Moss Problems and Cures

Moss is fine in the right place.

Growing on rocks in the shade or in a cool geen environment like a Japanese style garden moss may be a worthwhile plant to grow.

Moss in the wrong place can be a nuisance depriving other plants of light and nutrients.

• Moss in a lawn is one of the worst instances of moss problems. The moss may look green when the ground is damp but it soon looks unsightly when it dries out. By this time the grass is thin or none existent.
• Moss seems to grow on the top of many of my overwintering seed trays and pots. The extra nutrients make an ideal home base for the moss and it smothers out any seedlings.
• Moss in the flower beds is caused by poor drainage and damp, dingy conditions.
• Moss on paths and pavements can be slippy. see also

Causes of moss include poor drainage and excess damp. This is often exacerbated in lawns by compacted soil where air has been trodden out of the lawn.

• Dark, damp and poor watering can cause moss as can excess nutrients. You may have seen how yogurt painted on to a stone encourages moss to grow.
• Infection by spores from other moss plants. Moss will not compost and needs to be buried to kill it off.

Moss Prevention and Cure

• Aerate the soil, hoe or spike the ground to allow air to enter.
• Avoid standing water and boggy ground.
• Use clean water for seedlings not infected water-butt water.
• Lawn treatments include liquid or granular applications of chemicals.
• Lawn sand can be spread and is gritty silver sand with sulphate of iron and sulphate of ammonia blended in.
• Read controlling moss in lawns
• A good range of Moss Killers are available from Amazon