How to Get Rid of Moss in Lawn Organically
Moss is one of the most persistent lawn problems. It seems to grow anywhere it can find a foothold; even worse, it spreads quickly from plant to plant. No matter what you do, moss will keep coming back unless you have some severe chemical intervention or are willing to put in a lot of time pulling out every single strand by hand. But there’s an easier way!
Moss hates direct sunlight, so all you need to do is cover your yard with tarps for about two weeks- no chemicals necessary! After that, the sun will cook the moss until it turns brown and crumbles away into dust. To know more methods on how to get rid of moss in lawn organically, read this full blog post.
10 Organic Ways: How to Get Rid of Moss in Lawn Organically
Moss and algae love to spread all over your lawn, taking up precious space and making it look dull and uninviting. The good news is that the following ten simple tricks will help you how get rid of moss on the lawn organically and keep moss out of your property for good!
1) Vinegar:
Vinegar is a substance that can kill moss instantly, and over time it will also make it harder for moss to grow back. To use it, mix it with water and spray it on the mossy areas, or pour it directly onto the moss.
2) Boiling water:
When you boil water, you create steam that can help kill moss spores, and the boiling process also destroys the spores on contact. This is why people use steam cleaners to clean tiles. Spray some boiled water all over the mossy area of your lawn, making sure it gets into all the nooks and crannies.
3) Salt:
Like vinegar, salt is an acid that kills moss spores instantly, but it can also slowly eat away at the evil little guys’ roots. Be generous! The more you use, the better your chance of killing the moss.
4) Ammonia:
Ammonia works similarly to salt in that it is an acid that kills moss spores on contact. You can mix in some water if you want, but you should generally use straight-up ammonia with no dilution.
5) Diatomaceous Earth:
You can buy diatomaceous earth at most gardening stores, and the best thing about it is that it kills moss by dehydrating their slimy bodies slowly. So just spread some around the affected area of your lawn, but note that you have to reapply after it rains.
6) Direct Sunlight:
Sunlight is a better moss killer than you might think. Over time, the intense rays of sunlight help toast and kill the spores that cause grassy patches to form. The best way to use sunlight as a natural deterrent is by planting trees or bushes in place of your moss-infested lawn space.
7) Bleach:
Bleach does not kill the moss on your lawn but can help prevent its growth. If you’re using bleach for this purpose, mix one part of bleach with nine parts of water and scrub the toxic solution into the affected areas of your lawn.
8) Corn Gluten Meal:
Corn gluten meal is a pre-emergent herbicide that prevents moss spores from ever taking root in your yard. Just spread it around the affected areas of your lawn, and you should notice a decrease in moss growth within 20-30 days.
9) Chemical Sprays:
You can always turn to chemical sprays for help if all else fails. However, be aware that these products can be pricey, and if you want to buy a commercial option that works well, your best bet is to purchase a bottle of moss-killing spray from your local gardening store.
10) Professional Cleanup:
Last but not least, you can always hire a professional to come and clean up all that pesky moss from your lawn. Just be aware that the cost might run into the hundreds!
Note: Make sure to keep your grass healthy at all times with a consistent watering routine, as this will make it much easier for you to get rid of moss once and for all.
Tips on How You Can Prevent More Moss From Growing in the Future:
1. Reduce irrigation or water your lawn at infrequent intervals so the grass doesn’t stay too wet for too long; this encourages moss growth.
2. Increase soil acidity by applying nitrogen fertilizers with sulfur in them, using aluminum sulfate or iron sulfate as a side-dress, or adding pine needles to the top layer of soil when you are raking up leaves in the fall.
3. Improve drainage by aerating your lawn, allowing water to flow through it more efficiently and removing excess moisture in the soil that causes moss growth.
4. Keep your lawn as short as possible without scalping it using a reel mower, which does not leave the brown stubs that contribute to moss growth.
5. Do not use weed killer because it kills all plants and encourages moss growth if the grass dies back.
6. If you put down a layer of bark or wood chips around your trees, ensure it is an acidic variety to keep the pH in the acidic range.
Conclusion:
The article has provided you with many methods to get rid of moss on lawn organically. If your lawn is already covered in it, don’t fret! There are some easy ways to get rid of the problem, just like I did by using baking soda and vinegar. You can also try out organic pesticides or herbicides that may be more appropriate for your situation.
For those who want to prevent future problems, there are also a few tips on how you can do so as well-such as watering less often during fall/winter months when moss likes to grow best or applying fertilizer correctly. Hopefully, with these simple tricks up your sleeve, we won’t see any more cases of this green monster taking over your yards anytime soon!
