You’re not alone if you have moss in your lawn. In the Pacific Northwest, we get a lot of calls from homeowners who have tried and failed to get rid of moss in their lawns. Why does moss love to grow in our yards and why is it so hard to remove?
Moss is a native plant in the PNW, and our environmental conditions of heavy rainfall, a lot of shade, and acidic soils are perfect for growing moss. However, you may want more lawn in your yard and less moss. What can be done?
If removing moss from your yard is your goal, you must first understand why moss is growing there. Next, you’ll need to change the conditions from “moss-loving” to “grass-loving”. Here are some facts about moss and what you can do:
Moss loves wet conditions. Moss needs a lot of moisture to survive and grows well in poorly drained areas. Lacking any roots, it is an ideal plant for soggy areas with compact soils. To reduce moss, you must improve the drainage in your lawn.
What you can do:
1. Identify the problem areas. Observe your lawn after a heavy rain and notice where the water pools. Is moss a problem in that area?
2. Dethatch your lawn to remove any built-up thatch.
3. Aerate your lawn yearly to allow the soil to “breathe” and reduce compaction.
4. Monitor your watering schedule and make a plan to reduce overwatering. See our blog for how much water your grass needs.
5. Consider installing a Smart Irrigation System that controls the amount of water based on weather conditions.
Moss loves acidic soils. The PNW, with its acidic soils, is a haven for rhododendrons, azaleas, and moss! But what about growing grass for lawns? Grass cannot tolerate these acidic conditions and needs the soil “sweetened” to thrive.
What you can do:
1. STOP using granular products that contain iron. Although these products promise to kill moss, they only work as a “quick fix”. In the long run, your moss problem will worsen. Why? Iron, a heavy metal, builds up in the soil and stays there year after year. Iron is acidic and contributes to the already acidic soil conditions, which moss loves and grass hates.
2. Get your soil tested to find out what your lawn needs. A soil test will help you assess the nutrition and soil amendments needed to grow a strong turf.
3. Sweeten the soil with a yearly application of calcium carbonate (lime) and monitor your lawn’s pH. Lawns thrive at a neutral pH between 6.5 and 7.0 while moss thrives in fairly acidic soils of pH 5.0 - 5.5. Balancing your soil pH to favor lawn over moss will be necessary.
Moss loves shade. Moss can dominate in shady areas. Here’s what you can do to address the densely shady areas in your yard.
What you can do:
1. Let in more sunlight and improve airflow by trimming shrubs and thinning tree branches.
2. Swap out grass for attractive shade-tolerant plants.
3. Renovate your lawn and reseed with a shade-tolerant grass variety.
4. Restore your soil to be more “grass-loving” by treating it with a probiotic tea such as FertileTea.
5. Maintain your lawn’s nutrition with high-quality organic fertilizers.
Is there an easier alternative to this? You bet… Let your moss grow! In the PNW, moss is low maintenance and can create a desirable ground covering. It acts as a soft, pillowy, living mulch.
If you would enjoy a moss-free lawn and need some guidance, we can help. As lawn and plant care experts, we can provide what you need to create the landscape you love.
