How To Properly Remove Moss from Your Lawn
Well, the appearance of moss on your lawn can mean a few different things, and there are multiple ways on how to get rid of moss from your lawn. If you find yourself surprised and confused at its existence, there is a way to remedy the situation.
Moss grows in lawns to fill in bare spots between the grass. Its growth there may not even bother you. Moss doesn’t hurt the grass; it simply wants a place to grow. Moss typically grows in lawns where there is not enough grass, so if you are concerned about too much moss and not enough grass, there are a few things that could be causing this.
Why Is Moss Is Bad For Your Lawn?
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While not necessarily unhealthy for your lawn, moss isn’t what most of us want to encourage to grow there. We want grass! Unlike dandelions and other weeds, it is nearly impossible to go through your yard and pick out the moss by hand. That is a losing battle. What you need to do is invest in a couple of products that can handle the situation.
Moss in and of itself is not a sign of an unhealthy lawn. It is a sign that you are trying to grow grass in an environment that grass does not usually grow in. There are ways around this, however. What you need to do, after getting rid of the moss, is then create a healthy space for grass to grow.
Moss is a hardy plant, but not everyone wants it hanging around their lawn. There are many products out there that can help remove it. You can get them online, but it is also a good idea to consult your local hardware or garden store. There are over 14,000 different kinds of moss all over the world, but you don’t need to worry about that. You only need to know how to get rid of moss in your lawn.
So How Do You Get Rid Of Moss From Your Lawn?
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Moss Removal Products
Now that you know what to look for let’s get into the actual process of moss removal. What products/methods are available to help you find out how to get rid of moss in your lawn?
“Moss Killer”
- FUNGICIDE: Fungus Control for lawns cures and prevents listed lawn diseases
- 30 DAY PROTECTION: Protects against lawn diseases for up to a month
- DISEASE CONTROL: Fungicide controls Red Threat, Brown Patch, Dollar Spot, Rust, and other...
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These products typically contain copper sulfate. It targets not just moss, but also bacteria, snails, algae, and fungi. Kind of a “kill two birds with one stone” type of product. It is found naturally in the earth, but in concentrated amounts will target moss directly. Copper sulfate bonds to the proteins in organic matter and causes them to leak, essentially draining whatever you put it on. Since moss loves moisture, this is an effective option to remove it.
Copper sulfate, when used correctly, should not affect the health of your grass. It is also marketed as a pesticide, as it kills snails and slugs as well as moss. When using a product containing copper sulfate, read closely and follow all the directions. Avoid getting it on your skin, in your eyes, or ingesting it, and contact poison control of you do. Keep these products away from small children.
Thatching
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You can buy or rent a dethatching blade from your local home improvement store to get the job done. The blade attaches to a regular lawn mower and strips away the moss. You can also do this by hand with a rake and some elbow grease.
If you have a small lawn, thatching by hand is a better idea. Garden appliances can get kind of pricey so if you don't have a large yard, go with the rake. What you are aiming to do is strip off the top layer of soil and moss with the tines of the rake.
The only set back to this method, especially doing it by hand, is that there may be small particles of moss and spores left in the soil. These can make moss grow back, so you have to be vigilant about it and may need to go over the area multiple times.
When You Need
Since moss grows best in moist, shady places, it grows well in fall, winter, and spring. It also depends on where you live.
You can start on moss removal in the late spring and early summer, depending on where you are. Then, you can apply chemicals to or dethatch your lawn. Chemical products seem like the quicker and easier fix, but you may not want all that in your yard if you have pets or small children. Thatching by hand is the best method if you do have kids or animals, but you may have to repeat the process a few times a year. This is also the preferred method if your lawn is small.
Yearly moss removal by thatching or chemical moss killer is recommended. You should remove the moss once you notice it growing. This ensures that you get rid of the majority of the moss so you can work on getting the grass to grow in its place.
Why Do You Need to Get Rid Of Moss?
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The problem with moss growing in a lawn isn’t that it hurts your yard. The issue is that it won’t look as good.
When moss dies, it tends to turn brown and look ratty. If your lawn has a lot of moss between the grass, it’s going to look not so pretty. Lots of moss means your soil could be acidic, which means less grass growing. So along with removing the moss with one of the aforementioned methods, you need to consider doing some things to help out the grass as well.
So if you do remove the moss but notice it growing back, you will have to go back over the lawn again. Speaking with a representative at your local home improvement or garden store who is familiar with local flora can help you pick out a proper product to use. They can also help you find products to help the grass grow back in the vacant areas instead of more moss.
Moss is beautiful on trees and in the forests, but not on our lawns. The process of moss removal is one that is well worth having a lush grassy yard! You’ll be the envy of the neighborhood with a moss-free lawn.
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