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How to Get Rid of Moss in a Lawn

Moss on its own is not really a threat to your lawn — it doesn’t tend to kill off existing grass and only really takes over in areas where the grass has already begun to die off. With that said, many people would prefer to have a beautiful lawn that is solely made up of grass without mossy patches, so if moss has started to creep its way into your lawn, there are some things you can do about it. There are two main methods for getting rid of moss in a lawn: good ol’ fashioned elbow grease and sprays. We’ll start by taking a look at the manual ways to remove moss.

 

Removing Moss by Hand

In order to remove moss from your lawn by hand, you’ll need different tools depending on your lawn size. For smaller lawns, you can use a rake to scratch the surface of the lawn where moss has begun to grow. Moss tends to have a shallow root system, so if you use a metal rake vigorously across the surface, you can generally loosen the moss up enough to easily pluck it by hand. If you have a larger lawn, then getting a dethatching blade for your lawnmower is an excellent option. Be careful not to set the blade too low, as you’ll then end up removing your grass along with the moss.

 

Removing Moss Using Sprays

Before you reach for the chemical sprays that tend to kill grass more readily than they kill moss, try using a specialized moss-killing soap on the affected area — these soaps kill moss on contact and don’t pose a threat to sidewalks and other yard accents. These are called “cryptocidal soaps” and will bleach the moss to a white color, so only use them on the areas you want to remove. To make this soap as effective as possible, make sure to apply it during a dry spell when moss tends to be most vulnerable.

 

Removing Moss Using Chemicals

If you’ve really just had enough of your moss problem and want to bring out the big guns, then you’ll want to try using iron sulfate or another sulfate-based herbicide. These herbicides are a bit less common than other options, but they tend to have a very high success rate specifically when used on moss. The iron found in these mixtures weakens the moss dramatically, which then makes it easy to kill and remove. To really get the job done, use an iron sulfate treatment on the area, then spray it with the moss soap we mentioned above and finish by raking the affected area to pull up the moss once it has died.

 

Have other weeds that are wreaking havoc on your lawn in addition to the moss? Fit Turf’s Bed and Border Weed Control is a great option for full-service treatment that will knock out those pesky weeds in no time. Contact our friendly customer service team today to schedule a consultation or to receive a price quote tailored to your specific project.