun or completely remove the tree/shrub.
If you notice areas of compact soil in your lawn that prevent water from soaking in, look into core aeration. This will remove cores of soil from your lawn to increase the amount of air, water and nutrients for your grass. Areas with poor drainage can be corrected with French drains, subsurface drainage tiles or by simply adding sand or soil to elevate the grass to receive more sunlight.
Manually removing moss and using a chemical solution on your lawn are other options. You can use a steel rake to aggressively rake over the moss, pulling it from the dirt and clearing the area. Chemical solutions can also eliminate moss with a couple of applications. However, killing the moss but not correcting the issues could result in a re-invasion.
Preventing Future Lawn Moss
To keep your lawn free from moss, take steps to correct the problems that allowed moss to grow. A soil test will confirm if your lawn needs lime to reduce soil acidity and encourage healthy grass growth. Take time to improve areas with poor drainage, and consider thinning nearby trees or shrubs to let more light reach grass below. If your soil is compacted, aeration helps reduce opportunities for moss to take hold and regular lawn maintenance goes a long way toward keeping grass healthy and strong.
By improving your lawn’s conditions and treating moss with effective products, you can kill moss quickly and keep it gone. Lilly Miller Moss Out! products can help you put unsightly lawn moss behind you and reclaim your turf for thick, green grass instead.
Lilly Miller and Moss Out! are trademarks of Central Garden & Pet Company.
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How To Repair A Lawn With Lots Of Moss
Related Articles
Though moss in your yard doesnt kill your grass, it can take over spots where youd like your grass to flourish. Moss thrives in damp, shady areas and tends to grow where grass has not or where weak-rooted grasses are attempting to survive. Though it requires a bit of effort, it is possible to remove moss from your lawn and gradually fill those spaces with grass for a healthier, more attractive lawn.
