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Moss problem
Edward.francis
Posts: 123
Hi everyone,
I have a problem with moss in my front garden (see photo). Should I remove the moss now or wait till the spring? Should I use a moss killer or just rake out?
Any recommendations appreciated,
Many thanks,
Ed
I have a problem with moss in my front garden (see photo). Should I remove the moss now or wait till the spring? Should I use a moss killer or just rake out?
Any recommendations appreciated,
Many thanks,
Ed
0
Posts
If you control the moss now, physically or chemically, you will inevitably cause some damage to the lawn which will be visible until spring because of slow winter growth.
However and whenever you control the moss, if you don't deal with the cause of the moss, looks like poor drainage due to compaction, then it will return.
I would scarifying with a springbok rake in March but there are chemical controls available if you prefer.
The moss will grow faster than the grass during the winter. It will always remain a contrasting paler colour. In the summer it may dry off to brownish, but this will still be noticeable. Nothing is more damaging to graas than competing moss.
I have just watered mine with Sulphate of Iron. The moss went black quickly, and is much less noticeable. It will slowly die away. The grass did not react immediately, but I know it will become greener gradually.
I always believe in treating the separate problems separately: fertlising, moss control, other lawn weed control.
My formula is: 6 tablespoons of Sulphate of Iron (= ferrous sulphate, FeSO4. Readily available at garden centres, but it doesn't say anti-moss on the packet.) dissolved in 1.5 gallons (standard watering can size). Watered on at just-covering amount.
I do about now, and I may repeat in early spring if needed. I try to do just the areas that are needed, but it can be lying out of sight elsewhere.
If you water it on your paving you will get a rust-colourd discoloration. On your fingers and shoes too.
I don't remove by scarifying - why waste peat for free! But id there is compation, I would spike with a garden fork. But perhaps leave that until the spring.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
If you want perfect grass/lawn, that's a big undertaking, and takes a lot of time and effort, and money, to have a bowling green look.
Depends how you feel about it. I'm with Jenny on that. My grass is largely moss from about October until April/May, when the grass gets the upper hand, but it's green
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Boy George (I’m a celeb): " … people are being too nice, it gets in my head”
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Trying to impose another world-view may not be ideal. Like telling a Zen monk to stop raking the sand.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."