Lawn or Moss Pit? Tips for Managing Moss

employee checking for moss Winter storms late in the season combined with cold temperatures lingering well into spring have created ideal conditions for an adversary of lawns everywhere: moss.

This year, soil became wet, compact, and loss much of its ability to drain under the weight of ice and snow. Because of the late timing of the snows and frozen soil, lawns have had less time than usual to bounce back into mid-season form.

Even normally resilient and regionally popular lawn grasses like Perennial Ryegrass grow poorly under such conditions. Conversely, moss thrives in such environments favoring shade, moisture, compacted soil, poor drainage, and even low nutrients. Fortunately, there are steps you can take now to eradicate the problem as well as help to thwart it later in the season and for years to come.

The first option in eradicating moss is doing so physically – in most cases with a rake. Once patches of moss are identified and removed you can start to consider ways you can alter the environment to favor grass over moss. Then you will add seed to your lawn – especially in places where moss once was. Some recommend using chemicals like dish-safe soap or bleach. This should be done only in extreme circumstances. Consult a lawn-care professional like the ones at Lawn Doctor of Hanover before you start spraying chemicals on your lawn.

Once the moss is physically removed, you can begin to trouble shoot areas of your lawn in which moss were thriving. Shade may be causing you to experiencing moss accumulation around planted trees. You can remove the soil around the tree and add mulch to eliminate this issue. If you are experiencing moss in drainage areas, you may want to aerate or till the soil then reseed with grass.

It is also recommended to have a sample of your soil tested. In doing so you can determine if your lawn is lacking key nutrients to promote grass growth. You can also see if the PH of your soil is too low or acidic.

Tom Norton of Lawn Doctor suggests, “If low PH level is the culprit responsible for your moss issue, you can make your soil more alkaline by adding Calcitic Lime.” Of course creating the right PH and nutrient balance for your soil is best accomplished with the help of lawn care professionals.”

If your lawn’s soil seems to be overly compact, draining poorly and patchy all over you may want to consider reseeding by Power Seeding. This method will allow seed, soil, and water to come together in the right ratio to allow for germination and does not harm any existing healthy turf. This service will also help to loosen your soil, making it drain better, and reducing the chances moss will grow on it again. Lawn Doctor uses their proprietary Turf Tamer Power Seeder to accomplish this task.

Moss can be managed. Proactive care will make your lawn a season long showcase. Lawn Doctor is focused on working in harmony with the science of nature. Every service is designed to boost natural growth. This goes beyond the use of simple, green products. The company’s proprietary technology allows its lawn professionals to precisely measure and apply the optimum blend of nutrients and weed control – doing the right thing for your lawn and the environment.

A healthy lawn creates oxygen, removes dust and dirt, and filters water passing through its roots leaving pollutants behind and many more benefits. Lawn Doctor of Boston, the South Shore, and Cape Cod is a local, family owned and operated business.

For more information about Lawn Doctor of Boston, visit www.lawndoctor.com/boston-ma/ or call 617.604.3100.