What is Moss?
Moss is a spongey non-flowering plant which lacks a root system. There are many types of moss, but the majority of mosses require damp conditions in order to thrive. Mosses spread via their spores.
Moss is common in all turf settings and particularly in UK lawns. Lawns often possess more shade than sports turf settings, and the drainage of residential lawns can be poor, especially in clay soils. Good lawn care practices including regular moss treatments are key to maintaining a healthy grassed lawn through the cooler and often wetter months of October to April.
How do we treat Moss in Lawns?
Moss thrives off poor, weak grass cover. Regular Lawn Fertiliser applications strengthen the grass and make lawns more resilient to moss spread. It is vital that we treat the cause, not the symptom.
We treat for moss with our Autumn, Winter and Spring lawn treatments. Many make the mistake of ignoring the lawn until spring, allowing moss to thrive in damp conditions without action. Our treatment acts quickly to dehydrate moss, halting its development. This treatment also works in feeding the grass, enhancing grass colour, strength and disease resistance - such as Red Thread Disease.
There are a number of factors which can cause moss to favour a lawn. Along with our lawn treatments, we work with our clients to highlight these factors and provide ongoing recommendations. For example, Moss enjoys damp conditions, so we may recommend to allow more light to get into the garden, or to improve the drainage of the lawn.
Moss also enjoys a compacted, thatchy lawn surface. Where there is more moss than grass, we may recommend a Lawn Renovation so we can physically remove moss via scarification, followed by aeration and overseeding of the lawn. Where there is just an isolated area of moss following a wet winter, some of our clients will gently rake out areas of dehydrated, treated moss and seed those patches.
Why do you need to treat for moss?
Without taking adequate care of your lawn, moss can thrive and in time take over in certain conditions, with the moss outcompeting and outnumbering the grass.
While a moss-free lawn is often unachievable and undesirable, allowing moss to thrive does not make for an attractive lawn.
How Moss Can Damage A Lawn
Birds like to use moss during their nesting seasons. With its lack of a root system it is fairly easy to pick away at, thus allowing birds to make a mess of some lawns. Moss does not stripe like grass does and means that a consistent appearance to lawns can't be achieved.
Moss treatments not only work to dehydrate moss, but encourage additional colour and health for lawns.
As we apply a concentrated, highly effective liquid moss control, as professionals we are also able to tank mix other products with this, such as lawn feeds or selective herbicides (lawn weed killers) as required to gain the very best from your lawn across our five annual visits.
FAQ's
WHY DOES MOSS GROW IN LAWNS?
Moss often appears where the lawn is weak due to shade, poor drainage, compaction, low fertility or seasonal stress.
HOW DO YOU CONTROL MOSS IN A LAWN?
Moss control typically involves treatment to suppress the moss, followed by steps such as scarification and improved lawn care to help the grass recover.
WILL ONE MOSS TREATMENT SOLVE THE PROBLEM?
It may control the visible moss, but the underlying cause often also needs to be addressed to stop it returning.
WHAT CAUSES MOSS TO KEEP COMING BACK?
Moss often returns when the lawn remains compacted, shaded, wet or nutritionally weak. Poor mowing practices and a lack of leaf clearance also aids moss growth.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TREAT MOSS IN A LAWN?
Moss can be treated several times from October through to March/April. Is it far less effective in the summer months.
DO I NEED SCARIFICATION AFTER MOSS TREATMENT?
Sometimes, dependent on the extent of the moss. Once the moss has died back, scarification is commonly used to remove it physically and open the lawn up for reseeding.
IS MOSS CONTROL SAFE FOR CHILDREN AND PETS?
Yes, once the treatment has dried and any guidance we provide has been followed. Moss control can stain hard surfaces, so allowing the lawn to dry is important.
WILL MOSS CONTROL MAKE MY LAWN GREENER?
Removing moss helps the grass compete better, and the nutrient within the moss treatment also aids grass colour. With our moss treatment being in liquid form, the grass reacts quickly.
CAN YOU TREAT THE MOSS WITHOUT DAMAGING THE GRASS?
Yes, when the correct products and timing are used, moss can be controlled without harming the lawn. The nutrient in the moss treatment actually aids the lawn when applied at the correct rate.