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Saying Goodbye To Lawn Moss

By The Old House Web

Moss is one of the most persistent and annoying weeds that occurs in home lawns, but you can control it.

"Moss is an opportunistic plant that grows in bare soil or where grass is weak and thin," says Peter Landschoot, associate professor of turfgrass science at Penn State. "Once moss has invaded the lawn, grass won't spread into those areas."

Attempts to get rid of moss are rarely effective unless a dense, actively growing turf can take its place, he says.

"To control moss, you have to consider the reasons why it began to grow in your lawn," says Landschoot. "Moss usually thrives under conditions that aren't conducive to good turf growth, such as poor soil fertility, acid soil, heavy shade, excessive moisture or shallow, rocky soils."

The first step in controlling moss is to test the soil for nutrient content and pH.

"If the soil is deficient in nutrients or needs lime, the soil test report will indicate how much fertilizer and lime to apply and when to apply them," says Landschoot. "Over time, improved soil conditions will help your grass compete with the moss."

If shade or moisture limit good turf growth, steps can be taken to correct the situation. "For example, remove some trees or tree branches to increase sunlight and air circulation, or plant grasses or other ground covers that are adapted to shady or moist areas," he says.

"Fine fescues adapt best to shaded, well-drained soils, while rough bluegrass is better adapted to shaded, moist soils," he says. "But neither of these species survives in extremely heavy shade or soils that are saturated for long periods.

"Attempt to eliminate moss with chemicals only after the limiting factors for good turf growth have been corrected," says Landschoot. "Unfortunately, there are only a few chemicals available for use on lawns.

"These products typically contain salts that will dehydrate or 'burn' the moss," says Landschoot. "But they also can burn desirable turfgrasses if used improperly, so be sure to follow the directions on the label." Remember, he says, it took a long time for the moss to become established, so it also will take a long time to control it.



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