Moss

[Piper]

Hey

Does anyone know the best method to get rid of moss on grass? I've just aerated it with a pair of spiky shoes. Do I then put a moss killer on it? Then rake? Then re-seed? Whats the best moss killer around that actually works?

Can anyone help?

Piper
x

[HeyWayne]

A combination of raking, aeration and feed and weed stuff tends to work for me.

Try improving the drainage by adding sand. After you've aerated (I use a garden fork myself) brush sand over the lawn using a broom and make sure it gets into the holes - this will help it get down to the ground under the thatch and over time will improve drainage. It's mainly lack of drainage that helps moss grow.

I sometimes use the moss killer, but more often use the standard feed and weed as I have a problem with other plants/weeds getting in and setting up home.

Unfortunately it's an annual thing for me as our lawn is north facing and is sheltered to the west.

Hard work now and in the autumn will help get the lawn looking pretty decent come summertime.

[Pumpkin Becki]

Yep, I'm with Wayne.

You need to rake out the thatch in the Autumn, aerate with a garden fork (get it in deep and really wiggle it backwards and forwards), brush in sand, and then feed and weed in the summer.

If your lawn is shaded out by trees or buildings at all, it will always suffer from moss, so you'll really need to keep ontop of it.

[Nicos]

How big is your lawn??

I borrowed my MIL's electric scarifier last year- and boy- what a difference!!!

Well worth getting one.
I think I collected about 9 black bin bags stuffed full- it was so bad I did it twice- and it took me nearly 5 hrs ( large lawn)

It did look a bit shell shocked after the event but picked up very quickly!
If I had it out here, I'd do it each year to keep on top of it- but to be honest there's hardly any there this year!
Maybe you could rent one for the day???

[HeyWayne]

Just a thought - can you use the moss gathered to line hanging baskets?

[leah]

if I got rid of all the moss, I'd have bare earth! I moved something today and thought it looked lovely and the lush (the grass), but on closer inspection, it was mainly moss! I never knew about using sand, what a great idea

[Pumpkin Becki]

Just a thought - can you use the moss gathered to line hanging baskets?

Don't see why not, or you could put it in an old nut feeder for the birds to use as nesting material

[Flummery]

You could go with the flow and have a moss garden. Japanese Zen type thing. Bang a big rock in it, in an essentially peace-inducing position (i.e. where you won't fall over it) and Fanny's your Aunt!

[rustylady]

My garden soil is really light and well drained, so I don't think adding sand will help. Most of it is in shade during the winter and these bits are the worst affected. I'm hoping that feeding will help, plus continually raking the stuff out. I really don't want to use chemicals if I can get away without them.

[Jeanied]

You could try applying a lawn sand with mosskiller after the first close cut this spring. I was struck by the lawns at Wisley and noticed that they use quite a thick layer of sand on theirs - within weeks it was like a bowling green.
Lawn Sand for use in control of lawn weeds

[pigletwillie]

Aerate, sand, feed and rake, all will help, the shade does not help and nor do damp conditions but if you have sandy soil that should not be an issue.

Once clear do re seed as moss does not like competition.

[Glutton4...]

Let your Chickens loose on it for a week or so - they'll scratch out all the moss, old thatch, and everything else, then you can top-dress and seed it!

[rustylady]

Let your Chickens loose on it for a week or so - they'll scratch out all the moss, old thatch, and everything else, then you can top-dress and seed it!

Can I borrow some chickens please (but please don't tell my landlord)