moss in the lawn

[janek]

hi, is there a way i can get rid of the moss in my lawn without using chemicals? would a good thorough raking do? it is only about 3m x 6m, but since the DDs arrived i have been less caring about my lawn and the result is not a pretty sight...

tia

You could try a thorough raking to remove most of the moss. Then to improve drainage spike the lawn thoroughly (using a garden fork although you can buy special hollow-tine spikers) and brush in lawn sand. Seed any bare patchs and you should have an improved lawn in 3 to 4 weeks time.

Second the thorough raking, our lawn is dreadful but didn't want to throw chemicals on it. The raking really works but is absolutely knackering! Looks dreadful immediately afterwards but as Peas says, give it a few weeks and it'll look great. "Only about 3m x 6m" will feel massive by the time you've finished raking though!

The lawn sand thing sounds interesting - never heard of it. Will look into it. Off to dig out my rake now I think

The usual way is to use lawn sand, which is just sand with about 5% iron sulphate, which isnt a particularly nasty chemical (in fact its the rust you get round the battery tray on an old car)

Heres the

data sheet for it:

Be careful while raking your lawn. I gave myself tennis elbow 2 years ago by doing it too vigorously, and it took about 6 months to clear up. But the best thing to have come out of the expeience is that we are now the proud owners of an electric scarifier!

Honestly just give up!

With lots of serious effort you can keep it at bay, but drop your guard and it's back before you can blink. Just enjoy the rewards of a sort, green looking and soft lawn

Apparantly, im told, Lawn feed weed and mosskiller works fabulously well on moss on flat or shallow sloped roofs.

guess i need to buy a rake then. could i just use ordinary sand, that lawn sand info gave me the willies!

thanks for all the advice btw. i shall do my best to avoid tennis elbow.

Hey just use the scarifier (wide rake) don't really need to use the sand, I've found, just scarify every two weeks. Keep going otherwise it will come back.

The moss you can use in hanging baskets or on the top of planters, very useful stuff !