Your Lawn Versus Moss
The Battle Rages On! (And How to Grow a Lawn Organically)
In the Pacific Northwest, the number one problem facing homeowners early in the spring is the invasion of moss. The lawn has just barely started to grow, but the moss seems like it has been there since the beginning of time. Well, guess what? It has… Moss has been growing here for 10,000 years and lawn grasses have not.
So, what do we do if we want to grow a lawn? Common treatments call for killing the moss, typically with iron-based products. On some level, this seems like a panacea because the moss dies and the grass gets dark green. Oops… Well, the grass is green but now the moss is black. Not the best look, but what the heck. As long as the moss is going bye-bye, we can all put up with a little black in our lawn for a few weeks…
Problem solved, right? Well, not really… The moss is black and the grass is green, but this is just a temporary “fix.” It’ll be back later this spring or certainly by this time next year when we need to start the killing process all over again. But hey, it’s only iron and that’s a natural earth element. What could be the harm in that? Right?
The problem lies in iron’s very acidic nature. Lawns don’t like acidic soils, but guess who does? Moss! By using iron, we are actually creating conditions more favorable to growing moss than grass. In the plant world, it would be hard to find two plants — moss and grass — that grow in more completely opposite conditions. Check out the chart below for the conditions conducive to lawn grasses and moss.
Isn’t there some better way to solve this problem and be able to grow healthy stands of grass where moss doesn’t get a foothold? YES! The key is to change the cultural conditions where grass thrives and moss does not. If you are growing moss, it is because you are not growing healthy stands of grass. Moss has no roots and only grows where your grass is not thriving. If your grass was happy, you would not have any moss.
Step #1:
Test your soils. This is critical, and as a sustainable landscape company, Earthdance Organics will needs an up-to-date soil test. It's the most important aspect.
Step #2:
Adjust your pH for what a lawn likes (6.5 to 7 pH). Then break the surface tension of the soil-to-grass interface by dethatching. Follow that with core aeration to pull out plugs and let the soil breathe, letting in air and water, and encouraging root growth.
Step #3:
Add your nutrient package based on what is missing in your soil test.
Step #4:
Over-seed, followed by top dressing with compost.
Step #5:
Inoculate your soils with a probiotic tea to jump-start the microbial life.
But it doesn’t stop there. Grasses are heavy feeders and need regular fertilizing. Start by mulching the grass clippings back into the soil. This can reduce your nitrogen needs by 30%. Use organic fertilizers to keep your nitrogen values up. Add minerals and micro-nutrients as needed. And be sure to keep adding calcium to sweeten your soils until you are in the desired pH range of 6.5 to 7. All these follow-up programs will help keep the conditions more conducive to grass than moss.
And finally, sit back and enjoy your naturally beautiful and organic lawn!
Is there an alternative to all that work? You bet… Let your moss grow! Moss is super low maintenance and can create very desirable ground coverings. If you like the look of moss, you are living in the right place.
Bill Peregrine is a designer, builder and care professional of organic and sustainable landscapes. With more than 30 years of horticultural experience, Bill has learned to listen to Nature and replicate Nature’s systems in the built landscape. Bill is President of Earthdance Organics, a Certified Sustainable Landscape Professional (ecoprocertified.com) and sits on the Steering Committee for Environmental Education within the Puyallup Watershed ( www.pwi.org). Learn more at earthdanceorganics.com or call their office at 253-927-2523.
Lawn
- Well-draining soils
- High nitrogen levels
- Lots of sunshine
- Deep roots
- Neutral pH
- Shearing is good for plant
Moss
- Compacted soils
- Low nitrogen levels
- Thrives in shade
- No roots
- Acidic pH
- Maintenance practices are not good for the plant






