Poor growing conditions favours the growth of moss in lawns. Encourage vigorous grass growth by feeding and regular lawn maintenance and avoid mowing grass too short.
For moss control use a proprietary product, such as those based on ferrous sulphate (sulphate of iron) in spring or early autumn. When the moss blackens after two or three weeks use a spring-tine rake to remove it.
Control with an eradicant will only be temporary unless the conditions which allowed the moss to become established are improved.
For compacted areas use a fork or slitter to aerate the turf. On heavy soils hollow-tine every three or four years and top dress with a sandy mixture of three parts sandy loam, six parts sharp sand and one part peat substitute by volume. On very acid soils a light application of lime such as ground chalk or ground limestone (calcium carbonate) at not more than 50g per sq m (1.5oz per sq yd), will slightly reduce acidity and discourage moss. For shaded areas use a grass seed mix or turf specified for such areas.
