Weeds and moss can be a common problem for lawns, but a gardening expert has shared a simple tip to remove them forever – and it’s all to do with scarifying your lawn
Lawns could benefit from some care as the UK has now moved into the autumn period when numerous weeds flourish and moss typically prospers during this season.
Kate Turner, a horticultural expert and gardening specialist from Love The Garden, has cautioned that whilst weeds represent a frequent lawn problem, moss indicates poor turf condition stemming from factors such as poor drainage, too much shade, lack of nutrients, cutting grass excessively short or constant foot traffic.
She said: “Moss in lawns is a sign that there is an underlying problem with the lawn. This can be caused by any of several factors, including poor drainage, shade, lack of fertiliser, [the] grass [being] cut too short or heavy foot traffic.”
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However, don’t panic as there’s a simple solution for eliminating both weeds and moss, which also prevents moss from returning uninvited – and that’s scarifying your turf.
Scarifying represents a horticultural technique aimed at eliminating the thatch layer that builds up gradually between the earth and grass on a lawn, reports the Express.
Thatch comprises different organic matter including dead turf, plant roots, foliage, and other garden debris which can prevent water, oxygen, and nutrients from reaching the earth, resulting in numerous lawn issues.
Among the most significant problems thatch creates are inadequate drainage, restricted root development, compressed earth, uneven grass coverage, heightened pest risk plus weeds and moss establishing on your turf. Scarifying a lawn is a straightforward task where you simply need to rake across the grass in spring, removing surplus thatch whilst also helping to pull out weeds.
Kate explained: “If the moss problem is mild, it may be possible to get on top of it by simply scarifying and then improving the overall health of the lawn with regular lawn care to stop the moss coming back.”
She continued: “Always mow before scarifying and try not to be too vigorous in spring, only scarify until you can see soil underneath.”
However, tackling moss properly frequently demands a combination of scarifying, adequate lawn maintenance, and using a moss-killing product.
Kate observed: “Scarifying moss before treatment is a good idea as if there is a really thick problem then the treatment doesn’t always get to work to the underneath sections so loosening it and thinning it will help the treatment get to work.”
It’s advisable to choose an organic moss killer, which proves more environmentally friendly and streamlines the treatment approach.
Kate emphasised: “An advantage of organic moss killers is that since the bacteria effectively ‘digest’ the moss in situ it doesn’t go black and needs no raking out.”
For best outcomes, organic moss killers should be applied between late spring and early autumn as they need temperatures above 15C to work properly. Kate concluded: “Moss and weeds in lawns don’t need to be a problem. With a little care and attention, you can turn a mossy lawn into beautiful green turf to be proud of.”
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