How to get rid of moss in your lawn once and for all

No matter how thorough you are with your lawn maintenance, your yard risks having patches of moss pop up. Moss control can be challenging — in most cases, it’s easily removed with a rake, but it can recur if you don’t fix the underlying cause that led to its growth.

According to Chris Funke, turf agronomist for Mariani Landscape in Chicago, you have three options regarding your moss problem: acceptance, combat or correction. If you accept the moss as part of your natural environment, you can let it grow freely. On the other hand, ridding your lawn of moss may require an audit of your yard’s soil pH level, causes of poor drainage and thatch presence.

Not all moss is bad, but seeing Hypnum Curvifolium — commonly known as sheet moss — could be a symptom of larger issues such as compacted or acidic soil. Sharon Douglas, Ph.D., former chair of the Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology for the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, emphasized the importance of this audit. She noted that even when moss is physically removed, it will recur if the underlying reasons are not corrected.

See what our experts say about the best ways to get rid of moss without damaging your surrounding grass and plants. We’ll also cover DIY solutions to keep your lawn free of moss.

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What causes moss to grow on turf?

Even the most particular homeowners can end up with moss on their lawn. Common causes include poor drainage, soil compaction, insufficient sunlight and soil composition abnormalities. 

To learn how to get rid of moss in your lawn, try to identify and fix each issue.

Poor drainage

Poor soil drainage is perhaps the most common cause of lawn moss growth. Allowing your soil to remain excessively damp for prolonged periods can cause turfgrass to die or become patchy.

“Moss will grow anywhere photosynthesis can happen and in varying conditions,” Funke said. “Most mosses prefer damp, shaded areas, but some can grow in dry, sunny locations, and they will grow on bare soil, trees, or even rocks.” That’s why you will also see moss growth on roofs.

Soil compaction

Soil compaction is the hardening of soil due to stress or pressure. Excessive foot traffic is a primary cause, resulting in less air between pores. Compaction makes it hard for grass roots to penetrate and can impair water drainage, leading to moss infiltration.

Insufficient sunlight

Inadequate sunlight results in damp patches of grass, which limit healthy growth and are eventually ripe for moss infiltration. Funke said, “The increasing shade can create damper soils, which push out the turf grasses and open the door to the damp soil and shade-loving mosses.” 

To spot the shade culprits, look up where you see patches of moss. Trim branches or shrubs that may be blocking the natural light.

Soil composition

A frequent but lesser-known cause of moss is abnormal soil compositions such as poor soil fertility and low soil pH, Funke noted. The best way to accurately check your soil composition is by requesting a soil test kit from your local government or agricultural testing center. Subscription services such as Sunday Lawn Care offer this service as well. 

How do you get rid of moss in your grass?

After you figure out what’s causing moss to grow in your yard, you can approach the problem with these options: traditional lawn care chemical agents and herbicides labeled as “moss killers” or DIY remedies that use baking soda. Another moss removal method is good old-fashioned manual labor that employs scarifying and raking.

Organic and natural methods

You can tackle moss growth without using strong chemicals — a good solution if you’re looking for a pet-friendly approach. A popular DIY treatment involves baking soda or dish soap on the moss.

Mix 2 ounces of dish soap with a gallon of water for a small to moderate-size lawn, around 500 square feet. If you opt for baking soda, sprinkle the powder directly on the moss or create a paste to smear into the crevices of the lawn. You can also mix 1 cup of baking soda with a gallon of water, then distribute it over your lawn with a spray attachment. 

The baking soda and soap work by increasing the pH of the soil and can be used as a preventative treatment. These DIY moss-removal options present little threat to the rest of your yard’s flora and local wildlife.

Chemical methods

If you opt for commercially available products, Funke recommended using solutions with chemicals such as potassium sulfate, which kills the moss on contact and doesn’t damage trees. In fact, the potassium serves as a fertilizer for tree roots. 

If you decide to use (iron) ferrous sulfate products, note that they work by drawing the moisture out of the moss but will amp up grass growth. Mind your hardscaping, however, as iron can stain concrete and stone.

How do you stop moss from growing back?

The best way to get rid of your moss problem is to remedy the underlying causes. Small changes can make a difference. For instance, adjust lawn watering times depending on the season — water later in the mornings in the autumn and winter but earlier in the summer. While experts recommend 1 inch of water per week, adjust your sprinkler schedule if your area gets a lot of rain.

Make sure your soil has good drainage. Remember: Moss doesn’t have any roots, so to truly limit your moss growth, you need to change the conditions of your lawn.

These other tips can help as well:

• Trim tree limbs: Remove large branches or shrubs that block sunlight from reaching your grass. Trim as necessary.
• Aerate your lawn: If your lawn experiences heavy foot traffic or has excessive thatch, aeration can help. It allows nutrients, sunlight and water to pass through. If you only have small patches of moss, you can opt for scarifying the patches and plan to overseed them for the same effect.
• Correct the soil pH: Decrease the acidity of your soil by adding powdered or pelleted agricultural limestone, available at most gardening stores. Be careful not to overdo it. 
• Use a fertilizer: Use a commercially available fertilizer that contains moss killer and grass feed to tackle moss removal while supporting healthy grass growth.
• Plant shade-tolerant alternatives: When moss control has failed, or soil conditions can’t be corrected, consider planting alternative ground covers such as pachysandra and creeping myrtle.

What’s next?

Moss and grass will compete. That means your fescue grass will need extra TLC in a moss-loving environment. 

While you may be tempted to reach for moss killer, first correct environmental obstacles that may be preventing healthy grass or leading to the moss patches. Implement fixes such as trimming branches, dethatching and reducing foot traffic.

If you don’t have a green thumb, consider hiring a professional lawn care service for an evaluation. Until then, remember that not all moss is bad — and at least it’s one less spot you have to mow.