Moss in Lawn Indicates :
Most gardeners have trouble at some stage with moss in lawn indicates the problem. This is unsightly and is often a result of poor growing conditions. By improving the health of the lawn, moss can be kept at bay.
What is the problem?
Moss can be a temporary problem following drought or waterlogging, or more persistent, suggesting a problem with underlying conditions. On new lawns this may be due to poor site preparation. On established lawns poor vigour, acidic soil conditions, a lack of feed, insufficient aeration, poor drainage, shade, close mowing and over-use are likely to blame.
Killing and removing the moss is just the start. To remain moss-free, the vigour of the grass must be improved and any other contributory factors addressed. Good autumn lawn maintenance when Moss in Lawn Indicates its essential to maintaining lawn health.
If, despite remedial action, moss remains a problem, such as under trees or in a poorly-drained site, consider alternatives to grass. Bear in mind that artificial turf may also suffer from problems with moss and other green growths.
Appearance :
There are several types of moss in lawn indicates that break grows on lawns. These are usually coarse, loose, green or yellowish-green tufts between the grass, but can form densely matted tufts or, in the case of Polytrichum, appear like small forests of miniature Christmas trees.
Moss in Lawn Indicates the turf an uneven color and surface. Loose mosses make the lawn feel spongy to walk on.
Cause :
Poor growing conditions favour the growth of moss in lawn indicates an issue. These might include:
- Sparse grass cover
- Worn areas of turf, especially along walkways and where children play
- Shady areas, especially beneath trees
- Compacted soil
- Wet weather and waterlogged conditions
- Drought-stressed grass
- Mowing too close
- Impoverished lawns or infertile soil
- Poorly prepared or poorly maintained lawns
- Acidic soil conditions
Control :
Non-weedkiller control
Scarification: If moss in lawn indicates removes loose autumn (September/October), by scarification (vigorous raking). On small lawns this can be done by hand, raking out the moss with a spring-tine rake, but on larger lawns mechanical scarifiers can be hired.
Non-chemical, bacteria-based products such as Viano MO Bacter Organic Lawn Fertiliser, Neudorff Organic CleanLawn and Evergreen No Rake claim good control of moss, as well as feeding the lawn. Mow the lawn short before application and leave 7-10 days before mowing again. These products require wetting before it becomes active and can be applied from March to October. The added benefit is that the dead moss should break down in situ, negating the need for scarifying.
Weedkiller control
Mosskillers containing sulphate of iron are the preferred treatment to apply in autumn or spring. When the moss blackens after two or three weeks use a spring-tine rake to remove it.
Mosskillers combined with a fertiliser (nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium, indicated by the abbreviations NPK) (e.g. Evergreen Complete 4 in 1 or Westland Aftercut All-in-One Feed, Weed and Moss killer or Maxicrop Moss Killer and Lawn Tonic liquid concentrate (contains seaweed extract) are beneficial where grass vigour is low.
Apply mosskillers either by hand or with a push-along spreader. Be careful not to apply lawn sand (ferrous sulphate mixed with a carrier) at too high a rate as this can blacken and kill the grass as well as the moss. Apply lawn mosskillers in fine weather. Some require watering after 48 hours if there has been no rain. Check pack for details.
Control with a mosskiller will only be temporary unless the conditions which allowed the moss to become established are improved.
New lawns: Good preparation should ensure moss control is rarely required on a new lawn. However, if the need does arise, double check the manufacturer’s recommendations on the pack before applying. Many products should not be applied within the first six months or after a certain number of cuts.
Artificial lawns: Brinton’s Patio Magic (containing benzalkonium chloride) will control moss on artificial play or sports surfaces which includes artificial lawns. Keep artificial turf in good condition by regular brushing. Ensure water is not allowed to pool on the surface.
Note on ferrous sulphate: Although ferrous sulphate is widely offered as a fertiliser and soil acidifying agent, unless it is contained within a proprietary lawn mosskiller it is not approved for use as a pesticide and cannot be legally used to control moss in lawn indicates. In addition, if it were to be applied as a mosskiller on lawns there is a high risk that it will blacken and potentially kill the grass – a problem seldom encountered with proprietary lawn mosskillers, especially those in pelleted forms, making them easy to apply evenly and accurately.
Disposing of dead moss
Dead moss raked out of lawns after treatment can be added to the compost heap. Although slow to rot in bulk, moss can be composted if well mixed with plenty (four times the volume of the moss) of other ingredients. Moss can be stored and added gradually as other ingredients become available. As moss is very widespread any spores that survive the composting process won’t add significantly to the risk of moss forming in the garden. The best practice is to avoid consigning moss in lawn indicates to the green waste collection; disposal by composting, or in extreme cases stacking or burial, is recommended.
This information is used from the Rhs website
