Moss, lawn, benzalkonium chloride, grass?

Moss, lawn, benzalkonium chloride, grass?

Author
Discussion

slow_poke

Original Poster:

1,855 posts

233 months

Saturday 31st March 2012
quotequote all
Hello gardeners!

I've got a slight grass problem with the moss on my lawn ie my lawn is currently more moss than grass.

Not being a believer in organic, hard-work solutions, I'm going down the chemical warfare route, and bought 5l of benzalkonium chloride, thinking that would do the trick nicely.

However, on reading the small print back home ( I know, I know, shoulda read it in the store!) it seems I've bought patio/brick cleaner to kill moss, algae and so on. It doesn't say anything on the tub about it being safe for use on lawns. Mind you, it also doesn't say anythng about not using it on a lawn, either.

I'm still minded to give it a go, because it is a moss killer after all. But I'd rather keep the grass I do have alive and healthy, all the same.

Anyone know if Benzalkonium chloride is ok to use on a lawn as a moss-killer?

Simpo Two

85,069 posts

264 months

Sunday 1st April 2012
quotequote all
I don't know; the usual lawn mosskiller is ferrous sulphate since dichlorophen was banned.

Call the manufacturer for advice.

Pique

1,158 posts

206 months

Sunday 1st April 2012
quotequote all
I wouldn't use it!

You should put down sulphate of iron, give it a week or so to turn the moss black, then rake it out with a scarifier.

Then aerate and improve drainage with sand filling etc. to stop it from coming back!

jontysafe

2,350 posts

177 months

Sunday 1st April 2012
quotequote all
You can`t use that on grass. Solely for hard surfaces. You can use this though:

http://www.totalweedcontrol.com/shop/moss-control/...

Follow up with scarifying, overseeding and ferrous sulphate applications.

slow_poke

Original Poster:

1,855 posts

233 months

Sunday 1st April 2012
quotequote all
jontysafe said:
You can`t use that on grass. Solely for hard surfaces. You can use this though:

http://www.totalweedcontrol.com/shop/moss-control/...

Follow up with scarifying, overseeding and ferrous sulphate applications.
Jesus Christ, have you seen the price of that stuff! yikes

Googling on the net doesn't say much about this biocide that I've got and how it reacts with grass. Good idea aboout phoning the manufacturers though, before I do anything else.

RedLeicester

6,869 posts

244 months

Monday 2nd April 2012
quotequote all
slow_poke said:
Jesus Christ, have you seen the price of that stuff! yikes
Coverage of 10,000m2 though... not your average off the shelf pansy stuff from Ye Olde Garden Centre.

Simpo Two

85,069 posts

264 months

Monday 2nd April 2012
quotequote all
RedLeicester said:
Coverage of 10,000m2 though... not your average off the shelf pansy stuff from Ye Olde Garden Centre.
And not legal for sale to or use by Joe Public.

'Total Weed Control are suppliers of professional pesticide products. Any purchase must be in accordance with the Ministry Code for Plant Protection Products.'

RedLeicester

6,869 posts

244 months

Monday 2nd April 2012
quotequote all
Certainly, I was just clarifying the cost-vs-return thing, it's hardly the stuff you'd get at the shope which would cover "approximately half a postage stamp" and being 0.0000000000008ppm strength hehe

Simpo Two

85,069 posts

264 months

Monday 2nd April 2012
quotequote all
True. The weak concentration for garden use is to cater for children who will drink it etc...

Sometimes the active ingredients in the two markets are the same, sometimes not. It's something I'm very aware of as I used to work in the industry, but that said, if you can blag some of the 'proper stuff' and use it correctly and intelligently... the ones to be wary of are insecticides.

RedLeicester

6,869 posts

244 months

Monday 2nd April 2012
quotequote all
Meths just isn't any fun anymore. cry