Hi everyone. I applied to much moss killer with fertilizer to my lawn. Now the moss is dead and some of the grass turned black. looks likes they got burnt. Would this killed the grass completely or can it recover and grows again? Thanks... Bo
Likely your grass will be just fine, Its quite common what your seeing, when moss killer is applied heavy. After a couple cuts it should go away. The grass may be a little greener for a while there though. Jim
Hi Bo, If you correct the conditions that moss likes to grow in you will have better control. http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC2363.htm http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=533&storyType=garden http://users.bestweb.net/~habitat/Controlling Moss and Algae in the Lawn.htm Newt
It is too bad you are not in the USA. I would gladly take as much moss as I could get from you (within reason of course) as you know I like to grow it and I am trying to supply a friend in Illinois who is into growing it as well! So for those in the USA-don't kill you moss first send it to me. You can email me as I would pay for the shipping!!! Still can't believe this-I would tear out my lawn for moss!!! I did tear out my lawn for weeds!!! No for flowers-really!
I'm with you on this one terrestrial_man. Moss doesn't need cutting and is very nice to walk on. I hate spending (wasting) time cutting my lawn. Cheers, LPN.
I have 4 acres One section about 1 acre is moss in a shadier area I love it. So soft to walk on, sit on a easier to look after. no mowing. I'd have the whole thing in moss if I could. The front lawns are in hot sun from sunrise to sunset I suppose there isn't a way of turning the whole thing into moss in the hot sunny areas, is there?? I just shake my head when people spend a fortune on their lawns to make the grass grow then pay big money to have it cut every week Doesn't make sense to me but each his own thanks bunting
You may have applied it too heavy, but it can still grow or recover. Myself, I typically like the moss in the lawn at edges that are shady, provided there is not too much. Whole different approach than my greenskeeping days of the past.
Living on a moss dominated acre here for 17 years, I've pondered what it is that encourages/discourages the stuff. And yes, the oriental moss gardens are awesome...so I don't fight it in my lawn either. My pure sand soil, with pH of 6.8 and areas in full sun, (also never fertilized or irrigated) still grows lots of moss, contrary to some conventional wisdom. My hunch is that iron is a large part of the equation...tho not sure how a person could use that to actually encourage a changeover from grass to moss if desired! My lawn does flood a lot in our rainy winters coupled with the pervasive hardpan under that sandy topsoil layer...I believe there is some chemical reaction as a result. Most higher plants require Fe+2, whereas the flooding (hope this is correct) tends to convert it to Fe+3 which is unavailable to grasses. Moss seems to thrive in these "low iron" conditions...whereas moss killers often contain iron sulphate. Anyhoo, that's my current hypothesis, waiting for Mythbusters to work on it, then we'll know for sure?
One good use for moss I was told by old vegetable gardening friend of mine. You use the moss raked out of the lawn in the spring to plant potatoes in. First place a layer of moss down at the right depth then lay your seed potatoes down with another layer of moss on top and cover with soil. The potatoes come out blemish free and nice and clean.
Greg--that is awesome, if I could get scab free spuds I would be tempted to grow them again here! Another entry in the 1001 uses for moss--I've heard that cuttings of some plants, e.g. camellia, will root beautifully in pure live moss, no pathogen problems and perfect air/water balance in there...sounds reasonable tho haven't tried it myself.
