GARDEN COLUMN FOR THE SALISBURY POST
Darrell Blackwelder
February 24, 2003

    Because of our wet winter and lack vigorous lawns, moss seems to be a common complaint by homeowners about their lawns. The carpet-like weed is a symptom of existing cultural problems that occur mainly in cool season fescue lawns. Correcting these problems in the fall before over seeding and fertilizing may help eliminate the occurrence of this problem.
    Moss grows as a result of poor growing conditions such as poor drainage, low light, poor fertility and low pH of the soil. Any one or a combination of all of these conditions is conducive for moss to development. For example, a fertile, well drained soil can have moss in areas of the lawn with low light intensities.
Clay soils drain very slowly holding excessive amounts of water creating the perfect medium for moss establishment. Fill in low areas to allow for proper drainage after excessive rains or irrigation.
Low light is another a major culprit of poor turf establishment and excessive moss growth. Poor quality turf occurs in areas with more than fifty percent shade.
    Now is a good time to judiciously prune lower tree limbs to increase light. Replace thinned or bare areas under trees with ground covers if light cannot be increased. Shade tolerant ground covers such as periwinkle, liriope, or pachysandra do well in deep shade. Natural areas of mulch are another design option.
Proper fertility with a correct soil pH also discourages moss growth. Soil tests eliminate guessing as to the application rates and fertilizer formulations. Soil test kits are available from the Cooperative Extension Service. Homeowners are responsible for sending the samples to the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.
    There are some organic herbicides that kill moss in lawns. Organic soap herbicides eliminate the outside cuticle on moss desiccating the plant. Some high potassium specialty fertilizer products claim to reduce moss in lawns.
    In most situations, a vigorous healthy lawn is the best way to prevent the growth of unwanted weeds, including moss. Now is an excellent time to renovate lawns. Those with moss in their lawns should work to eliminate the problems associated with lawns which are thin and weak, rather than treating the symptom.
Physical removal of the moss may be the only solution in renovating an existing lawn. The use of a heavy bow rake is often the only option.