What is moss?

Mosses are resilient and versatile non flowering plants that are, for many, the worst of all lawn problems. They are a symptom of a poor lawn rather than the primary cause. To successfully remove a moss problem, it is important to identify the primary cause and remove it or reduce its impact. Moss will thrive in areas of excessive moisture shade and poor turf quality. Left unchecked, moss will increase, reducing the grass' ability to thrive and will eventually “choke” out the grass completely. Moss is able to lay dormant in a lawn in dry conditions for long periods, but as soon as moisture is present again in the Spring or Autumn it will come back to life.

Why have I got moss in my lawn?

Usually moss is prevalent in lawns either due to excessive moisture or weak turf. These in turn are caused by a number of different factors as below:

Excessive moisture or drought Shade Compacted soil – due to heavy use

Clay soil Poor drainage Excessive thatch

Grass mowed too low Grass left too long during winter Poor nutrient levels

What can be done to reduce moss?

The first thing to do is to try to identify the cause of the moss problem. If it is due to shade from trees, it is possible to remove lower branches or thin out the tree. If it is due to excessive moisture, then hollow tine aeration will help to improve the surface drainage. If thatch is the problem then deep scarification is what is required. One of the easiest ways to reduce the incidence of moss is to prevent the lawn from getting long over the winter months. Grass rarely stops growing in the winter nowadays so it is important to keep cutting it.

Dealing with the moss that is already there is the next issue. As moss develops from the autumn through to spring, it is important to treat it at these two times. Firstly autumn but more importantly in the spring when moss is likely to be at its most prevalant.