Get Rid Of Moss In The Lawn Effectively

Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:52 pm

One sight you certainly don’t want to see in your lawn is moss. Instead of green blades of grass stretching across the ground, all you see is a rather unsightly layer of moss covering the soil.

Moss is very simple plants that can spread across your lawn. In the process, the moss drives out the original plants and spreads a lot.

Reasons for moss in the lawn are many, and you should first find out how to create the best conditions for the lawn. After all, moss should not have the opportunity to spread in a healthy and well-maintained lawn.

However, if the soil is poorly aerated or if the nutrient content in the soil is low, then the grass will die and the moss will spread. Shady lawns in particular can be prone to being infested with moss.

If you have already initiated initial measures to improve the conditions for the lawn, then you should get rid of the moss as soon as possible. With a moss killer you can quickly get rid of the moss.

But which moss killer is the best and how are they used? Here you can find out whether a chemical moss killer is better for you than a natural one, or whether scarifying the lawn is already enough.

Use Quinoclamine against moss

One of the most effective products against moss is the chemically produced quinoclamine. This prevents photosynthesis in the moss and quickly causes the moss to stop spreading. Besides, it prevents the moss spores from starting to germinate.

Quinoclamine is a chemical moss killer. But is it suitable for your garden and what do you need to pay attention to when using it?

Preparation
Quinoclamine isn’t exactly known for working quickly. While moss can be effectively defeated, it takes some time for it to take effect. This makes it one of the more slow-acting moss killers.

Before the agent can be applied, the lawn must be mowed. Only with a well-mowed lawn can it be guaranteed that Quinoclamin will develop its full effect.

Application

Application may vary somewhat depending on the product. As a rule, however, the liquid must be dissolved in water. Please refer to your product for the exact mixing ratio.

Then the mixture is applied over the affected areas with a watering can. When applying the Quinoclamine, you should make sure that this does not get into your eyes. So, for safety, you can put on protective goggles.

Especially if you decide to use a pressure sprayer you should reach for protective goggles. When applying with a watering can, the risk is much less, but safety still always comes first.

Risks of Quinoclamine

Quinoclamine is a chemical agent, so special protective measures should be taken.

The active ingredient should not come into contact with eyes or skin. So, to protect yourself, wearing protective goggles and long clothing is recommended.

Quinoclamine should not be used at all if you have a pond or stream in your garden. If this chemical moss killer gets into the groundwater, severe contamination can occur. Quinoclamine is suspected of reducing fertility and can endanger the unborn child during pregnancy.

Moss killer with iron

If you understandably do not want to resort to a chemical moss killer, then there are other better alternatives. Among them are moss killers that contain iron.

This iron fertilizer can help against moss in several ways. The iron sulfate strengthens your own plants and especially the roots of the lawn. The lawn also contains a strong green tone.

The driving away effect of the moss is also based on the fact that moss does not tolerate the ferrous sulfate. If the lawn is yellow in some places, then this is a clear indication that there was an iron deficiency. Here, there is a high probability that the iron deficiency is the cause of the moss infestation.

However, it is fair to note that a nutrient deficiency, an unsuitable pH level in the soil or very moist, shady soil can also be responsible for the moss infestation.

Application of the iron fertilizer

The iron fertilizer against the moss is applied during the spring. This is when the lawn is freshly growing and needs nutrients the most. The other wedding for this fertilizer is during the fall, before the lawn is left to winter.

Iron fertilizer also requires that the lawn be kept short first. So before applying it, mowing the lawn is the order of the day. This is the only way to ensure that the iron fertilizer can be properly distributed.

Most iron fertilizers are dissolved in water. The dissolved mixture is applied to the lawn by watering can. If the moss infestation is very rampant, then it is worth using a granular iron fertilizer. You can apply the granular iron fertilizer on the lawn with a spreader truck.

After the iron fertilizer is applied, the lawn should be watered. At least for the granular iron fertilizer, this offers the advantage that it can penetrate the lawn more quickly.

The effect of iron fertilizer

Once the iron fertilizer has been spread on the infested areas with the moss, the effect can be observed after about a week. The moss turns brown and dies.

In order for the lawn to get better, you must now dispose of the moss residue from the lawn. You can use a rake and a rake to get rid of the moss growths.

If you find that the iron fertilizer has not yet destroyed all the moss, then you need to reapply this fertilizer. However, keep in mind that there should be at least 12 weeks between applications.

In the meantime, you can make sure the lawn is a little healthier yourself. If you suspect that nutrients are missing you can add them specifically. Dethatching can also protect the lawn from moss infestation.

How dangerous is iron fertilizer as a moss killer?

The application of iron fertilizer does not sound particularly dangerous at first. After all, the iron fertilizer is quite easily available and safety instructions are hardly noticed.

In individual cases, toxic vapors may occur when spreading the iron fertilizer. In order not to ingest them you should wear a mask with a special filter. In addition to the mask, gloves and protective goggles should be mandatory.

When applying iron fertilizer, you must also pay very close attention to where it is applied. Because this reacts strongly with water and if it is given on tiles and paved paths, then very ugly brown spots appear. To remove them is almost impossible and therefore you should be very careful when handling the iron fertilizer.

After treatment with the iron fertilizer, do not walk on the lawn for about 10 days. This will prevent this moss killer from being spread outside the lawn.

Children and pets in particular should be kept from stepping on the lawn.

Salt or vinegar as a moss killer

In addition to chemical moss killers and the iron fertilizer, there are other home remedies that are supposed to help in the fight against moss. For this purpose, the salt and vinegar is often mentioned. But do salt or vinegar actually develop a good effect against the moss in your lawn?

The first thing to accept as a limitation is that any use of salt or vinegar on sealed surfaces is prohibited. Here, there is a risk that these agents will enter the sewage system and thus contaminate the groundwater. The application of these two agents on a sealed surface can result in heavy fines.

On unsealed surfaces, you can use salt or vinegar against moss. With vinegar, it is sufficient if you use a 15% solution. Use a watering can to apply the mixture to the moss and it should die as a result.

Good aim is a prerequisite so that you do not accidentally hit healthy plants as well. This is because this solution kills all affected plants and does not distinguish between moss or lawn plants.

You should refrain from applying these solutions when it is raining. Rainwater will wash away the mixture. This not only ensures that the solution is no longer on the moss, but also that it has been spread throughout the garden. Here you can negatively affect the health of the lawn.

Once you have successfully applied the solution to the moss, the dead weeds must also be removed.

Alternatives to moss killers

Moss killers are only a very quick solution to remove the moss. To avoid the risk of the moss spreading again, a high value should be placed on the health of the lawn above all.

Here you can see practical methods of keeping the lawn healthy and preventing the moss from spreading again.

Scarify

To keep the lawn free of moss, you can also resort to the scarifier. With this garden tool, you can easily remove the moss from the lawn. However, it is important that you proceed in such a way that you do not damage the lawn when scarifying.

The scarifier is advanced vertically into the ground. It should not penetrate the soil deeper than three millimeters. So, proceed very gently in this process and avoid damaging the lawn.

To get the best result, you should work the lawn in the form of a checkerboard. So, first work your way lengthwise and then crosswise.

Lime

One cause of moss in the lawn is soil that is too acidic. If the pH is below a value of 5.5, you need to implement measures to upgrade the condition of the soil.

Test strips for determining the pH are available at any specialty store and can be used by you. If a slightly acidic soil is detected, then you need to add some lime to the lawn.

This measure will take some time, but the quality of the soil will increase significantly and will be more suitable for the lawn.

On the other hand, if you find clover in the lawn, then this is an indication that the soil has too high pH. Here you can use, for example, horn flour.

Sand the lawn

Over time, soils may become more compacted. The usual dethatching or aerification no longer achieves the desired effect.

Do you notice that waterlogging often spreads on the lawn and do you want to prevent the water from always standing on the lawn. Then you should help the lawn a little with sand.

To do this, you can put a light layer of sand on the lawn. The sand seeps away over time and works itself into the soil in this way. This way you can loosen up the lawn and the water can drain back into the soil.

The shady location

If the lawn is mainly in the shade and receives little natural light, then you should choose a lawn mixture that is suitable for such a place. Therefore, it is better to choose a lawn mixture for the shade, which contains, for example, the grass variety of sawgrass.

Furthermore, the lawn in the shade should not be cut too short. The ideal length is around 6 centimeters. In addition, in the summer, adequate watering is a natural part of the process.

This way you can ensure that the moss does not displace the lawn.

Conclusion

If you discover moss in your lawn, you should first and foremost fight the causes. Moss spreads wherever the lawn forms bare patches. So the lawn does not enjoy the best health.

Here you need to find out what the lawn lacks and how to manage it differently. For example, is the soil acidic, lacking nutrients, or is the soil too compacted?

To prevent moss from repeatedly infesting the lawn, you need to find a solution to these problems.

If you want to get rid of the moss quickly, you can use a chemical moss killer. This will thoroughly eliminate the moss and spare your lawn and crops.

You can also destroy the moss with an iron fertilizer. However, it takes a little longer and the lawn should not be walked on for about 10 days.

So if you want to fight moss in the lawn, a basic principle is that the lawn is doing well. Ensure good health then there is no place for the moss anyway.