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Lawn problems - No Rake

Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
in Plants
Has anyone tried using NO RAKE - a "natural" product to help combat lawn moss?  It has been suggested that we try this new product.  I is supposedly natural and it shouldn't be harmful to living things.  I have read the blurb on the internet and it doesn't actually state that it is harmless and suggests washing hands/eyes etc if coming into contact with it.  It wasn't the no rake that interested us but the fact that it is supposedly a bacteria that kills the moss. Any comments appreciated, thanks. Attaching a couple of pics of our lawn - it is huge and roughly one third is full of moss, wild flowers and ivy.

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  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    Any other suggestions for eliminating this moss would be appreciated.  My OH says we should chop down all the trees to allow more light and air onto this part of the lawn to help prevent the moss from spreading but that is a definite NO as far as I am concerned.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I use an electric lawn rake ... takes about an hour twice a year and gets the worst out.

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Treat yourselves to an electric scarifier which you run over the lawn in spring and autumn.  It rakes off moss and thatch and gathers it up for you to put on the compost heap.   Moss is an indicator of poor drainage as well as poor light so do the whole aerating thing by pushing a large-tined garden fork in as straight and as deep as possible and then wiggle to enlarge the hole thus made.   Do this working backwards and repeating every few inches. 

    Then you brush on some dry, sharp sand (light and pointy as opposed to round, wet grains used by builders).  This goes into the holes and keeps them open allowing air to get to the grass roots which will grow more strongly and be able to combat competition.  Keep the grass cut to a minimum 1" long so there is some leaf to feed strong roots too.

    If you can, without spoiling the shape of your trees, remove some of the lower branches to raise the canopy and let in more light and air.  Do this when the trees are dormant and bare so you can see what you're doing and they don't bleed sap.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Singing GardenerSinging Gardener Posts: 1,237
    Get a robot mower and your moss will disappear! I didn't even realise this beneficial side effect until it happened to my grass and then I googled it and discovered it was a known benefit.
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    Love the idea of a robot mower. .....would have to stay in the garden though otherwise it would be stolen! 
  • Singing GardenerSinging Gardener Posts: 1,237
    Mine isn't visible from outside as we are in the countryside and have high fences but they do have a security PIN so should be useless to anyone who steals them.
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    Electric rakes and robot mowers, hmmm.  I will have to discuss these ideas with OH as it will be him doing the majority of the work.  I must admit that one of our willows (twisted) does have some low branches that perhaps could be cut although the birds love the tree and so do I come to that.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445
    I love the moss and all who live in it


    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    Well yes so do I Nut, but in moderation. There isn't much grass left on this part of the lawn. However my main concern and question was whether this NO RAKE is safe to use for all those tiny insects, birds etc that live in or feed from the moss.
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