Moss is a nuisance that plagues the yards and gardens of many thousands of people, and although it isn’t poisonous and doesn’t give off any dangerous spores like say mold does, this fuzzy green fiend is unsightly and slippery underfoot.
There are plenty of things you can try to get rid of moss, such as specialist equipment and homemade concoctions, although many people rely on mass produced or brand name moss treatment. Before we look at these options in any more detail it’s worth reviewing exactly what moss is, and why it can become a real problem for some people.
What is moss?
Although it is sometimes mistaken for some kind of mold, moss is actually a plant. It has very shallow roots and is attracted to areas of a garden which have lots of moisture (perhaps due to poor drainage), limited natural light or sunlight, and soil with a low pH.
Ways to get rid of moss
- Raking – using either a fan rake on smaller area, or a scarifier for larger spaces. These are best used after the first (spring time) sporing, leaving time to pamper the lawn to aid recovery before the fall sporing hits.
- Moss killer – which can be applied to kill some of the moss, which is then raked off shortly after. The risk being that you spread any spores which have clung to life.
- Raking then killing. Combining these methods makes sense as a good percentage of the moss is removed, leaving the stubborn moss for the commercial killer to work on.
- Homemade sprays. For small patches of moss a regular spray with a liquid made from a few ounces of regular dish soap mixed with a gallon of water. (Best sprayed when at least 1 day without rain is forecast.)
Let’s look at some popular moss killers
- Iron sulphate. This is a popular ingredient in store bought moss killing products and no wonder. It can be soluble, so after mixing with water it’s into the watering can for some serious moss blasting. It works fast, also works well as a fertilizer, and helps keep moss away during the dormant months.
- Weedkiller. Although there is always some debate about how effective general weed killers are on moss.
- Granules and liquids. Many store bought products come in one form or the other. Take a look at https://www.gardenseeker.com/reviews/gardening-products/best-moss-killer/ for more information on these two options and which may be best for you.
- Organic mass produced moss killers. A popular choice for wildlife fans and pet owners.
Don’t forget that you can reduce the amount of moss in your garden in the long term by making the conditions less favorable for this spongy plant. Simple tasks such as adding lime to the soil to raise the pH, aerating the lawn to help reduce excess moisture, and adding fertilizer to replenish missing nutrients.
