Grass, fail with moss remover

[BREMBOV6]

Looking for some advice. I done the first cut of the year a few weeks ago. Electric lawnmower kept cutting out as the moss was so thick. I actually quite liked the look once done and the grass/moss looked great.

However decided to buy some moss killer and spread it out by hand. Feels a big mistake and I'm now left with black almost burnt looking patches dotted all over the place. I have tried some lawn seed but starting to feel these black patches are here for the forseable. Kicking myself for doing it!

Does anyone have any other tips or tricks?

Many thanks!

[ChocolateFrog]

Best posting on the lawn thread.

The moss is supposed to turn black once you put the killer down though, I do know that much.

[RGG]

I think you would be better off with a diy or hire scarifier.

Physical removal in my view could well be more effective.

And quicker.

[netherfield]

Get a spring tined rake, rake all the moss out of the lawn, then you can try some grass seed on it, might take a week or two before it starts to grow.

or

Hire a scarifier, and if you've a rotary mower some can be fitted with a scarifier attachment, you might be surprised how much stuff gets pulled out at the time.

You did do the right thing, the moss would outdo the grass until all you'd have was moss and no grass.

[ukwill]

I've just bought this https://thelawnpack.co.uk/

The instructions are straightforward. I'm just waiting for it to warm up a bit - so hopefully plan to do it in about 2wks time.

If your lawn gets mossy annually I'd suggest buying an electric scarifier - they're quite cheap and actually work well. Always a good starting stage.

Edited by ukwill on Wednesday 24th April 13:42

[Wildfire]

I'm learning but:

• Put the moss killer down and let it all go black,
• Then scarify the lawn. A powered one will be much easier, but I did mine with a spring rake and a big plastic shovel,
• Aerate the lawn or at least around the bare patches and
• Overseed / patch repair and water.

Mine was going ok, until the temperature dropped so germination has slowed.

[vaud]

Scarify - I think I filled 40 buckets last time from a small lawn...

[Grey_Area]

Search for and use MoBacter; thank me later.

Not cheap, smells awful for a day or two, best thing I've ever used for Moss

Mo Bacter Moss Treatment 10 Kilogram https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00WZKCRSQ?ref=ppx_pop...

[The Hofff]

The black patches are where you have chemically burnt the grass, throwing the moss killer out by hand is not a good idea. I did exactly this after a few beers and ended up with huge black patches were I had thrown 'a bit to much in one go'.

Next time use a hand wound spreader like this - https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Hand-Held-Lawn-Spr...

Yes it will grow back eventually but dont expect anything to germinate in the dark patches for a few weeks.If you want it to come back quicker, aggressively rake the dark patches sprinkle over with top soil and seed.

[Tango13]

vaud said:

Scarify - I think I filled 40 buckets last time from a small lawn...

First time I had the lawns scarified loads of dead stuff came out but I seem to be pulling less and less out every year as I think I'm slowly beating the moss with every treatment and scarifying.

[Simpo Two]

The Hofff said:

The black patches are where you have chemically burnt the grass, throwing the moss killer out by hand is not a good idea.

Maybe - you can scorch grass by overdosing but black is also the effect of ferrous sulphate (ie moss killer) on moss. I used to do trials work with it; the black colour can develop within an hour and the reps liked it because it meant people could see it was working...

[BREMBOV6]

Thanks all some real takeaways here! It's certainly improved from what it was like not after checking it out by hand. Never again. Maybe I also had a beer or two....

[biggiles]

I usually kill all the moss, then put on the grass seed. It takes a while for the black bits to disappear, but that's better than having another year of moss surely?

That picture doesn't look so bad - is there still plenty of moss there? The application looks a little.... uneven?

[Griffith4ever]

Pretty sure I remember my moss killer making it black, then it dies.

I scarified, then found out, no matter how much you scarify and seed, it'll come back if your conditions are right for moss growth.....

[Simpo Two]

Griffith4ever said:

no matter how much you scarify and seed, it'll come back if your conditions are right for moss growth.....

It will. Moss is a symptom of a problem - eg poor drainage, soil compaction, acid soil. As the moss thrives the grass weakens. We've had so much rain this year that about 25% of my lawn is solid moss. But it's green and flat so I don't mind too much - it will die back in the July heatwave when the hosepipe ban comes in.

The black bits - look closely - are they moss or grass?

[gmaz]

Scarifier £70 https://www.screwfix.com/p/32cm-1500w-raker-scarif...

I have this one and use it once a year, but it was worth the price.

[popeyewhite]

1. Buy rotary lawn sand spreader.
2. Evenly distribute lawn sand.
3. Scarify with rake, or hire machine.
4. Put up with patches in lawn until weather gets a bit warmer.