Moss loves shade, moisture, and poorly drained or compacted soils. There is truth to the belief that moss grows on the north side of trees since areas that receive little sun are where moss tends to thrive. In lawns, moss tends to fill in areas where grass has weakened and cannot grow. Moss is simply filling a void where other plants cannot grow. Thus, before killing grass, it’s wise to consider the conditions that have fostered the growth of moss. Unless you can change the conditions where moss is thriving, removing it is likely to be a temporary fix, at best.
Organic Methods for Controlling Moss
There are a number of synthetic chemical products that will kill moss, but as with any gardening problem, they should be a last resort, as these chemicals can also harm birds and other animals and may contribute to overall environmental pollution. Fortunately, there are several organic methods for reducing or eliminating moss:
A simple moss-killer is a mixture of Ultra Dawn dish soap mixed with water. After a couple of applications of the soapy-water solution, the moss will begin to turn orange and dry up. Thin out overhanging trees in areas where moss thrives. Allowing sunlight down onto the ground will reduce moisture and make the ground less hospitable to moss. Aerate compacted soils. Aeration improves drainage and dries out the soil, making it less friendly to moss. Plant shade-mix grass seed after you have addressed soil issues.. This will crowd out moss, provided the environmental conditions have been remedied.
Using Chemicals to Get Rid of Moss
Moss may be thriving because of pH problems in the soil. Treating the soil with lime may reduce the acidity and lessen moss infestations. Moss resists many commercial herbicides, but products containing ferrous sulfate and ferrous ammonium sulfate may work.
Making Peace With Moss
If all this moss control seems like a little too much trouble, there is an alternative: embrace the moss. Growing grass where it doesn’t want to grow isn’t easy or even recommended. Moss is one of several plants that make an excellent groundcover for shady areas. Its look and feel are intriguing and pleasing to the eye, and it’s a nice alternative to grass in places where grass doesn’t want to grow. Instead of fighting moss, you might consider giving in and turning a portion of your lawn into a pleasant shade garden carpeted with moss and planted with other shade-loving plants, such as astilbe and impatiens.
