Take on the moss in your lawn

Moss is a common problem in the lawn. Once present in your grass, it rapidly takes over your entire lawn. We list a number of preventive measures & solutions for you!

Take preventive action

Moss nests in bare, acidic, compacted or shady places. The moss stores moisture for dry times, so even in drier soil it can take root. Moss is stronger than your lawn and therefore a daring and dangerous opponent. So the message is to take preventive action and not give moss a chance! You can do this by thoroughly maintaining your lawn and giving it the necessary attention. We have listed four of the most important points:

1. Scarifying

By scarifying your lawn every year, you loosen the compacted top layer of the grass, so that the roots get more light and oxygen. The best periods for scarifying are April and early September/October. After that, the grass will experience a growth spurt. Before you use a scarifier or rake, it is very important to spray the moss to destroy it. Moss is a spore plant, so if you scarify without spraying it to pieces, you will just start spreading the moss over the entire lawn. This will make the situation even worse. A few days before scarifying, treat your lawn with Bio-press. This is a plant-based product that works indirectly against moss and produces results after just 24 hours! You can also use this product early in the season since, unlike many other products, the temperature does not have to be 15°C. It is therefore the ideal product for gardeners who do not wish to use chemical products.

To prevent moss from taking over, it is better to fertilise the bare spots that arise from dethatching (with organic fertiliser such as Viano recovery) and to spread grass seed if your lawn is badly damaged. Weeds or wild grass can grow in any bare spot. So it is best to replace these spots with nice grass as soon as possible. Using a recovery mix is ideal for this (e.g. Barenbrug Recovery).

2. Liming

All kinds of external factors, such as acid rain, can cause your lawn to become acidic. This is detrimental to your grass, but it is also the ideal environment for moss to grow. Lime lowers the acidity level and creates a less attractive environment for moss. Lime will also ensure that your grass can absorb nutrients from the soil better and become stronger. But don't just sprinkle lime! Too much lime is not good for your grass either. A pH value between 6.5 and 7 is ideal. To find out the pH value of your soil, use a pH meter.

3. Fertilising

Fertiliser will make the lawn stronger and give it greater resistance. In a strong, dense turf, moss and also weeds have less of a chance. Are you suffering from moss? Then use a potassium-rich fertiliser. We often see moss growth associated with under-fertilising your lawn. Please note: Potassium is not the same as lime! Potassium tackles moss indirectly, avoiding further moss development. For this we recommend Viano indirect action against moss or an autumn fertiliser with lots of potassium. Spread these fertilisers on moss-sensitive areas so that moss doesn't get a chance.

Due to the ban on herbicides in lawns, it will become even more important to fertilise well and regularly (every 3 months). This way, you get a nice, strong lawn where weed growth and moss formation have less chance (= preventive work).

4. Cutting the grass

Make sure you do not mow your lawn too short, but at a height of 3-4 cm from the ground. Moss will then have less chance because there is no sunlight. Also make sure the blades of your lawnmower are sharp so they cannot damage your lawn, and clean up the clippings as much as possible afterwards.

An antimicrobial agent as a solution

Is moss increasingly taking over your beautiful lawn? Then it is best to call in the help of an antimoss agent.

Do you have a problem with a small amount of moss? Then you can easily combat it with a fertiliser that has an anti-moss effect. An example is Viano's 3-in1 fertiliser.

Is the moss taking over your lawn? Then use a specific anti-moss agent. We recommend Biopress by Viano and Moscide by Edialux. The latter works on the basis of ferrous sulphate and can be applied as soon as the temperature reaches 15°C.

It is best to mow your lawn a few days before applying the antimosant. Do not use it immediately after mowing. This way, the product can be absorbed into the grass and work at full strength.

The grass is always greener at Hermie, and so is yours with our tips! 👇