Dealing with Moss in the Lawn

Moss may not always grow on the north side of trees and it might not be able to guide those lost in the woods. But it does send a different kind of signal to us in terms of weed control.

What Story Does This Green Fuzz Tell?

When it shows up in your lawn, moss is sending a message that something in your yard is not right for growing grass. Moss isn’t a super strong plant. It doesn’t drive out grass; it just quietly fills in the space when your good turf isn’t able to grow.

Working together, our fertilization and lawn care services can help control the moss. But for any solution to last, it’s important to answer the bigger question first: Why is it there?

Why Moss Appears

There are about 50 kinds of moss that show up in lawns, and most of them love shady, moist conditions. But cool, moist shade isn’t the only reason you may be seeing a short green blanket of moss where the grass is supposed to be. Here are some other conditions that can bring on moss:

• Poor drainage: A common reason moss appears. Soil that is nearly always wet keeps the grass from growing by drowning its roots and creates a perfect home for small mossy plants.
• Too much shade: Moss can take off in areas where there is not enough sunlight for turfgrass to thrive. Thinning or pruning overhanging shrubs or trees will help light get through. Or we can help you plan for a type of grass or ground cover that grows well in shade.
• Not enough air circulation: Your lawn needs plenty of air to help water evaporate from the soil. Pruning low branches in surrounding trees may also help with this problem.
• Low soil fertility: Without the right amount of nutrients in the soil, it’s hard for many grasses to grow. Your Spring-Green lawn care program can provide the regular fertilizing that your grass needs to start a new growth process.
• Compact soil: When the top several inches of soil get packed down, turf roots can’t penetrate and have trouble getting established. Lawn aerating or slice seeding can usually help solve this problem.
• Acidic soil: Testing the soil pH may show that your lawn needs lime.

The best way to tackle moss is when we work together to correct the root cause.

If you have this problem in your lawn, contact your neighborhood Spring-Green lawn care professional.

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At Spring-Green, we don’t let the moss grow under our feet when it comes to serving your lawn care needs.

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