Moss removal programme
This is an example of a programme you could follow to get rid of moss, and prevent it coming back.
Autumn treatment: Early Autumn: Apply autumn fertiliser and mosskiller When moss has browned or blackened, scarify the lawn. Aerate with a garden fork or hollow tiner if necessary. Brush in a light lawn top-dressing of three parts loam, six parts sharp sand and one part peat substitute by volume If grass is sparse, lightly over-seed before applying the top-dressing, at a rate of 17-34g per sq m (½-1oz per sq yd) with new lawn seed
Spring treatment: Mid- to late March: Apply spring fertiliser and mosskiller during fine weather Early April: Lightly rake out dead moss Lightly over-seed sparsely grassed areas and lightly top-dress as above if necessary
Moss prevention
To prevent moss returning, encourage vigorous grass growth by feeding and regular lawn maintenance, paying particular attention to the following:
When seeding or laying a lawn in a shaded area, use a grass seed mix or turf specified for shady areas. Reducing shade will also help
For compacted areas use a garden fork to spike the lawn, or a mechanical slitter on large lawns. This will aerate the turf
On heavy soils use a manual or mechanical hollow-tiner in autumn to take out small plugs of soil every three or four years, and then brush in a mixture of three parts sandy loam, six parts sharp sand and one part peat substitute by volume
Avoid mowing grass too short
On very acid soils an application of garden lime at not more than 50g per sq m (1½oz per sq yd), will slightly reduce acidity and discourage moss
