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How to get rid of moss on your lawn
When moss begins to creep into your lawn, it can suffocate your grass as it takes over; slowing down grass growth by preventing nutrients, water and airflow from reaching it. Getting rid of moss is a vital part of keeping your lawn in top condition and in this guide, we will take you through everything you need to know on how to remove moss from your lawn, how to prevent it from returning and how to repair a mossy lawn!
What causes moss on lawns
Moss loves to grow in moist and shaded areas. Particularly areas of poor grass health which shows itself through compacted soil and poor drainage. Tackling these core issues as well as using moss killer are key in tackling moss in your garden once and for all.
It’s best to avoid removing moss in the winter months as the grass won’t have a chance to properly recover. Instead, tackle moss removal in spring for best results!
How to get rid of moss
1. Spread a chemical moss killer
A Feed, Weed & Mosskiller is an effective way of removing moss. This is a granular fertiliser that works over two weeks to kill off weeds and moss and feed your lawn. Feed, Weed & Mosskiller will fertilise your grass, giving it a beneficial boost to its growth. It will also kill most common weeds, such as dandelions and plantains, over approximately 2-3 weeks.
Read more about fertilisers in our fertiliser guide.
2. Scarify moss
After the moss has gone black and died it is time to remove the dead moss by scarifying your lawn. Depending on the size of your garden, you may wish to scarify with a spring tine rake for smaller lawns or an automated scarifier for larger lawns.
An automated scarifier can be bought or hired. It will remove more material at a quicker pace than by hand. When raking by hand, aim to rake in one direction, then at slightly different angles to extract the remaining moss.
3. Overseed patches
After scarifying, you may notice patches in your lawn but don’t worry, this is a completely normal part of the process and just shows where the moss has been able to completely take over the grass! Overseeding these bare patches is vital to fill out your grass and get your lawn strong again. It also means no bare patches are left open for weeds to grow.
For advice on what grass seed you need for overseeding, explore our useful guide here.
How to get rid of moss in the long term
Once you have removed moss from your lawn, here is everything you need to do to prevent it from coming back!
Aerate your lawn regularly
Moss growth is usually a symptom of compacted, poorly aerated soil. To fully alleviate moss in the long term, it is advisable to regularly aerate your lawn, paying particular attention to the areas it affects most. Soil aerating will also improve drainage and fix the growth problems commonly caused by compacted soil.
Test you soil acidity levels
Test your soil’s pH level; if it is below six, it is acidic. Moss often sneaks in when soil becomes too acidic, and grass nutrients are low. Spreading agricultural lime will control the acidity of your soil.
Let the light shine
Your lawn could well be restricted by the number of shaded grass areas. Grass struggles to grow in areas of little sunlight, whilst moss will thrive. Try to cut back large bushes or overhanging trees which are blocking the sun from shining on your grass. If this is not possible, consider planting flowers and other plants that thrive in shaded areas to prevent moss from growing.
Watering your lawn
Moss loves moisture, so water your lawn with care and avoid flooding the lawn. Avoid watering your lawn at night as it is cooler, and the moisture may sit on the soil. If your lawn is naturally moist, you should regularly aerate it.
Now you know how to get rid of moss using moss killer and switching up your lawn care checklist; you may wonder if the process for removing weeds is similar or if regularly feeding your lawn is a good idea. If you have any questions regarding your lawn, please let us know, and we will be happy to help!