Moss in the gardenoccurs most often when the soil is acidic, moist and compacted. Most often, the problem ismoss on the lawnbut it also happens that we observemoss in the vegetable gardenand on the sidewalk or driveway made of cobblestones. Often gardeners also complain thatmoss grows on trees and shrubs , spoiling the appearance of shoots and branches. Fortunately, there are solutions to all of these problems. Seehow to get rid of moss from the gardenand what measures to use to combat moss.
Moss in the garden
Fig. depositphotos.com
Is moss in the garden a problem?
"Moss loves moisture and shadeIt feels best in acidic soil and dense soil. It appears on cobblestones, in a vegetable garden, on trees and shrubs, but most often it attacks the lawn. It can, over time, create a carpet that grass cannot pass through. Ifthe moss lasts until later in autumnand we do nothing to get rid of it, it will be even more difficult in spring. "
Moss is worth getting rid ofnot only because it damages the lawn. Elsewhere in the garden, it can signal us that the soil is too wet or acidic. And such conditions can be unfavorable for crops. Therefore, alwaysat the beginning of the fight with moss it is worth determining the cause of its appearance
Moss on the lawn
Moss on the lawn most often appears due to too wet, heavy or excessively acidic soil. Thereforewhen fighting moss on your lawnit is very important to aerate regularly in combination with sandblasting.Lawn aeration involves puncturing the ground deeply with a fork, spiked shoes, or a device called an aerator. The spikes of the aerator dig into the ground, loosening it and bringing air to the grass roots. Aeration should always be done in the spring, and if necessary, repeated again in the summer.
Aeration prevents moss formation
Fig. © PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
After such a loosening of the ground, it is worth sandblasting the lawn. For this purpose, we sprinkle sand over the entire surface of the lawn and spread it with a rake. In this way, excessively compacted and wet soil will become looser and the grass will have better conditions to grow.The moss should wither and disappear over time
If there is moss on the lawnyou should also make sure that the soil is not too acidic. For this purpose, the soil pH is measured. If the used soil meter shows us a pH value below 6.0 it is worth liming the lawn. For this purpose, calcium fertilizers, such as e.g. dolomite, are used.The best time to liming your lawn is late autumn
Lawn fertilizers that fight moss will also help. They usually contain iron, thanks to whichmoss on the lawn turns brown and can be easily removedHowever, it should be remembered that these fertilizers can cause brown stains on concrete, ceramic and stone elements. Therefore, in the event of spilling fertilizer in an unwanted place, it should be immediately collected and the rest washed with water.
Moss in the vegetable garden
Moss in the vegetable gardenis, like on the lawn, an indicator of acid soil. For precise pH determination, the pH of the soil should be checked with an acid meter. If the measurement result shows a soil pH lower than 6.5, liming the soil is also the only correct solution.They can be made using calcium-carbonate or oxide fertilizers. Again, the aforementioned dolomite will be a great choice.Liming the vegetable beds is best done in the fall , when the harvest is finished and the plants are dormant. If you want to raise the pH value faster, you can de-acidify the pH + substrate in the spring. It is a preparation that is dissolved in water, before sowing or planting plants.
Moss on trees and shrubs
Sometimesmoss appears on trees and shrubsStrictly speaking, although many gardeners call it moss, it is actually lichen. Lichens do not harm trees, and they draw food from the air. If the tree has decorative bark and you want to remove the lichen from it, this can be done with a stiff, rough brush. We do it gently so as not to damage the bark of the tree.
Althoughlichens on trees are not bad by themselves , they appear much more often on dying trees and on dead wooden tissue .If lichens are growing over an old tree, which grows less and less yields, it is worth considering whether to replace it with a new planting.
Lichens on shrubs
Fig. Iga 51, forum.PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
Moss on the sidewalk and driveway
Porosti and mosses growing on cobblestones and pavementsare a problem because the surface becomes slippery and looks unsightly. In this case, we can remove them mechanically with a stiff broom or use preparations designed to remove moss from paving stones.
Moss in cobblestones
Fig. © PoradnikOgrodniczy.pl
It is worth reaching forpreparations for fighting moss based on natural ingredients , such as Effect 24H. The active substance of this preparation is pelargonic acid (a component of pelargonium essential oil).This preparation is also suitable for weed control, and the effects of its action can be seen the very next day. When spraying paths and driveways with Effect 24H, however, we must be careful not to spray the plants growing nearby, as this agent may harm them.
MSc Eng. Joanna Białowąs
