Moss in the Lawn: Solve the Real Problem
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Moss grows in the lawn because conditions are not suitable for a dense, healthy turf. Moss is usually associated with factors such as low fertility, poor drainage, soil compaction, heavy shade and wet conditions. Any one of these can inhibit lawn grass vigor and create an environment that heavily favors moss growth. To win the battle against moss, a vigorous stand of turfgrass must be established and maintained.
- Control Existing Moss
- Remove it with a hand rake or power dethatcher
- Overseed the lawn with the proper mix of seed. This ensures that desirable grasses fill the empty or thin areas.
- Follow up with a fertilizer / moss control product after the new grass is established.
- Prevent Moss Invasion
- Core-aerate the area well and rake Turface Soil modifier into the holes.
- Apply lawn fertilizer, and then overseed with the recommended Protime Lawn Seed mix for your particular site.
Some varieties of turfgrass will not thrive in our acid soils and wet climate. These lawns are weak and will allow moss to reinfest the area. ProTime Lawn Seed Mixes, on the other hand, are well-adapted to this area. They remain strong and dense, forming an effective barrier against moss invasion, when properly maintained. Turf must stay thick in order to keep moss out.
One condition affecting grass vigor is soil fertility. Apply Key-to-Green Maintain Fertilizer which contains a percentage of slow-release nutrients at least three times per year to keep the lawn green and thick. Occasional applications of organic fertilizer will reduce the need for conventional fertilizers over time.
Lime may be required if none has been used in the past year. In very acidic soils, lime will help increase the effectiveness of the fertilizer.
ProTime Lawn Seed is formulated to thrive in our wet clay soils, but if drainage is a problem, core-aeration will help alleviate the problem. Core-aeration will also help relieve compacted soil which is a major contributor to moss invasion. Core-aeration removes small plugs of soil from the lawn, creating a direct entry into the root zone for soil modifiers that will alleviate compaction. Backfill the holes with Turface Soil Modifier to keep them open.
In areas of dense shade, ProTime 305 Shade Mix combined 5:1 with ProTime 313 Super Shade Supplement, will compete effectively against moss invasion. These particular varieties will provide the highest shade tolerance available in a turfgrass.