The soil test may have other recommendations for how to best adjust the soil pH, such as topdressing with wood ash.įinally, the soil test will give you valuable information on the nutrients in your soil, making recommendations for fertilizers and other amendments to add in order to make it suitable for growing turfgrass. But don't amend the soil with agricultural lime (an alkaline powder that will reduce acidity) unless the soil test indicates a need for it. It's not so much that moss likes acid soil, but rather than turf grasses react badly to acid conditions. Moss-infested lawns often have acidic soil. Tell them that you are trying to get rid of moss in a lawn, requesting information on soil pH and nutrient content. A great way to begin your investigation is to send in a sample of your soil to your local Cooperative Extension service so that they can test it for you.

Moss infestations are very often traced to poor soil conditions-especially pH and nutritional problems. Instead of asking, 'How do I get rid of moss?' the better question is 'How can I make my lawn healthier?' Indeed, the best defense against moss is a good offense. Aerate cool-season grasses in early fall and warm-season grasses in mid-spring to early summer. When to aerate depends in part on the type of lawn grass you grow. The process of removing thatch is called ' dethatching.' Hard manual raking with a sharp-toothed bow rake or a special dethatching rake will do the job, but many people prefer to hire a professional service or rent a power dethatcher to do this labor-intensive job.įollowing up dethatching with annual aeration will help reduce soil compaction and improve drainage and air circulation, which makes the soil more conducive to grass and less friendly to moss. Some homeowners intent on getting rid of moss really need to be focusing on getting rid of thatch, which can prevent water from draining properly through the soil. The first step here is to evaluate the role that thatch buildup might be playing. With surface moss removed, your efforts can now turn toward preventing future moss growth. The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board.

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