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Moss is a primitive green coloured plant that has no roots, branches or leaves and can easily grow on any damp surface. It reproduces easily by spreading microscopic spores. Moss loves a damp lawn and, if left untreated, can cover a lawn. Autumn to early Spring weather in the UK is typically cold and wet; the perfect conditions for moss to thrive.
Moss competes for the same space as grass. If left to spread, moss will soon dominate, reducing the lush green grass year after year until you effectively have a moss lawn. That’s great if the desired effect is to make a Japanese moss garden. For those who want grass in their lawn, moss need to go!
Moss has taken over this lawn with very little visible grass left.
Before simply treating moss, take time to understand what is causing it to get the best from your lawn. The short version; 1) Apply an iron based product, mid Autumn to mid Spring to limit moss spreading. 2) Physically removing moss with a scarifier is usually is needed as it won’t break down naturally easily.
Below are the most common reasons for moss appearing in your lawn.
| Reason | Solution |
|---|---|
| Shade | Cut back overhanging vegetation to get more sunlight to the lawn |
| Thatch buildup | Scarification and hollow tine aeration |
| Poor drainage | Aeration. Consider specialist land drains for problem lawns |
| Grass too short | Raise mower cut height |
| Poor air circulation | Remove objects that restrict airflow |
| Grass is patchy | Sow quality new seed to thicken up the lawn |
| Leaves on lawn | Ensure leaves are cleared regularly |
| Soil too acidic | Add regular granular lime to help adjust Ph |
| Low nutrition | Add the correct fertiliser to increase nutrition |
We recommend applying a liquid iron (ferrous sulphate) spray or lawn sand. It’s a great way to limit any fresh moss growth and needs to be a routine part of your lawn care over Autumn/Winter to mid Spring. We prefer a high concentration liquid iron, with a wetting agent to draw the product into the moss. That is applied in our Autumn and Winter lawn treatments as it works faster and more consistently, limiting the spreading of moss. Products suitable for lawn moss treatments, applied in the correct way, will cause the moss to turn black, showing that it’s been dehydrated. You can then gently rake out the treated moss, otherwise new moss can easily grow on top of the dead moss.
What if moss is everywhere?
Moss does not decompose easily and in many cases it will need physically removing. For widespread moss, we recommend using a scarifier machine that will more effectively remove the moss. For lingering moss fragments a further moss treatment can be applied after scarification. You may find you need to repair bare areas with grass seed (overseeding) too, otherwise moss or weeds will fill those gaps.
Lawn Tiger can advise on the causes and solutions for moss appearing in your lawn. Please get in touch or get a free online quote today.
We’re always happy to help. You can call us on 01293 974358 or email [email protected]
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