Is it too early for moss/weed/feed treament?

I've got clear signs of moss in my garden and want to apply some treatment, on the tin it says from April onwards, is this a must?

I can see some guys on here have already given their lawns a first cut, but in Buckinghamsire, I don't see how this is possible its always cold and wet.

My plan is as follows:

-moss/weed/feed soluable version
-scarify? ( I believe this just means rake the lawn?)
-grow some grass
-cut at a high height
-add grass seeds

and then rest of the summer continue to water lawn and cut grass.

 

Sounds like a plan Slimzee. Although some people have been lucky enough to have sufficient dry weather to cut their lawns, the rest of us are still squelching around.

Moss seems to be on the increase, probably because of the continuous wet we get these days. I did just what you're planning to the lawns of a big garden I look after in East Sussex and I'm going to have to do it again this year. However, I'll wait until it dries up, if ever, and all chance of frosts have passed before I start using moss killer and scarifying.

Depending on the area you have to treat, you can get a scarifier from one of the tool hire places or, if small enough, just use a rake when the moss has tunrned black. Whichever way, I doubt you'll be able to do it much before April.

Chris

 

I have to agree with Boghopper that it's generally too wet and cold for any major lawn treatments though you can kill the moss anytime over winter with an iron or ferrous sulphate based moss killer; just don't rake it out afterwards as you'll seriously damage the grass.

By killing the moss mid-winter you stop it growing and therefore have much less to worry about in the spring. The downside is dark patches of dead moss for a few weeks - the upside is dead moss and much greener grass because grass likes iron!

If you want more advice go to my topic on Moss Control

 

At my golf club our greenkeeper has treated all the greens already and he has a reputation for knowing what he's doing.

 

but the greens on a golf course will be ideally drained and continuously well-maintained (daily) and the members will demand nothing else.

I doubt whether there is a square inch of moss on golf greens.

 

Good point though there is plenty of moss on the fairways which donâ??t get the same treatment as the greens.

Unfortunately this is where so many people go wrong with lawn care. They see or hear what the green keeper does and then try to copy it not realising the green at least is an artificial construction designed for use 365 days a year (nearly) and maintained with the not inconsiderable kit, chemicals, time and experience that the club can afford.

This means taking one element and trying to emulate it on your muddy, clay, thatchy and mossy lawn often leads to disaster!

This doesnâ??t mean there arenâ??t good lessons to be learned â?? ever wondered why green keepers donâ??t use an all-in-one feed-weed-moss treatment? They may mix just two items on occassions but normally apply them all independently. That would be a move in the right direction!