How To Get Rid of Moss In Your Backyard

Unless you're going for a rustic backyard look, you'll probably not welcome any moss around. It's easy to control moss if you know how.

Article taken off ehow.com

How To Get Rid of Moss

Despite the soft green visual appeal of moss, it is technically a weed. Moss is not aggressive enough to kill your turf, but it will claim unused space and spread if allowed. Yards that have drainage problems or poor soil are prime targets for moss. Like algae, moss is controllable with special soaps and treatments. After you eradicate the moss, take measures to prevent the return of the uninvited guest by making changes to soil and its ability to receive sunlight.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Instructions

Things You'll Need:
Hedge clippers
Branch pruners
Moss control product
Pump and hose
Garden rake
Spade
Lime
Grass seed
Water

1.Trim back overhead branches that may be blocking sunlight from making it to the ground. Trim back hedges, trees and bushes to allow sunlight to filter through.

2. Spray the moss with a moss control product. This product should contain some type of fungicide. Buy a premixed container that has a hose attachment. Alternatively, for large moss problems you should buy granules and mix them with water in a large pump with a hose for dispensing. Spray the moss during late winter or early in the spring. Allow the product to sit overnight before continuing.

3. Rake the dead moss up. Use a sturdy garden rake to scrap up the clumps of dead moss.

4. Break up the soil with a spade. Make soil corrections now. Moss thrives in soil with low pH. Raise the pH of your soil by sowing in lime. Use 40 pounds of lime per 1,000 square feet of soil.

5. Sow grass seed into the area. Rye grass will grow quickly and thickly in this soil. Add a thin layer of potting soil over the top of the seeds, about ½ to 1 inch thick.

6. Mist the area daily, watering the seeds until they grow.