Moss in my grass

[Penny-lope]

Okay best method to get rid of the moss on my lawn?

In the past I have used moss killer, and a good rake...but it just keeps coming back.

I have only been in the house for 6 months, and when I moved in it was just a large patch of uncared for lawn. I don't mind if it's not perfect, but I would prefer less of the spongy stuff.

I have heard sand can help? Or does the ground simple need a good stabbing to get it aerated?

[Davel]

Ferrous Sulphate is a good moss killer but I think that you may always be vulnerable to it coming back in time.

[HiRich]

Ferrous sulphate (sometimes mixed as lawn sand, which you probably heard). But there is always an underlying reason (shade, moisture). I'd start with:

• Rake it now with a fine-toothed lawn rake or scarifier
• Fork it now to aerate/decompact
• As Spring arrives, apply a lawn fertiliser with moss killer. Quite a good idea to buy a spreader
• To instructions, rake out dead moss about two weeks later
• Monitor: aerate, scarify, apply lawn sand as appropriate through the rest of the year.

[Penny-lope]

HiRich said:

Ferrous sulphate (sometimes mixed as lawn sand, which you probably heard). But there is always an underlying reason (shade, moisture). I'd start with:

• Rake it now with a fine-toothed lawn rake or scarifier
• Fork it now to aerate/decompact
• As Spring arrives, apply a lawn fertiliser with moss killer. Quite a good idea to buy a spreader
• To instructions, rake out dead moss about two weeks later
• Monitor: aerate, scarify, apply lawn sand as appropriate through the rest of the year.

Okay, sounds like a plan....a time consuming plan, but worth it in the end I am sure

I really don't understand why there is so much of the bloody stuff....it is in full sun light the whole day! Saying that, I don;t think it's been cared for for quite some time

[Jaguar steve]

Penny-lope said:

HiRich said:

Ferrous sulphate (sometimes mixed as lawn sand, which you probably heard). But there is always an underlying reason (shade, moisture). I'd start with:

• Rake it now with a fine-toothed lawn rake or scarifier
• Fork it now to aerate/decompact
• As Spring arrives, apply a lawn fertiliser with moss killer. Quite a good idea to buy a spreader
• To instructions, rake out dead moss about two weeks later
• Monitor: aerate, scarify, apply lawn sand as appropriate through the rest of the year.

Okay, sounds like a plan....a time consuming plan, but worth it in the end I am sure

I really don't understand why there is so much of the bloody stuff....it is in full sun light the whole day! Saying that, I don;t think it's been cared for for quite some time

Lack of care is usually the problem with moss. A strong healthy lawn will not allow any moss to establish, but if you've got poor drainage or dead patches it will quickly take over. Once you've got rid of the moss using the method above try overseeding with a 33/33/33 mixture of grass seed, fine sand and compost. Don't cut the lawn too short either - especially when it's not rained for a while

[Simpo Two]

From another thread:

racing green said:

There must be an underlying reason for this and chucking chemicals at it won't solve it, just cure it for a while. Sounds like poor drainage/wetness which can be cured by scarifying the lawn ( a good wire rake and a ten minutes hard work should help) followed by hollow tining the lawn to improve aeration and drainage (again this can be done using a garden fork to make the holes). Brushing in some fresh top dressing (some sand or good quality top soil) will help though don't go to mad and then make sure you feed the lawn at least 4 times a year with lawn fertiliser applied just before rain. Oh and don't cut your lawn to hard throughout the year. This simple routine carried out each year will make your grass stronger and more able to cope with bad weather! Do as much or as little as you want but if your grass isn't healthy .....

[Wings]

Jaguar steve said:

Penny-lope said:

HiRich said:

Ferrous sulphate (sometimes mixed as lawn sand, which you probably heard). But there is always an underlying reason (shade, moisture). I'd start with:

• Rake it now with a fine-toothed lawn rake or scarifier
• Fork it now to aerate/decompact
• As Spring arrives, apply a lawn fertiliser with moss killer. Quite a good idea to buy a spreader
• To instructions, rake out dead moss about two weeks later
• Monitor: aerate, scarify, apply lawn sand as appropriate through the rest of the year.

Okay, sounds like a plan....a time consuming plan, but worth it in the end I am sure

I really don't understand why there is so much of the bloody stuff....it is in full sun light the whole day! Saying that, I don;t think it's been cared for for quite some time

Lack of care is usually the problem with moss. A strong healthy lawn will not allow any moss to establish, but if you've got poor drainage or dead patches it will quickly take over. Once you've got rid of the moss using the method above try overseeding with a 33/33/33 mixture of grass seed, fine sand and compost. Don't cut the lawn too short either - especially when it's not rained for a while

Two very good posts, shade and moisture are two of the biggest culprits for moss, and apart from raking, I use to go spiking my lawn with a garden fork, then brushing over the lawn garden peat. Whilst there are chemicals such as mosskill, I used the lawn rake, and then collected/saved the moss for my hanging baskets.

[Lastinclass]

Throw the ashes from your coal fire on your lawn once they have cooled.

[stemll]

Paddy_N_Murphy said:

HiRich said:

Ferrous sulphate (sometimes mixed as lawn sand, which you probably heard). But there is always an underlying reason (shade, moisture). I'd start with:

• Rake it now with a fine-toothed lawn rake or scarifier
• Fork it now to aerate/decompact
• As Spring arrives, apply a lawn fertiliser with moss killer. Quite a good idea to buy a spreader
• To instructions, rake out dead moss about two weeks later
• Monitor: aerate, scarify, apply lawn sand as appropriate through the rest of the year.

Did that for several years, pulling out 12-14 Dustbin bags of Moss each time (in a lawn 8m x 18m)

Since then, I right a cheque for £17 per quarter and these guys take care of it with feeds/ killers.


NOT A JOT OF MOSS in my lawn.

Only care I give it is cutting as per the norm.

I recommend.

+1 for GreenThumb. Might sound a bit but add up what you spend in B&Q on this stuff and add on the time and effort and it's a bargain

[robsartain]

+2 for Green Thumbs, they do 4 treatments a year, and I noticed a difference after about the 2nd treatment.

I thought I was going to need to re-turf but it recovered.