MOSS OFF
I had moss all over my lawn but a brilliant product killed it instantly and improved the grass – just apply and leave
A grass expert has also shared a step-by-step guide to scarifying your lawn
Moss in a lawn isn’t necessarily a problem - it’s soft, green, low-growing, low maintenance, and can be trampled on.
Moss also creates valuable habitats for beetles and woodlice, is a source of food for caterpillars, and birds use moss from lawns to create their nests.
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However, gardeners who want to achieve fine turf or domestic lawns will view moss as a weed.
It can give uneven colour and surface, and loose moss can make a lawn feel spongy underfoot.
Getting rid of moss from lawns is straightforward, but time-consuming and back-breaking.
Luckily, a few gardeners recommended a product that is not only organic and nutritious for your soil, but effortless at removing moss.
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Heather D’Apice asked the Gardening On A Budget Official Facebook Group: “Hi. Can anyone tell me how to get rid of moss in a lawn please? Thanks.”
And she received several answers.
A couple suggested lawn sand, whilst many said to use iron sulfate dissolved in hot water and then sprinkled over the moss once cool.
But many recommended using Mo-Bacter, an organic moss killer.
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Graeme Snadden said: “There’s a treatment called Mo-Bacter that works really well.”
Pauline Tarbet Anderson shared an image of Mo-Bacter and commented: “Brilliant stuff and your grass doesn't go brown.
“It breaks down the moss and then uses it as feed for your grass.
“No scarifying, no hard work. Put it down and leave it! My grass was lovely last year.”
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How to get rid of weeds
Mo-Bacter is said to “eliminate moss, with no need for scarifying”.
It also “feeds grass and improves the condition of your soil”, and is “harmless to plants and animals”.
The “key to Mo-Bacter’s phenomenal success is simple”, the online description reads.
“It is a 100% organic fertiliser that feeds the lawn, destroys your moss and leaves no black debris at all.
“Active when soil temperature reaches 10°C, for best results we recommend using MO Bacter in March through to May, or alternatively in early autumn.”
So now is the perfect time to remove any moss from your lawn.
As for the traditional way of removing moss from lawns - scarifying, there are a few steps to follow.
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How to scarify your lawn
suggest: “If you only have a small patch of moss, you can use a 'spring tine rake' (not a soil rake) to pull the moss out.
“This is known as scarification.
“Rake in crosswise directions to get as much as possible, but lightly, as grass can be damaged by over-scarifying.
“If you have a large area to deal with, you can use a scarifier machine,” the experts added.
Other tips included: “Apply a feed, weed and mosskiller” if you have a “very mossy lawn”.
Then when the moss is dead, rake it out and assess whether you need to “overseed the lawn”.
The Grass People added: “Remember – to keep it in check, it is wise to address the reasons why the moss is growing so well.”
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For compacted or waterlogged soil, “it will need spiking or aeration”.
You should also avoid cutting the grass so short that “it lets water flood and sit on the surface” which makes “a perfect moss breeding ground”.
4 Gardening jobs to do in April
Gazeboshop has pulled together a list of jobs to do around your garden to get summer-ready.
1. Clean the greenhouse
Not cleaning a greenhouse can lead to infected the soil and even pests and diseases in your plants.
Mix warm water and vinegar together and wiping off any mould, mildew, moss and grime.
2. Plant flowers that are pollinator-friendly
Be mindful not to plant flowers that will deter honeybees and bumblebees.
Try to avoid plants with double or multi-petalled flowers such as hydrangeas, petunias and busy lizzie plants as bees may find it difficult to access the nectar.
Since bees associate shiny metals with sugar, it’s important to avoid planting dark coloured flowers like red too.
To attract pollinators, plant daisies, abelia lungwort and crocus. Not only will the shades of blues, purples and yellows make your garden pop with colour, but pollinators can easily perceive these bright shades.
3. Mulch your borders
Mulch is used on the top layer of soil to control weeds, regulate temperatures and improve soil structure and is best applied from mid to late spring.
Doing this ahead of the warmer months will help your soil to retain moisture in the summer too.
4. Check your guttering
It’s important to check the guttering on your home, sheds and greenhouses to ensure that any spring showers fill up your water butts efficiently.
When gutters get clogged, this can obstruct the flow of water which can then lead to spillover, infiltration and even mould and mildew buildup. If too much water runs over the soil in your garden, this will also make it difficult for your lawn and new plants to grow as the soil will be stripped of valuable nutrients.
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