Time to Take Care of that Moss!

Moss

Moss is a shallow-rooted plant that spreads by dispersing spores and growing root-like structures called rhizoids. The plant moist and shady starting in early spring growing all summer long until it spreads beyond control.

It doesn’t kill your yard or grass, but it will fill in where the grass is thin and struggling. This can also indicate a deeper problem in the ground. One of the first steps to truly rid your grass of fuzzy moss is to find the buried issue.

 

Typical Underlying Issues:

• Compacted soil - Kills grassroots and creates a flat area for moss to maintain itself
• Poor drainage – Always damp or wet soil will suffocate grass roots and provide a major, wet area to grow in
• Low pH - Grass needs moderate or slightly alkaline soil to make it
• Not enough sunlight – An unlit grassy area makes it more laborious for grass to grow and it is the preferred lighting for moss.

Since you have established the major issue, you can undertake the process of killing the fuzzy moss and replanting the grass.

1. Start off by applying a ‘moss killer’ to the fuzzy moss in your grass, which is efficient during damp, wet days. Mowing your lawn low to the ground before applying it can help unmask hidden moss.
2. Once it is black and dead, rake the areas you want to remove it from and gert rid of it in a garbage can.
3. Seed the areas that are missing grass areas with your desired grass seed.
4. Keep the ground moist until the grass has been fully established and is growing strong.

Lawn Care for Moss

Knowing how to wipe out moss isn't as important as having a healthy lawn. Repairing what was wrong with your lawn in the first place is the most important step to take when preventing green moss from returning.

1. If spots of your yard are receiving less then 3 hours of light per day, you can trim tree branches to allow more sunlight to come through. For shadier areas with 3-4 hours of direct sunlight, plant a shade-tolerant grass seed in those parts.
2. Make an effort to take care of your lawn by regularly feeding it and mowing when your grass is at the highest recommended height for your grass type to encourage deeper rooting.
3. Aerate compacted soils and mix soils rich in composted materials to promote and improve drainage. Only water the lawn when necessary; most lawns only need 1 inch of water per week.