.For someone who takes pride in their lawn, moss is the last thing you want to see. Moss consists of threadlike green plants that form a tangled, thick mat over the soil. It’s a common condition that may be found in residential lawns. While moss won’t kill your lawn, it will make itself at home in areas of your lawn that are most vulnerable. There are various causes and solutions for moss in your lawn. But how do you get rid of moss? The best way to keep this invasive plant from returning is to get to the root of the problem (pun intended).
What Causes Moss?
Figuring out what specifically in your lawn is causing moss, is the first step to controlling it. Moss is caused by low soil pH, lack of key nutrients, thin, compacted soil, poor drainage, and excessive shade. Physically raking away moss or applying control products is a short term solution if the underlying problem is not addressed. Moss will always come back if the environmental conditions support it!
Solutions for Moss in Your Lawn
The first step is checking the pH levels of your soil. More alkaline soil has a better defense against moss. Treat your lawn with a limestone application to improve pH levels in your soil. You can take a soil sample from your lawn and send it to your local extension office for testing to check your lawn’s pH level. For most grasses, the pH should 6.0-6.5, with centipede grasses 5.5-6.0.
With a soil sample, you will also see if your lawn is lacking the necessary nutrients in the soil. If your lawn is lacking key nutrients, fertilizer may be needed. You can improve your lawn’s overall health by following a lawn fertilizer program throughout the year.
Poor drainage and areas of moisture are the most “cosmetic” issues to resolve. They will take some extra help from a landscaper, and a little more out of your budget. If you have areas of poor drainage and standing water on your lawn, that can be fixed by installing drainage systems. Installing drains will pay off in the long run, as poor drainage is a cause for many weed issues and other common lawn problems.
A lawn with thin, compacted soil is also susceptible to moss. Annual aeration is the best solution for compacted soil and highly recommended for your lawn’s overall health. Aerating compacted soil with core aeration will also better allow key nutrients to make their way into the soil.
Finally, determine how much sunlight your lawn is getting throughout the day. If your lawn is not getting enough sun exposure for your grass type, moss will prevail. Survey the environment and see what can be done before considering switching to a more shade-tolerant grass type. Tree removal companies can help in this case to get more sunlight to those areas of the lawn, either through removal or pruning.
Making sure your lawn has everything it needs to fight off common conditions like moss or invasive weeds is quite the battle. But you can trust the professionals at All Turf Lawn Care to keep your lawn lush and healthy all year. Contact us today for a quote on our Atlanta lawn care programs.
