Lawns require extra attention in the autumn to prevent drying out after months of hot, dry weather. However, another threat lurks—moisture that clumps up the grass, creating an ideal breeding ground for moss. This spongy menace thrives in damp conditions and starts to grow in September and October when the weather turns colder and wetter. Not only does moss transform gardens into potential slip zones, but it also leeches vital nutrients from the grass, leading to sparse and struggling lawns as winter sets in.
Yet, according to Kate Treen, a specialist from Agrigem, warding off moss and fostering a healthier lawn is straightforward—just introduce a bit of iron to your grass. She advises: “Iron is a great moss killer for lawns because it lowers the pH of soil to the point where moss is unable to grow and draws out the moisture so mosses dry, turn black, and die. It also feeds the grass to encourage healthy green growth.”
Iron sulphate stands out as an effective moss assassin for lawns, acting as a micronutrient that scorches spores while dehydrating and smothering the moss, ensuring its swift demise with minimal fuss, reports the Express.
While lethal to moss, iron is benign to lawns and actually acts as a gentle fertiliser, playing a crucial role in chlorophyll production and thus aiding the grass in energy generation.
By bolstering the grass blades and roots with iron, you’ll prepare your lawn to withstand the oncoming chill and enhance its resistance to fungal diseases.
However, one of the top reasons to use iron on your lawn is that it enhances the chlorophyll, which gives grass its colour. This results in a deeper and richer green hue, which can make your lawn look particularly striking this autumn.
How to use iron to eliminate moss and enhance your lawn
Firstly, you need to select the appropriate moss treatment product. Kate strongly recommends MossTop, Ferro-Gem Liquid Iron, High-Fe or Feed, Weed and Moss Killer.
Ensure you choose a dry day with no rain forecasted, as any rainfall could wash away the moss treatment from the grass. Then, simply follow the application instructions provided on the product.
The moss should perish within a few hours of applying the iron. Afterwards, rake up the dead foliage, taking care not to harm the grass as any bare patches could leave your lawn more vulnerable to weeds during autumn.
Your lawn should appear significantly greener and be free of moss within a day. However, it’s worth noting that moss thrives in moist conditions, so if your lawn is mossy, it may indicate poor drainage.
To prevent the return of moss, you’ll likely need to aerate and scarify the grass soon, as soil often becomes compacted after periods of warm weather.