Battling Moss & Weeds in the Lawn

What do moss and weeds have in common (besides driving homeowners crazy)? They can both be prevented by a healthy lawn.

Judging by the number of brightly colored bags of herbicide and weed ‘n’ feed found in every garden center across Canada, weeds and moss are a common problem for homeowners and commercial property owners alike. But before reaching for the nearest bag of ‘opportunist-be-gone’, homeowners should take a moment to do their homework first to find the most effective solution to weed and moss issues.

The Truth about Moss

It’s a common misconception that moss destroys healthy lawns. The reality is that mosses thrive under conditions where grasses struggle, leading moss to move in as lawns die out. To effectively rid the lawn of moss, homeowners should start by identifying what factors are damaging their lawns (and encouraging moss). After that, it’s a simple matter of creating an action plan and working towards promoting a robust, healthy lawn.

Mosses typically show in the lawns when:

Soil fertility is low (lack of nutrients) – Grasses need access to Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium in order to thrive. When soils lack these nutrients grasses begin to die off, leaving lawns looking thin and full of bare spots.
Soil is compacted – Compacted soils prevent water, nutrients, and air from getting to the roots of your lawn where they’re needed, leading to lawns becoming smothered and thinning out as grass dies off. Mosses have shallow roots, so compaction doesn’t affect them as it does grass.
Heavy shade – Grasses require a minimum of 4 hours of sunlight each day to survive, though many species of grass prefer more. Lawns that aren’t receiving enough sunlight will thin out over time. Mosses thrive in shade.
Soil is acidic (low pH) – Soil pH plays a crucial role in how grasses absorb nutrients from their surroundings. Absorption happens efficiently at a pH of 6-7, but drops off quickly as pH levels drop to 5 or below, meaning the soil is acidic, and lawns quickly die off without nutrients to support their growth. Mosses, however, prefer acidic soils.
Water drainage is poor – Much like soil compaction, lawns experiencing poor drainage will die off as their root systems suffocate from the lack of oxygen. Mosses like damp environments, and won’t suffocate thanks to their shallow root systems.

Evicting Moss

While homeowners can purchase any number of chemical products that will kill off moss in the lawn, the effect is only temporary if the underlying problems go untreated.

Did you know? Many of the products used to kill lawn moss are known for staining concrete, brick, and other hardscape materials. Even worse, they can be hazardous to your pets.

Our recommendation is that any homeowner struggling with moss should begin by identifying the various factors that led the lawn to thin or die out initially. Do-It-Yourself soil test kits can be especially useful at this stage because these products allow homeowners to determine the pH of their soil. Some kits may also test for the presence of important nutrients, indicating whether or not the lawn might benefit from fertilizer or topdressing. Wth this knowledge in hand, homeowners can create a plan of action to ride the lawn of moss long term, while creating an environment their lawn will thrive in.

Lawn running a little acidic? Call our office at 1.888.888.7072 to talk to our staff about soil amendments for creating a more neutral soil pH, such as lime amendments!

Invasion of the Weeds

Unlike moss, weeds are aggressive opportunists that will attempt a total lawn takeover at every opportunity. In a healthy lawn the density of the grass roots does an effective job of out-competing (and preventing) weed growth. Once a lawn becomes stressed and begins to thin it’s only a matter of time before the weeds move in.

Weeds appear in lawns that are stressed by many of the same conditions that lead to moss moving in, but weeds can also invade when lawns are:

Experiencing a lot of wear and tear – Homeowners with pets and active children are more likely to encounter weeds in part from the constant wear and tear on the lawn, but also in part due to the weed seeds that are picked up and carried on paws, shoes, and feet as family members move around the neighborhood.
Experiencing insect damage – Lawns are more vulnerable to weed invasions when they’re busy struggling to support healthy growth while coping with damage from insects or disease. Currently, the European Chafer Beetle is a major cause of insect damage to Vancouver lawns.
Being incorrectly watered – Lawns that are watered frequently and lightly will develop shallow root systems that leave lawns poorly equipped to cope with drought or other stresses. Watering deeply and irregularly is a better practice, as it encourages the development of deep root systems, creating more resilient lawns.

Evicting Weeds

For homeowners dealing with a small amount of weeds, we recommend investing in a good old fashioned daisy grubber, as it’s more effective (and environmentally friendly) than chemical sprays. For large-scale weed problems, we recommend that homeowners start over completely with a new sod lawn. Unlike overseeding or killing the lawn with harmful chemicals, a professional sod installation leaves the homeowner with a beautiful, ready-to-use lawn that effectively buries weed seeds too deeply to germinate, and suppresses any new ones that come along – from day one.

The Power of Prevention

Regular Lawn Maintenance

It’s a proven fact that a healthy, dense lawn is the most effective way to prevent moss and weeds from taking over, but how to achieve it? Over the last 50 years our staff has come to the unanimous conclusion – implementing a yearly lawn maintenance plan is the most efficient and cost-effective way to achieve that desirable healthy lawn.

Tips for Starting a Lawn Maintenance Program this Summer:

Mow high – As pretty as that buzz cut look may seem, it isn’t doing the lawn any favors. Consider setting your cutting height a bit higher this year. The additional height will help to shade out unwanted weeds while helping to hold moisture in the soil during the hottest days of summer.
Water deeply, not daily – Encourage your lawn to develop deep root systems by running your sprinklers a little longer, but less often. Lawns with deeper roots are better able to cope with heat and drought during the summer months.
Shade solutions – In areas of heavy shade where grass may struggle, consider options for increasing the amount of sunlight that reaches the ground, or if replanting the area with a groundcover might be a better solution.

Simple Repairs

When repairing small areas of thinning or baldness throughout the lawn, a quick patch with sod or regular overseeding with an appropriate seed blend can be extremely effective. Give our office a call at 1.888.888.7072 to talk with our staff about getting the right sod or seed product for you.

When the Lawn is Too Far Gone

As with everything, there comes a point when fixing the problem is going to be more expensive than simply buying a brand new lawn. The good news is – we’re here to help.

Homeowners who work with Western Turf Farms to replace their lawn often see prices as low as $2.00 per square foot for professional sod installation, with that added benefit of achieving a ready-to-use lawn that looks great from day one. In the Vancouver area, small lot lawns tend to be around 1,250 square feet. At $2 per square foot, homeowners can replace their entire lawn for about $2,500 once installed – and that’s an investment that will last for ten years or more if properly maintained! Learn more about cost effective lawn replacement on our blog!

The Takeaway

Ridding your lawn of moss and weeds may be hard – but it’s certainly not impossible. With a little knowledge and the right tools, and environmentally friendly solution is just around the corner!