How To Control Lawn Moss? – Prevention And Cure

Moss doesn’t look all unpleasant and some people actually let it grow in their lawn along with other wildflowers for they happen to like the diverse growth. It's very important to understand moss better before thinking that it is a bad thing.

This is a plant with shallow roots and it spreads with the help of structures called Rhizoids that look like roots and spores. They don’t have any flowers and they spread quickly like a plushy mass over a soil that remains undisturbed.

Moss usually grows during the wet and shady days of the fall leaving and spring arriving. Similarly, you will see them occupying that space of the lawn which is uncovered by the grass. This means that they grow in the patches where the sunlight is not falling.

Thus, it is a misconception that mosses kill the grass and thrive over them. Their nature hasn’t really changed from the prehistoric times that they have existed from. These primitives don’t feed on nutrients and water, which is why, is it not that easy to kill them with simple solutions.

What is the cause of their growth?

As we know that mosses don’t act like the other plants and thrive in the places which are not suitable for the grass to grow, it hints at the fact that the cause might be a deeper issue with the lawn itself. The conditions that suit their growth indicate poor lawn conditions, so you may also like to treat your lawn too for uprooting the issue altogether. Let's see some of the primary reasons for this.

Low nourishment

In the absence of proper nourishment, mosses outgrow the grass. Moss doesn’t need nutrition and thrives on such lands.

Soil pH

If your soil is low on fertility and a pH level below 5 which makes it more acidic, then there are all chances that moss will spread its kingdom.

Absence of sunlight

Sunlight dries out the ground and evaporated logged water. This process does not happen in the areas which remain under the shade and it is in such low light places that mosses grow the best.

Lawn topography

The tangent of your lawn can be a decisive factor too. If there is a slanting surface or hollow sections in the lawn, water will get collected over there. This makes the surface very wet and breeding place of moss.

Poor drainage

The soils which are clayey or compact in nature don’t allow proper drainage of water and they remain wet for a long time after being rain-fed.

What can be the different methods to control lawn moss?

The idea that can be drawn over here is that the better option is to keep the lawn in a healthy condition and that will be the best way for preventing moss growth. However, there are different things that need to be kept in mind while acting upon moss control. The active growing season of the moss is the best time to start with the removal plan.

Let's take a look at what solutions can be followed.

Physical treatment

Raking involves uprooting the moss on the go. You can do it by making quick and short strokes carefully so as to not toss the moss over the grass to avoid the spread of their spores. Collect these clumps in a garbage bag, dry it, and then throw it out.

The second session of raking gives very effective results when performed after the chemical solution is applied to the lawn. You can use dirt rake, shovel, or a hoe to pluck out the moss and you must dig them out from deep inside the ground to remove all of them.

Another process that can be used is Dethatching when dealing with a huge amount of moss growth. You can get many advanced Dethatcher which effectively break the moss and lift them up for speedy and time-saving removal. Watch this video to know more.

Chemical treatment

Most of the moss control solutions available in the market give very effective results. They attack moisture which is most important for the survival of the mosses by drying it up. Moss turns up all black and dies out. The key point is to mow the lawn before chemical application as the moss clipping becomes exposed and the solution acts more effectively thereby.

The herbicides are a failure when it comes to moss control. The best products that are going to work for you will be iron-based, copper sulfates or aluminum sulfates. The moss gets desiccated upon their application and it's very important to apply them right as they might prove to be too toxic to the tender grass.

You should make a mix of around 5 ounces of iron sulfate and 4 gallons of water for treating every 1000 sq. Ft of ground. It should be applied with the help of a garden sprayer with a special focus on the bare or moss growth areas. You must apply lime to the lawn before this treatment to save the fresh grass.

A nearly similar proportional mix must be made while using Copper Sulfate treatment solutions. Another very interesting yet simple method is to use a mix of dish soap and water in the ration of 3:1. It also dries up the moss and you can apply it again in case of re-growth.

Re-seeding

You will come to this step once the moss has been completely removed. It is important to fill the space with a healthy turf and therefore, you should overseed that area. Create good lawn conditions and then use the seeds that match the current grass type.

How can prevention be the better option to control lawn moss?