Moss patches

Peanuts3

In November we moved into a new home, a lovely large garden but shady.  The lawn is about 75% moss and weeds.  In order to get more light we have removed 2 huge conifers and cut back hedges.  As a result we now have large areas of dead moss.  It is too large an area to rake by hand so I'm hiring an electric rake to try and get the dead moss out.  Any recommendations on how to get the lawn looking decent again asap, as my other half is panicking that the lawn will look wrecked.  I'm thinking some lawn soil and lawn feed and seeding.  Any advice ?  Is this the wrong time of year to be doing this.  Am planning to scarify in autumn.

Dovefromabove

I would treat with Weed & Feed or Evergreen 80, then when the moss has blackened  you can use the electric rake to get it out.  The lawn will look wrecked for a while, but in a few weeks it will green up and the grass will spread to cover the bare patches where the grass and weeds were.  Mow the lawn at least once a week throughout the summer, with the blade on a fairly high setting. Spike the soil or hire an aerator and then brush lawn sand into the holes, this will aerate and improve drainage.

If the lawn still looks a bit thin by the autumn, scarify and sprinkle some grass seed in late September and water in well.  Don't mow any more until the grass starts growing next spring. Tell your OH not to panic.  By next year you'll have a lawn to be proud of. 

Woodgreen wonderboy

Dove is spot on with the above advice. Don' expect overnight miracles but this approach will pay off in due course.

Peanuts3

Thank you for the advice.  I half filled 6 bulk bags with dead moss today and that is only about a third of the lawn.  I'll take your advice and fingers crossed soon I'll have some lawn to mow.