Remove pesky lawn moss for good with simple DIY spray garden expert recommends
by Ketsuda Phoutinane, Chanelle Georgina · DevonLiveDamp conditions are the perfect breeding ground for moss, which can be detrimental to your lawn's health.
It's vital to address this problem quickly as moss competes with grass for essential nutrients. With autumn in full swing, it's crucial to fertilise lawns to help them store energy and strengthen against the upcoming cold snaps.
Neglecting to remove moss and weeds before winter can hinder grass from developing robust roots, leading to frail, damaged grass in the following year.
READ MORE: 'Essential' advice on keeping roses alive through winter by a gardening expert
Lawn expert Robert Higgins from Taylor Weed Control has shared that getting rid of moss is simple if you enrich the soil with an iron supplement. He said: "Moss doesn't fare well in iron-rich soil, which is great if you have high levels of iron in your soil."
For those whose lawns lack iron, Higgins recommends regular use of lawn moss killers.
As reports the Express, Robert further explained: "Most lawn moss killers contain iron sulphate, so a simple spray of any good moss-killing agent should provide more than enough iron to kill your moss."
Iron sulphate works by dehydrating moss, preventing it from absorbing moisture, thus killing it off. It also stops the moss from photosynthesising, depriving it of energy and making it easy to remove once dead.
Although lawn moss killers are effective, they can pose risks to pets and wildlife. As a safer option, Higgins suggests using washing-up liquid, which has surfactants that can suffocate moss spores.
A more natural moss deterrent is lime juice; its citric acid content dehydrates and breaks down the cell walls within moss, leading to its demise. Mr Higgins explained: "[Lime] will make the soil less acidic, which is more favourable to grass as well."
Additionally, the lawn expert assured that any of these methods will swiftly destroy moss, resulting in a healthier, lusher lawn that can better withstand winter conditions.