How To Get Rid Of Moss In Your Lawn For Good
To learn how to eliminate moss in your lawn, you need to know what causes moss in a lawn. The answer is relatively straightforward.
Grass thrives in soil thatâs light, fertile, and warm, but moss grows in conditions that other plants canât handle. Itâs everywhere: moss spores float in the air, germinate and mature with moisture, one thing thatâs not lacking in the Irish atmosphere. Your task is to figure out whatâs behind these conditions.
Some common causes of moss include:
- Excessive shade
- High or low soil pH
Growing Thick Healthy Grass To Prevent Weeds
The best way to prevent weeds, moss, or anything else besides grass from taking over your lawn is to grow thick, healthy grass. The more deep-rooted and dense your grass is, the fewer nutrients and less water and light there are for competing vegetation. The best defense, as they say, is a good offense. Growing and maintaining a healthy lawn is the best way to beat out weeds.
To get a thick, healthy lawn, you need to start with top-of-the-line turfgrass. The varieties youll find at The Turfgrass group are exclusive to our Certified Grower network. We have scientifically perfectedand patentedthe best of these grass families: Bermuda, Zoysia and Centipede varietals. So if youre ready to take your lawn to the next level, consider turf from The Turfgrass Group. You can find a grower for any of our varieties right here.
Scarification Step : Remove A Good Volume Of Moss
Using your chosen tool you should aim to remove a good volume of moss and thatch, setting the blades/tines so that they only just brush the soil surface. You should not aim to remove all of the moss instead rake until you can start to see some soil beneath, while still leaving plenty of grass cover which will then be able to spread out and thicken up where the moss used to be.
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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.
Getting Rid Of Moss In Your Lawn With Chemicals
The two most common ingredients in moss-killing chemicals are iron sulfate and glyphosate. Iron sulfate will start damaging moss in a matter of hours and effectively kill it within two days. This ingredient is commonly found in fertilizers and wont harm your lawns grass.
Glyphosate, on the other hand, is non-selective and will kill both the moss and grass it comes into contact with.
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Can U Grow Grass On Top Of Moss
Similarly, you cannot just plant grass over moss and expect it to take. Instead, you need to treat the conditions that are causing the moss to grow in the first place. One of these can be an overly shady area. To fix this problem, you can consider cutting down trees or shrubs that cast large shadows over your lawn.
How Do I Get Rid Of Moss In My Lawn Nz
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Similarly, how do I get rid of moss in my lawn naturally?
Ways to Kill Moss on Your Lawn
Also, why do I have moss in my lawn? 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. Too much shade for acceptable grass growth is a common underlying cause for moss invasion.
Similarly, you may ask, how do you get rid of moss in your lawn?
Once the cultural factors are fixed that caused the moss to appear, the moss can be eradicated using a simple solution of water and dish soap.
What is the best moss killer for lawns?
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Tips On Using Moss Killer
Scarification Step : Apply Moss Killer
Now is a great time to apply your chosen moss killer when a great deal of the moss has been removed. The solution will penetrate the moss more effectively, killing almost all of the plant.
A great method would be to apply the moss killer a month or so before scarification and then a few days after, but be sure to follow the instructions on your specific brand of moss killer to avoid overdosing.
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What Causes Moss In Lawns
Moss thrives in damp and wet, cool conditions.
- Bad drainage. If the underlying soil is compacted and clayey, and doesn’t drain well, it can remain excessively wet after rainfall
- Topology of the Lawn. If your lawn isn’t flat and at the bottom of a slope, or has slightly hollow shaped sections like a saucer , water will tend to collect. This in addition to bad drainage can make the lawn excessively wet
- Lack of Nourishment. If you don’t feed the lawn, moss can out compete grass
- Shade. Sun tends to dry out the lawn and reduce the effects of water logging. However in the shade of buildings or under trees, moss can thrive in low light conditions while grass struggles. You may have noticed this in a forest where conditions are damp and moss grows on trees but very little grass is to be seen
- Climate. There’s not much you can do about this. If you live in a country which has a mild climate and lots of rain, moss can be a serious problem although growth will stall somewhat during long dry spells in the summer
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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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 lawns 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.
When To Apply The Moss Killer Solution
Late spring or early fall are the best times to kill lawn moss. Killing moss should always be done before seeding your lawn, which is best done in the early fall.
Always apply the dish detergent and water mixture when the grass is moist. also, check the weather to make sure there’s no call for rain in the forecast within 24 hours of application.
Avoid using the dish liquid and water method for moss that appears on your roof. Moss on your roof needs to be quickly, but gently, removed with commercial preparations so your roof tiles remain undamaged.
The Spruce / Nusha Ashjaee
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Making Your Lawn Healthier
How To Kill Lawn Moss With Dish Soap
Related Articles
Moss is a primitive plant that reproduces by spores. It is a thick mat of tiny green leaves and threadlike stems. Moss grows on wood, bare soil, rocks and any other surface where moist, shady conditions are present. Moss does not kill grass, and it produces its own food. But it is an indicator of poor conditions that need to be addressed for a lawn to be healthy and moss-free. Once the cultural factors are fixed that caused the moss to appear, the moss can be eradicated using a simple solution of water and dish soap.
Raise soil pH to make the soil more favorable to growing grass and less favorable for moss. Add lime to the soil with a lawn spreader according to the package instructions to make the soil less acidic.
Improve the drainage in the lawn. Aerate the soil to improve air circulation. Add soil or dig trenches to get water to drain off of the lawn into a designated area. Less standing water will mean less moisture for the moss.
Fertilize the lawn. Have the soil tested by a local university extension to determine what nutrients are lacking. Fertilize the lawn with the correct fertilizer for your soil test according to the package instructions.
Reduce watering. Water the grass only when it looks like it needs water, rather than on a set schedule. This will keep excess water from collecting in the soil.
Rake up the dead moss once it turns brown or yellow. If more moss appears, repeat the treatment until it stops returning.
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Spray On With A Spray Bottle
For more accurate dispersal you can use a pump sprayer and dilute the iron sulphate in water.
What you’ll need:
A calm, wind free day
How to apply:
Fill your sprayer half way up with water and then add the Iron Sulphate . Fill your sprayer up to the max level then seal.
At this point you should shake / agitate your sprayer to ensure the Iron Sulphate is evenly dissolved.
Pump your spray bottle and start spraying the treated areas.
If treating a large area a blue dye can be added to ensure you don’t miss bits.
Control Lawn Moss By Raking
Raking is the most obvious technique that most people often ignore. Maybe the method is uncommon because it involves a lot of effort. However, this is an effective way to eliminate moss because, unlike grass in your lawn, the moss does not have actual roots. Be sure to remove most of the moss from the grass with lots of raking and scraping.
Note that this technique cannot eradicate moss. Even when done thoroughly, it will leave behind moss spores that may regrow if you cannot improve the condition of your lawn for grass to thrive.
You can use the following raking equipment depending on the extent of your moss problem:
Rake by hand
This tactic is effective for small patches of moss in your lawn. Besides, if your lawn is small, you do not need a power rake to loosen and lift moss from the grass. Instead, walk in the lawn with a composite bin or trash can and rake as you remove and collect moss. The most efficient way to use a rake is to try and loosen the moss from different angles.
Use a Mower Dethatching Blade
A more extensive moss problem will require a tool such as a dethatching blade to help you remove the moss with ease. This simplifies the task by making you that you can detach your lawn while removing moss. The push mower works best in removing most of the moss in your lawn it pulls up a thick layer of moss, soil, and dead grass.
However, if your main aim is to remove moss alone, you can detach it at any convenient time.
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Moss Killer Or Iron Sulphate
Youre going to have to kill the moss!
Applying a moss killer, or Ferrous Sulphate will kill the moss and turn it black.
I recommend you choose a water-soluble moss killer like Pro-Kleen. Granular products usually come as a feed, weed, and moss killer. Theyre good for keeping moss at bay but as a dedicated moss killer, theyre pretty useless.
Your lawn will look horrible for a little while but itll thank you for it when the moss is gone.
How To Kill Moss
Once you have identified and corrected the problem that was causing the grass to die in the first place, you can start the process of killing the moss and replanting the grass.
Knowing how to kill green moss is not as important as how to have a healthy lawn. Remember, when you kill moss in the lawn, you will only be successful if you take steps to ensure that your lawn is healthy. Without correcting your lawns problems, you will only find yourself ridding your lawn of moss again.
Note: Any recommendations pertaining to the use of chemicals are for informational purposes only. Chemical control should only be used as a last resort, as organic approaches are safer and more environmentally friendly.
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