Controlling moss can be an uphill battle once it has established itself in your lawn. However, effective elimination may also be easier than you think. To make your lawn beautiful again, you need to remove the existing moss and control the conditions that invite it to grow. To moss inyour gardenTo fight them and enjoy thick, green grass, there are a few tips you should keep in mind. Below we will explain to you why moss exists, how you can remove moss from your lawn and how you can avoid it in the future.
Removing moss from the lawn: why does it even form?
A successful oneRemoval of mossbegins with the recognition that these are not like other unwanted lawn weeds. It dates back to prehistoric times and has not changed much over the years. This primitive plant does not process water and nutrients in the same way as more advanced plants. Therefore, normal control agents cannot counteract them. Even strong herbicides that are intended to eliminate all plant species do not always succeed in removing moss from lawns or preventing its return.
Grasses have a difficult time in shady areas with acidic, excessively moist or compacted soil. Mosses thrive under exactly these conditions. Where grasses fail, mosses find ideal growth conditions. When conditions support healthy, vigorous grass growth, mosses rarely appear.
The local environmental factors that can positively influence moss growth are:
- Shady lawns
- Clay soils or poor drainage
- Poor air circulation and heavy dew
- Dry areas such as lawn edges
- Acid soil
When should you remove moss from your lawn?
During the year there are two important periods for lawn growth: in spring (April - May) and the other in autumn (September - October). So if you remove the moss in spring or autumn, the lawn can recover and grow thick and green again. Depending on the condition of the lawn, moss can be removed once or twice a year.
How to remove moss from your lawn
Fight moss in the lawn by raking and scarifying
Because moss has shallow roots, you may be able to get rid of it simply by raking it off. Rake your lawn vigorously to get the moss out. A bit of grass might come out too, but grass has longer roots and survives a thorough raking.
If you have a large area to work on, you can use a scarifying machine. However, you must note the following: Areas that are already heavily affected by thatch or are covered in moss should be scarified immediately and repeatedly in order to get a dense carpet of lawn again. If the lawn grows thick and clean, it is enough to clean it onceto scarify per year.
Remove moss with home remedies
Here's how you can remove moss from your lawn - organically using home remedies. You have two main variations here: Solve 200grams of baking soda inTwo liters of lukewarm water (100 grams of baking soda per liter of water). Pour the solution evenly onto the lawn where the moss is growing, watering the grass 1 to 1 inch below the surface. Or use gentle dish soap and mix about 90 ml of it with 3.5 liters of water. Take a watering can to water it evenly and thoroughly on your lawn.
Use wood ash as an aid
You can also neutralize acidic soil with wood ash. 30 grams per square meter is enough.
Test the pH of your soil
Use a test kit to determine the pH of your soil. If your soil is too acidic, you may need an alkaline fertilizer to effectively control the moss. Garden lime is a good remedy in this case, as is compostand fertilizer.
Check the moisture level of your lawn
One of the clearest signs of poorly draining lawns is water pooling in certain areas and unable to drain away. Poorly draining soils can create excellent growing conditions for moss.
If the cause of poor drainage is soil compaction, consider aerating your lawn. Cool-season grasses should be aerated in early fall, while warm-season grasses should be aerated from mid-spring to early summer.
Herbicides
You can also use moss killers that contain glyphosate, ammonium or iron sulfate to remove moss from your lawn. For 100 m2100 grams of iron sulfate are required (diluted in 10 liters of water). Follow the application and safety instructions. As soon as the product has taken effect, rake off the moss. Ferrous sulfate can cause stains on concrete walkways, driveways, patios and other surfaces, so you should apply the product carefully and sweep up any excess or spills.
Properly prevent moss
Reduce excessive shadow
Moss likes dark, cool conditions, so reducing the amount of shade that covers it can help eliminate moss. Prune nearby branches or shrubs that cast shade, or plant shade-tolerant grasses (such as fescue) to crowd out the moss.
You should not leave the grass clippings after mowing the lawn, but remove them immediately to prevent moss. You should therefore avoid mowing with mulch. In addition, fallen leaves must be regularly removed from the lawn.
Be aware of other stressors
Lawns damaged by other stressors are also susceptible to moss growth. Insects, disease, excessive foot traffic and damage from pets make it difficult for the lawn to grow. Moss can begin to fill in bare spots. Keeping your lawn too short will also damage the grass and provide an opportunity for moss growth.
Also read:Can you use cola against moss in lawns and stones?
