Moss in Lawns

Hello out there..My Hubby has just given the lawns there first cut..and we seem to have developed a huge amount of moss in all areas. Is a chemical solution the effective answer..or do you have other better ideas :(

 

I'm afraid it's very hard work, I know because I'm doing it at the moment.

You have to rake it out with a spring tined rake at least I think that's what it's called...one of those rakes that's fan shaped.

If you do that then the grass is more able to grow as if left moss will choke your grass and stop it growing.

Then in Autumn there is a lawn treatment which helps to control it. I don't think it can ever be killed off completely.

 

Alternatively you get a scarifier! A petrol driven one, like I've been doing all day..... you still have to rake up the moss though, but it's not such hard work. 20 binbags jam-packed-full from one garden alone!

I call those things Springboks, Stingo - as that's what the men always called them, where I learned about gardening...

 

Moss usually appears cos either the ground is compacted, or its shady or both. Rake most of it off as others advise with a spring tine rake. Then aerate the lawn with a fork, and brush in some sand. Overseed the area and repeat the process in the autumn.

There used to be a moss killer - but I only used it once, as a) it left horrid black bare patches, and b) didn't resolve the underlying problem.

 

Thanks for all the tips..sounds as if we are in a lot of hard work. I like the idea of the petrol driven scarifier..wonder if we could get one to attach to the sit on mower. Just a thought. Thanks again Carole

 

Pity you're so far away or you could have borrowed mine, Dillydo!

If you have such a big area of grass that you have a sit-upon mower, then you're certainly in for some back-breaking work! :eek:

Scarifying isn't a substitute for what Fran was suggesting you do - it's an "as well as". If, as she says, it's compacted in dry weather and soggy in wet, then you need to improve the drainage in the way she describes first, then scarify to remove some of the moss and thatch (dead grass).

If you have a lot to do, and feel it's beyond you, there is a firm called Green Thumb around these days who're generally pretty good. They specialise in dealing with grass.

http://www.greenthumb.co.uk/

 

Greenthumb don't rake the moss out though as I've just had a chap to look at mine, he suggested that I rake out the moss before he comes to do the first treatment.

They do scarify and aeriate at an extra cost.

 

not sure what Martin uses, I think its sulphate of iron.

 

GT are handy if you have a big area that has drainage probs, as they have access to heavy duty machinery like plug-cutters. I call them in for that, as I can't do it myself, but the scarifying is possible, whether with the springbok or the petrol driven scarifier.

 

Once again MANY BIG THANKS for ALL the very useful tips. We have invested in a Petrol Mower Scarifier.. I will push the mower Hubby can collect the moss...sound a fair deal??

 

I've just watered my lawn as it has'nt rained for a while cos I put down weed feed and moss killer day before yesterday. I do it every April and never get any weeds at all, just a bit of moss but only where the grass has been in the shade over winter. All summer grass is lovely and green unless it's really hot and sunny then it's a bit brown!! I use B&Q weed and feed cos it's cheap and does the job every time.

 

Apparantly the correct height to cut the lawn is one inch, if you scalp it moss is encouraged to grow.

Good tip from the GreenThumb man :D