IT DOES NOT take much to get my horticultural hackles raised and so was the case this last Tuesday!
Sasha, a vibrant new “transplant” from California, who just recently purchased property here in the Sequim/Dungeness area texted me wanting to know; “tips on changing Moss to a beautiful Green Lawn that would be pet friendly?”
When I texted back, “that is going to be a long-winded answer,” she replied thinking that talking to a horticulturist, “I might have a quick answer,” followed by “Oh well, I guess I’ll go to Home Depot and ask them.”
That’s the hackles up part. No mass retailer is going to have me play second fiddle to a horticultural question! Not happening!
Since two other folks have already talked to me since Tuesday about moss, let’s look deeply into bryophyta, i.e. moss.
It is great that Sasha describes herself as nimble because being “quick to comprehend” is going to be crucial here.
Since I warned of a long-winded answer, let me make two things crystal clear:
1. Moss grows in your yard because the conditions are ideal; if you do not correct or change these conditions, moss will just come back and with a lot more weeds growing in it. Got it?
2. My extensive research has uncovered the fact that grass is an acronym: Grueling, Repetitive, Annual, Seasonal, Service. G.R.A.S.S.
Let’s go with No. 2 first, whereas, your lawn requires a lot of care to be, as Sasha requested — beautifully green.
A monoculture lawn is a never-ending chore. Just think of the mowing alone, not to even mention the weeds or fertilizer.
I am a true fan of a “Victorian lawn,” one that contains a good amount of moss and even weeds — low-growing weeds, that is. It eliminates a lot of work and no chemical killers required.
Moss never needs to be mowed, has really no fertilizer requirements, is green and soft and is virtually bug- and disease-free, so where is the problem?
Be nimble, perhaps, or embrace moss as a healthy mix of botanicals in your lawn.
But I know, that is so not the “American lawn,” so back to the often maligned bryophta.
Moss loves moisture.
Wetness is its key requirement. If you have moss in the yard, your grass area is too wet.
This moisture problem all too often is caused by severe compaction, which makes sense because the mower is excessively going over it.
You, your family, Fluffy and Spot are always trouncing on it as well.
This compaction means that water leeches away slowly. In turn, your grass then grows poorly, and your moss accelerates in its growth.
So many times, simply aerating your lawn can do the trick. Hire that chore out or rent an aerating machine.
Either way, make sure it has a plug-catcher or you will have a real mess from all the dirt plugs pulled up and left to lay on your lawn.
Next, those low areas fill with water, so sometimes just a truckload of topsoil filling in the areas where puddles sit helps.
In severe wet spots, a drainage line or curtain drain might be needed to accomplish proper water removal.
Also, moss likes acidic soils and grass does not, so adding 50# to 70# of lime per 1,000 square-feet can greatly deter moss and improve the lawn at the same time.
Regardless, always, always, always apply grass seed whenever trying to eradicate or deter moss. If you do not, weeds will fill in that void and moss is a far better an alternative than weeds.
Finally, to help in lessening both weeds and moss, over-seed your lawn twice a year with grass seed.
Do that now, in the month of March and again in October.
New grass and a thick lawn deprive weeds and moss of ground area needed to flourish.
So there you go, Sasha, and everyone else who worries about their moss — you can embrace your moss or eliminate the conditions that have it thrive.
But just one more thought.
The Olympic Peninsula is the world’s most ideal spot for moss and lichens to grow because over 13,000 species have been identified here so far.
So be mindful, you are fighting against the odds.
Please, keep the odds in your favor — and stay well all!
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Andrew May is a freelance writer and ornamental horticulturist who dreams of having Clallam and Jefferson counties nationally recognized as “Flower Peninsula USA.” Send him questions c/o Peninsula Daily News, P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362, or email news@peninsuladailynews.com (subject line: Andrew May).
