The patchy part of your lawn where moss has taken over can be fixed. Moss on your lawn is a symptom of unfavorable conditions. Where grass fails, moss nails it. Moss loves shaded, moist areas with acidic soils. To understand how to get rid of moss, you need to understand it. Moss is very different from your typical garden weeds. They have no roots or branches and do not flower. Most of your standard weed killers will not eradicate moss. So how do you kill moss on your lawn?
Practical Steps to Kill Moss in Your Lawn
The key to getting rid of moss is to eliminate the conditions that make moss thrive. This, in turn, will promote the growth of healthy grass on your lawn.
Test Your Soil pH and Nutrient Content
Acidic soils or soils with low pH hinder the growth of grass. This can be easily remedied by adding lime which makes the soil alkaline. Soil test kits also tell you what nutrients are lacking in the soil. The right amounts of phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen are also necessary for a healthy lawn.
Excess Shade
Moss loves cool shaded areas. On the other hand, grass thrives under direct sunlight. Pruning the shrubs and trees is the most straightforward way to allow the sun through to your lawn and fight moss growth.
You can also try grass that can live in low light areas such as rough bluegrass and fine fescue. Groundcovers such as periwinkle are also pretty hardy and shade tolerant.
Inadequate Drainage and Too Much or Too Little Water
Moist areas with poor drainage are ideal for moss growth. Fill in low areas and level your lawn to reduce water collecting in low spots. You can install a drainage system to ensure the area stays dry.
Conversely, too little water will hamper the growth of grass on your lawn. Drought stress causes grass to thin out making space for moss to taker over in cool weather. Be sure to monitor how much water your lawn is getting so that the grass does dry out or get suffocated by too much water.
Soil Comp action and Thatch
Excessive thatch and compacted soil reduce the amount of aeration in the soil making it much easier for moss to grow and much harder for grass to survive. Dethatching and aerating your soil as needed will give your lawn room to flourish. Know how to fix bad & compacted soil in your lawn by reading our blog.
Repairing a Damaged Lawn
Once you have resolved the conditions that promote moss growth, you can go remove the existing moss. The best time to do this is during the fall or spring rains when the moss is actively growing.
Moss can be removed using the dethatching blade attachment in a mower. You will need a few passes to get moss out of the soil. Alternatively, iron-based compounds are effective in controlling moss and augmenting grass growth.
It is important to remember that moss is usually a symptom, indicating that you need to be repairing a damaged lawn. That’s why you might need to call in a professional service to root out the moss and fix your lawn. For expert lawn care in Alpharetta, contact us today.
