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How To Get Rid of Moss and Weeds

How To Get Rid of Moss and Weeds
Homebase
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Moss is one of the most common causes of what we call a ‘squelchy-lawn’ - because it absorbs water like a sponge. When it comes to lawn weeds and moss, there’s no need to worry. We’ve got a great selection of weed killers and moss killers available at Homebase. Or, if you prefer the more traditional and organic gardening methods - there’s a range of weeding tools and scarifiers to help you remove moss from your garden. Without the proper know-how, it can be quite tricky getting rid of these persistent lawn pests - but whatever the size of your affected area, just follow this guide to get rid of moss and weeds from your grass for good.

Let’s get started with what you need...  

Materials:  

Tools:  

How to remove moss 

Removing moss from your lawn requires a two-step attack - firstly, removing the moss and secondly, preventing it from coming back. 

 Option 1: Remove moss by scarifying your lawn  

Physically removing moss from your lawn can be done by scarifying. This isn’t as scary as it sounds! It simply means giving your lawn a good rake to tease out the plant. For a small garden, this can be done by hand using a garden rake, or an electrical scarifier for larger areas.   

If the moss is only mild, simply scarifying and improving your lawncare can be enough to stop it from coming back. If your moss problem is more severe, you’ll need a stronger combination of scarifying, moss killer and lawncare.  

Option 2: Combine scarifying and moss killer  

The best time to use moss killer is on a dry day in the Spring or Autumn.  

  • If the moss is thick, scarify your lawn first before applying moss killer to open the area up. This will allow the product to penetrate to the bottom of the plants.  
  • Apply the moss killer by hand (with gloves on) or with a sprayer, but always check the instructions on the back of the product you choose. 
  • After treating with a moss killer, the moss in your lawn will turn black (usually after two weeks). 
  • Then, use a rake to remove the dead moss from your lawn.  

Top tip: Go green and make the most of your garden waste by adding the raked-out moss to a compost bin. 

Prevent moss regrowing with lawncare 

The best way to prevent moss from coming back is to get your grass growing vigorously. With some care and attention, you can turn a mossy lawn into a beautiful green garden that you’ll be proud of.  
  • Aerate your lawn by spiking holes into the soil at regular intervals using a garden fork or lawn aerator 
  • Re-seed any sparse patches of your lawn and increase the resilience of your garden with grass seed. 
  • When mowing your lawn, be careful not to cut the grass too short as this will stress the grass and encourage moss.  

 

How to get rid of weeds  

Now you’ve tackled the moss in your garden, here’s how to get rid of pesky weeds.  

There are two different ways to get rid of weeds in your lawn - manually or with weed killers.  

Option 1: Dig them up from the roots  

Use a weeder to remove any unwanted plants by the roots, such as dandelions. Grab your gloves and a knee pad, press down into the root with a hand weeder and pull the weed out. If you want to save your knees the strain, opt for a weed puller to simply pull and eject the weeds. 

Top tip: Use a weeding brush to remove any unwanted weeds sprouting between your patio tiles. 

Option 2: Use a weed killer  

If the weeds in your garden are proving resilient, you may want to try using a weed killer. It’s best to use on a dry day in spring or autumn. You should always check the back of the label for instructions of use. Weeds can take up to several weeks to die, so allow 3-5 weeks after using for maximum weed control. 

And that's how to get rid of moss and weeds! If you’re looking for some more garden and outdoor help & advice, check out our other guides here.  
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