Moss can be troublesome, especially on lawns which are not in good condition. Causes of moss infestation can be:
- Impoverished grass which is running short of essential mineral nutrients - easily replenished by dressing with lawn fertiliser.
- Mowing too closely, during the previous season - set your blades higher.
- Grass growing in dense shade, which is often difficult to put right - either tolerate the moss or consider an alternative to the lawn, such as paving, concrete or gravel.
- Poor drainage.
- A lawn surface matted with dead, fibrous grasses - scarify or vigorously rake the grass once a year.
- If moss grows as a result of the more tolerant lawn management, where wild flowers have been encouraged and feeding and weeding abandoned, you'll have to put up with the moss - you could even grow to like it!
Moss-infested lawns can be treated with special moss killing lawn sand, or with a fertiliser that contains added iron sulphate. The moss turns dramatically black and will need raking out. If you prefer a less drastic method, try raking out the moss anyway while it is still green, and follow this action up with a dressing of lawn fertiliser. Healthy grass will tend to squeeze out moss.
Provided it has not been treated with chemicals, moss can be composted to develop into a peat-like soil improver. In hanging baskets, too, moss makes a decorative living liner, remaining green until the flowers have filled out.
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