Moss on the lawn can be a bother for people who want a lush green lawn. Chemical moss killers do work, but they can be harmful to pets, plants, and animals that are good for the environment. There are a number of natural, eco-friendly ways to get rid of moss and make your lawn healthy again.
Why Does Moss Invade Lawns?
Before jumping into organic moss removal methods, it helps to understand what causes moss growth in lawns:
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Too much shade from trees or buildings keeps sunlight from reaching the grass blades. Moss grows well in shady places.
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Compacted soil restricts air and water flow to grass roots. Poor drainage and soggy soil promotes moss.
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Acidic soil below 6.0 pH provides an ideal environment for moss to multiply.
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Lack of aeration reduces oxygen circulation to grass root systems. Moss invades easily.
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Infertile soil or insufficient fertilizer leaves lawns weakened and vulnerable to moss.
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Overhead watering keeps grass blades perpetually wet, allowing moss to establish.
If you fix one or more of these problems, you can get rid of moss naturally and keep it from coming back.
Best Organic Moss Killers
Here are some safe, natural moss killing options to try in your lawn:
Dish Soap
Plain biodegradable dishwashing liquid mixed with water breaks down the protective wax on moss leaves, causing dehydration and death. Spray it directly on moss patches, avoiding grass and garden plants. The moss turns brown and can be raked up once dry. Reapply weekly as needed.
Vinegar
White distilled vinegar or horticultural vinegar contains acetic acid that kills moss on contact. Mix 1 cup vinegar per 1 gallon of water and liberally drench moss growths. Repeat application every few days until moss dies back. Works best on sunny days.
Baking Soda
Sprinkling baking soda raises soil pH, creating an alkaline environment moss can’t tolerate. Mix 1 tablespoon per 1 quart of water and spray on affected areas. Let sit 2-3 days until moss browns, then rake up debris. Best for short-term moss removal.
Salt Water
Table salt or rock salt dries out moss by osmosis, causing dieback. Make a 1 cup salt to 1 gallon water solution and spray thoroughly over moss patches. Avoid heavy application near plant root zones.
Corn Gluten Meal
A natural pre-emergent herbicide, corn gluten meal inhibits moss spore germination and new growth. Apply 20 pounds per 1000 square feet in early spring before moss activates. Reapply every 6-8 weeks during growing season. Also fertilizes grass.
Organic Moss Prevention Tips
In addition to direct moss killing, try these organic methods to discourage regrowth:
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Thin overhead trees to improve light penetration to shaded areas. Avoid excessive shade.
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Aerate compacted areas to improve drainage and oxygen flow to grass roots.
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Raise pH between 6.5-7.0 with lime if soil is too acidic for grass.
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Fertilize 4 times per year to nourish grass and make it more moss resistant.
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Fix drainage issues and avoid frequent overhead irrigation that keeps soil soggy.
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Dethatch in spring and fall to remove moss debris and enable better growth.
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Overseed bare patches to thicken up thin, moss-prone lawns.
When to Remove Moss
For optimal organic moss removal, treat lawns:
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In early spring as temperatures rise before active moss growth begins.
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In fall after night temperatures have cooled down.
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On sunny days when moss is dry for best product absorption.
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Before or after seeding new lawns.
Avoid moss treatment during summer heat or dry spells that stress grass. Plan to reapply organic moss killers like vinegar, soap, and baking soda every 10-14 days until moss growth subsides. With persistence using natural methods, you can eliminate moss and restore a lush green lawn.
Recap of Organic Moss Control
To summarize organic moss removal:
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Identify and correct underlying issues like shade, poor drainage, low pH, etc.
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Apply natural moss killers like dish soap, vinegar, or baking soda directly on moss patches.
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Remove dead moss debris to eliminate spores after treatment.
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Fertilize and overseed lawns to thicken grass and prevent regrowth.
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Adjust irrigation practices to allow soil surface to dry between waterings.
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Maintain proper mowing, fertilizing, aerating, and dethatching for healthy grass.
With a multifaceted organic approach, you can eliminate moss and restore your lawn’s vibrant green grass. The natural results are well worth the effort. Your lawn will look lush while benefiting the environment.
Who makes your spreader?
Your Spreader Setting is:
- If I plant grass seeds, is it safe to use Lawn Moss Control? Lawn Moss Control can be used after three cuts to the new plants or after 30 days.
- How do I get rid of moss? You can get rid of moss by using tools like hard raking or scraping. Lawn Moss Control lets you rent tools to help you with this job if you need to fix a large area. This will usually kill the moss in 7–10 days and turn it black. Keep in mind that you shouldn’t plant grass seed where moss has been for two to three weeks.
Don’t Forget These Essentials
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Weeds Controlled
Moss
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Active Ingredient(s)
Ferrous sulfate monohydrate
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Pre or Post-Emergent
Post-emergent
- When to Use: Use whenever moss is growing quickly and making the lawn look bad. If it’s not going to rain in the next 24 hours, apply the pesticide when the weather is calm. This will help keep the pesticide from being washed off by wind or rain.
- How often to use it: 8 pounds per 1000 square feet is the most that can be used at once. ft. per year.
- Can Be Used When Seeding? No, you have to wait 14 days after applying Lawn Moss Control before planting grass seed. After seeding, you have to wait 30 days before applying Lawn Moss Control.
- Use With Other Products: You could burn your lawn if you use two of our weed killers or fertilizers at the same time. You can use two of these products together, though, as long as one doesn’t have fertilizer and the other does. As a general rule, you can use two different products together as long as they work with each other.
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Apply to Dry or Damp Lawn
Dry
- Family-Friendly
- Shelf Life: To store your weed killer properly, keep it off the ground, in a cool, dry place that isn’t in direct sunlight, and away from water. Keep bags with unused items in a locked area that kids and pets can’t get to, especially bags that have already been opened. Do not store near feed or foodstuffs. Do not store near open containers of fertilizer, seed, or other pesticides to avoid cross-contamination. Grass killers will work for at least two years under these conditions.
- Watch out for Harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through skin. Do not breathe in dust or touch it with your eyes, skin, or clothes. After touching something dirty, wash your hands well with soap and water before you eat or drink. Take off contaminated clothing and wash it before putting it back on. This item has ferrous sulfate in it, which can stain paint, concrete sidewalks, and cart paths. Clean up spills right away by sweeping or washing them off of driveways, sidewalks, and other painted or concrete surfaces. Clean hard surfaces after application. You should only use this product on your lawn or garden. If any of it falls on the driveway, sidewalk, or street, you should sweep it back onto your lawn or garden. To protect the environment, don’t let pesticides go into or run off into gutters, storm drains, drainage ditches, or upper bodies of water.
- Product LabelAlways read and follow the product label before use. DOWNLOAD PRODUCT LABELSafety Data Sheets can be found at www. jonathangreen. com/safety-data-sheets-sds. If you have a specific question, please don’t wait to get in touch with us.
Garden Care – Mo Bacter
FAQ
How do I get rid of moss on my lawn naturally?
Baking Soda: Sprinkle baking soda on the moss. The high sodium content can kill the moss over time without harming your grass. Vinegar Solution: A mixture of vinegar (acetic acid) and water can be sprayed directly onto the moss. Be careful, as it may also affect nearby grass.
What is the best homemade moss killer for lawns?
Mix 1⁄4 cup of borax with 1 gallon of water or vinegar in a bucket. At this point you can spray the borax mix on the moss with an agricultural sprayer of some sort. Manually you can scrub this compound into the moss. This mixture can also be worked into the moss with a scrub brush until the moss is saturated.
What kills moss but doesn’t kill grass?
Iron sulfate will start damaging moss in a matter of hours and effectively kill it within two days. This ingredient is commonly found in fertilizers and won’t harm your lawn’s grass. Glyphosate, on the other hand, is non-selective and will kill both the moss and grass it comes into contact with.
Does vinegar and dawn kill moss?
Yes, vinegar will kill the plants, because vinegar is like acid rain, which can damage any green living thing. Bleach will also kill it. The dead moss will be easier to scrape off. Or, scrape it off while it’s still green with a dull scraper, and hose down any earth that remains.