subject: How To Control Moss In Lawns [print this page] How To Control Moss In Lawns How To Control Moss In Lawns
Moss in lawns is always an ugly sight, not only is the appearance of the lawn ruined by the invasion of the moss, but the lawn often also dies off in a larger area than what the moss overtakes.
The overwhelming reasons for the occurrence of moss in lawns is due to environmental conditions which favor the moss and simultaneously kills the lawn. The main culprits for these conditions are excessive shade and excessive water in the soil where the moss outbreak is occurring.
No matter what lawn type you have, all lawn varieties will require direct sunlight everyday in order to flourish and survive at its greatest health. When excessive amounts of shade are present, the lawn simply cannot survive and will die off in the affected area. While the same conditions of excessive shade are an ideal environment for Moss to grow, and this is why both symptoms are always present together.
Excessive moisture in the soil can be due to a combination of factors, including over-watering, lack of direct sunlight to evaporate excess water, as well as poor soil types such as clay, which will hold onto greater amounts of water for longer periods of time. This has the effect of killing of the grass and welcoming the moss to invade.
Moss can be killed and controlled by reversing the environmental factors which welcome the moss and kill the lawn. This process will include a number of different factors which will work together to achieve a permanent solution to the problem of moss overtaking our sod.
Remove any excess shade wherever possible, this may include removing temporary fences or other structures out of their current position, as well as pruning all trees and bushes which may be contributing to the excessive shade. Once the shade is removed, the homeowner should continue to monitor the area over the coming years to ensure that as much direct sunlight is reaching the area as possible.
Water retention in the soil should be repaired next. If the entire lawn is being over-watered, then the irrigation times can be reduced to a much lower level. however, if the rest of the lawn is healthy with its current watering program, then the sprinkler in the effected area will need to be replaced with another type to reduce the flow of water to the area.
If the soil is of a type which holds onto water, then this problem will need to be repaired. The affected area should be aerated with a punch core aerator as the best solution, alternatively a garden fork can be dug into the soil and then pulled back to really get into the soil and break it up as much as possible underneath the lawn surface. This should be repeated annually for problem soils.
Clay soils should have an application of Gypsum Clay Breaker applied to the soil at the same time as the aeration is completed. This will greatly help the clay soil to loosen its strong bond and greatly aid in the free-flowing of water away from the affected area.
These are the best and simplest options for controlling moss in home lawns. Like most lawn care practices, the most effective options which provide the greatest results require only minimal effort and a little careful forethought and maintenance.
If the lawn cannot repair from its moss invader, even after altering the environment in these ways, then the best solution may be to remove the lawn in the affected area, and plant a nice garden bed instead.
