I have moss in my lawn and I've used sprays and even replaced the sod only to find it keeps coming back. Do you have any suggestions?
Unless you correct the cultural conditions that are giving rise to the moss, it won't go away. Putting down fresh sod or seed can mask the problem for a short period of time, but it won't eliminate it.
So why is the moss there?
Shade is an obvious culprit, but moss will also make itself at home anywhere where soil fertility or pH is low or the ground is poorly aerated, compacted or damp. Any one of these conditions or a combination will attract moss to your lawn.
The simplest solution is just to live with it. It isn't harmful and it obviously likes your property. However, if you just can't stand it, your best chances for eliminating the problem is to remove the source of shade (and hopefully we're talking about a tree here and not your neighbour's house), fertilize and aerate your lawn and cut back on the watering. You can also throw down some horticultural lime in an effort to correct the pH balance, but you should get a soil test done before you take this step to make sure your soil really needs it. Liming already alkaline soil can cause a host of other problems that will make your moss problem seem minor.
If you have any questions or comments, please send them to me at vanessa@gardenmuse.ca.
