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Scarifying the lawn
Bouleversee
Posts: 68
A recent item on GW about lawncare showed someone raking out green, i.e. untreated, moss. I thought that doing that spread the spores and made it worse. Is it OK to rake it out without treating?
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It can be done and some people firmly believe this is a viable approach, especially those against the use of herbicides, or don't want to over-scarify to remove darkened, dead moss.
Personally, I'd use a moss killing product as you can visibly see the dead moss as it turns black or dark brown, therefore see where it is. Removing all the unsightly dead moss is hard work but if left to disappear naturally, can take several weeks or even months.
Spring Turf Moss doesn't have roots and can be shifted around to new locations and create infestations on new areas. Moss killers don't kill all the moss but see most of it off.
Thanks, MowTastic. That's what I thought, though it's jolly difficult to get out all that blackened moss, isn't it?
I agree. Although I do not like using a moss killer as it does show every bit of dead moss on your lawn.Scarifting a large lawn is hard work and I wouldn't do it in one day unless you have had 3 weetabix ???
But, personally. It would also be good practice to aerate the lawn, particularly where the moss as gathered. Moss is indicative of either a damp shady area or a waterlogged lawn ie; heavy clay soil. Also, if you have overhanging foliage that is effecting light to the lawn and a dripping effecting when it rain, then it would be a good idea to remove
Yes, I plan to get someone in to do that once I have finished scarifying and got rid of most of the dead moss, if I live that long. It is always going to be a problem as the conditions are as you describe.