Moss Control

Moss can be a serious problem in spring and autumn. It is usually found where drainage is poor and the lawn is in the shade. Moss is the name for a group of primitive non-flowering plants that quickly spread as a spongy mass on undisturbed soil. They reproduce from millions of microscopic spores produced on the leaves that float away from the mother plant on rainwater. There are over 10,000 species of mosses. They are bryophytes which means they do not have a vascular system. They are a common dweller in the lawn, encouraged by our damp climate.

Moss grows for a reason and when found in a lawn it usually indicates one or more of the following:

  1. Poor Drainage. Ground remains wet for long periods. Soil may be too compact.
  2. Possible pH level issues (too low/high).
  3. Low nutrient levels.
  4. Grass may have been cut too short or even scalped down to bare earth.
  5. Area is shaded from regular sunshine.

Controlling moss with a suitable lawn treatment can be easy (providing you have the equipment and know-how, if you don’t call TLC now), but unless some of the conditions that favour the plant are changed, the moss will return, springing up from spores that remain on the soil surface.

After the moss has been treated it will need to be raked out once it has blackened off. In Spring it is usually best to rake out and in early Autumn a petrol powered scarifier is a better option as this is also a good time to remove unwanted thatch. September/October is the best time to use a powered scarifier as this will give the lawn sufficient time to recover before the dormant season. Please do not scarify in the winter months no matter what Mr “I own a national lawn care franchise and need an income during the dormant season” advises you!

After you have removed the dead moss and thatch, Aeration will improve the drainage then a combination of the correct fertiliser, Top Dressing and Overseeding with a grass seed mixture made for shaded areas will improve the vigour of the lawn. It all depends on how much damage the moss did to your lawn. Some lawns may need a different approach to prevent the moss from returning for example trees may need cutting back to reduce the shade and improve air movement or maybe the soil pH level needs altering. All lawns are different and therefore have different requirements. However, no matter what the problems are TLC can help!

If the above sounds a little too much like hard work or maybe you just need assistance in some areas, don’t worry – contact TLC now to see how we can help.

Call for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION quote or just some friendly advice. There’s nothing to lose, even the call is FREE! 0800 05 88 420