I have moss on my lawn - how to fight?
Moss reasons
Most of the weeds grow on recently planted lawns. Moss on the lawn can appear due to poor drainage, improper water flow, due to too dense soil, from a lack of fertilizers.
Moss can most often grow in areas with shade, such as under trees. It also grows due to the increased acidity of the soil, as well as in those places where the grass is mowed very low.
How to determine why moss has grown?
The reason for its appearance on the lawn can be determined by how it looks. If the moss is green at the top and brown at the base, this means that the ground is too dry and has an acidic reaction. If it spreads, it is due to shade on the lawn and poor drainage. A dense carpet of moss grows when the lawn is mowed low.
If there are depressions on the lawn, then water is poured into them, and this leads to good conditions for the growth of mosses. Because of this, you need to carefully level the lawn by adding earth mixtures with sand, as sand improves soil drainage.
Aerate to allow oxygen to flow to the roots. Anneal the turf with a pitchfork to create small holes. This is done if you have a small site. If you own a huge area of land, then it is best to treat it with aerators.
If the moss has grown due to high acidity, that is, the pH is less than 5.5, then lime must be added to the ground. This is rarely used, since the systematic application of lime is harmful to the lawn.
With a lack of nutrients, fertilizers are poured into the ground. If the lawn is too dark, it is best to plant plants that do well in the shade instead of grass, such as Red Fescue.
Chemicals
Use mixtures made with the addition of ammonium sulfate (ammonium sulfate), iron sulfate and sand, which is free of lime.
It is recommended to use the products in the morning when it is warm and there is no wind. After 2 days, if there is no precipitation, then it is advised to water the lawn abundantly. After another 2 weeks, the moss will wither, become dark, it should be collected with a rake. If a lot of it has grown, then the processing is repeated. A little later, you can sow grass in open places.
Ammonium sulfate promotes accelerated grass growth. If you are spraying chemicals all over your lawn, add fertilizer to help the grass grow as quickly as possible. But if you have a lot of weeds, it is best not to apply fertilizers.
Application of herbicides
Moss herbicides are usually mixed with fertilizers. They should be used when warm. And after 2 days the lawn is watered. Then the grass should not be cut for 3-4 days, then the herbicides will calmly penetrate the ground. It is not advised to use them on young lawns that are less than 2 years old.
Liquid herbicides are poured from a watering can or sprayed and used to treat small areas.
Spot herbicides are excellent at eliminating individual weeds growing in the grass. Herbicides are sprayed onto the moss or smeared with a brush.
How to prevent moss from appearing?
- Rake the grass. Then it will be easier for water to penetrate into the ground, oxygen will penetrate better to the roots, and a rake will remove dry grass.
- Aeration contributes to the looseness of the earth.
- Fertilize the soil. Then the plants will increase their immunity to diseases. In early spring, it is advised to apply fertilizers with nitrogen. The fertilizer Biopon is now commercially available with a high iron content, which prevents the growth of moss and delivers nutrients to the grass.
- Do not cut your lawn very low.
If you understand exactly the reason for the growth of moss and used the means correctly, then these weeds can be eliminated in 2 weeks.
Lawn Moss Control Videos