Although the aim is to have a lush green lawn, having moss fill up areas of your lawn would not be ideal unless you decide to go into moss farming. In this feed we will get to know How to get rid of Moss in yard? and its permanent solution.
Moss is a resilient plant that can grow on almost any surface, including lawns, trees, decks and walls. They are primitive and have hardly changed over the years.
As much as moss does not kill grass, they indicate poor soil and other underlying conditions. To get a healthy yard, you need to figure out the root cause, get rid of the moss permanently.
You may be seeing moss every day in your yard without knowing. So, what is moss?
What is Moss?
Moss is a primitive plant with tiny green leaves and thread-like stems. They have a spongy feel and reproduce by spores.
They are comfortable growing on almost all surfaces as long as some growing conditions are met. They love moist and shady environments, so look out for them at the corner of your deck or yard area with a little shade.
Moss produces its food and may not necessarily harm your plants, but seeing moss means your soil is in bad condition.
Before you rush to remove moss in your yard, you should first figure out what caused the moss to appear in the first place.
Causes of Moss in Yards
Treating the root cause will mean permanently eradicating moss from your yard.
When you begin to see moss in your yard, you need to check your soil for deficiencies to know what’s lacking. The presence of moss indicates acidic soil, among other things.
Here are some causes of moss in your yard.
- Compacted soil
- Poorly drained soil
- Excess shade
- Poor air circulation
- High or low soil pH
- Poor lawn care practices
- Low soil fertility
- Too much thatch
Run a soil test to know the specific problem(s) that caused the moss to appear.
How to Permanently Tackle the Moss Problem in Your Yard?
Now that you’ve known the causes of moss in your yard, you need to treat the cause to rid your space of moss permanently. If you remove the moss without first tackling the cause, the moss will keep coming back.
Permanently eradicating moss depends on the results from your soil test.
- Is the Soil Acidic?
If you have acidic soil, then amending the soil to be more alkaline will improve the lawn’s quality to fight out the moss.
You can improve the soil alkalinity by adding lime. It may take a few months for the lime to seep into the soil and start working.
Bear in mind increasing the soil’s alkalinity will not kill the moss but improve the lawn’s quality to fight the moss.
- Is the Soil too Compact?
When the soil is too compact, your lawn grass is weak and struggling; this allows the moss to thrive since it has a shallow root system and can grow in difficult areas. A compact soil will also lead to drainage problems as the water will find it difficult to drain appropriately.
Aerating the soil will improve the quality of your lawn to fight off the moss.
- Is the Soil Lacking Essential Nutrients?
Lack of vital nutrients will lead to low lawn quality and invariably more room for moss to grow among them.
Improve the soil quality by fertilizing your lawn regularly.
- Is there a Heavy Amount of Thatch?
Sometimes the problem might be as little as too much thatch under the lawn. Thatch will prevent water from draining properly and nutrients from reaching the soil.
All of these will lead to poor lawn quality. Removing the thatch by dethatching will leave your lawn free to grow and overshadow the moss.
- Or maybe too Much Shade is the Problem?
The good thing about this problem is that you do not even need a soil test to confirm. Merely accessing the moss area will tell you if excess shade might be the problem.
What do you do?
Open up the place. Prune off large tree branches to allow more sunlight to reach the area. Or you can even change your grass type to a more shade-loving grass. This will mean the lawn will grow without leaving patches for moss to fill.
How to Remove Moss in Your Yard?
Now that you have tackled the root cause, you can now go ahead to remove the moss that has already appeared. Rest assured, it will not reappear after removing it.
Depending on the size of your lawn and time constraints, you may need to hire a professional. That being said, you can handle this task yourself if you have some time on your hands.
Because of its uniqueness, regular herbicides used to remove unwanted plants will not work on moss. It needs a special intervention. Luckily, they are simple and less expensive.
Rake it
Moss is a tiny plant with shallow roots and can be removed by raking. You may decide to rake it when it’s still growing or kill it with moss control products and then rake out the dried moss.
These products contain fatty acids or ferrous sulfate, which dries the moss. Apply this product around early spring, fall, or winter for the best results.
Use a Mower Dethatching Blade
Dethatching your lawn can serve two purposes at the same time; remove excess thatch and remove moss.
To use a dethatching mower blade to remove moss, set the blade close to the ground, and use it. You can use a dethatching blade all year round to remove moss.
Spray Dish Soap
Dish soap is an effective moss killer and can be gotten easily. It is found in almost all homes, and it’s used to wash dishes.
Mix two ounces of dish soap and one gallon of water inside a spray bottle. You may need to use a spray gun to reach higher areas like trees and to cover a larger space.
Spray the mixture on the moss, ensuring the moss is drenched.
Within 24 hours, you’ll notice a color change, usually orange or brown, before it finally dries up. You can then rake the dried moss.
You do not want to add this to your compost as you risk spreading the moss to other areas.
When applying moss killers, ensure the moss is moist for the best results. Its growing period is also the best time to use a moss killer. Late spring, early or late summer, and early fall are the best period to use moss killers.
What to do After Removing Moss?
After removing moss from your yard, you’re left with empty patches on your lawn that need filling. Overseed your lawn to cover the open areas and fertilize often to boost its growth.
Moss grows in open lawn patches; ensuring all patches are filled up will limit areas moss can occupy in your yard. Rub moss killers on surfaces like a deck to prevent moss from growing there.
Summary
Moss, in itself, is not a bad thing to have in your yard if it’s growing in the right place. Improving your soil quality will boost the growth of your lawn to fight off the moss.
Well now we are familiar with How to Get Rid of Moss in Yard? You can get rid of moss quickly by using dish soap and then raking, or you can enjoy its spongy green feel if it’s not affecting your lawn or pathway.
