Kiwicare’s 1-2-3 Step guide to removing moss & restoring lawn health

If you start to notice mossy patches in your lawn, it’s best to deal with it before things get out of hand. Moss spreads by producing spores that are carried by wind or water, which means once it’s in your lawn it can be difficult to get rid of.

While having moss in your lawn may not seem like an issue at first, experienced gardeners will know the impact it can have. Mosses compete with lawns for nutrients, and over time as the moss patches grow, your lawn will recede. In the event of a dry hot season, the moss will die off and you'll be left with large bald patches in your lawn. 

The best times of year to work on your lawn whether you’re sowing lawn, treating weeds or dealing with moss is in spring and autumn as the conditions are ideal for lawn health and your lawn is in active growth mode.

Step 1: Kill the moss

Mosses in lawns should be controlled by first killing the moss using LawnPro Mossclear or LawnPro All-in-1. To get the best results cut the lawn a day before you apply your selected moss killer.

LawnPro Mossclear is specifically designed to target stubborn mosses. It kills both the moss and its spores, which helps to delay the return of the moss in the future. Mossclear also treats liverworts and algal slime in lawns. If you’ve been dealing with excess rain or dampness there’s a good chance you may have a number of these issues at the same time, and Mossclear provides a convenient way to treat them all at the same time.

LawnPro All-in-1 is a great option if you’re on a tight budget or a slightly less experienced gardener. It kills moss and weeds, and also fertilizes and conditions your lawn. This single product covers both Step 1 and a key part of Step 2 (detailed below) of the 3 Step moss removal process.   

Step 2: Remove dead moss and improve conditions

Once the moss is dead, rake it out of the lawn and dispose of it.

Mosses are simple plants. They prefer damp shaded areas with low nutrients and acidic soil. This means that by making a few simple tweaks to the conditions, you can help prevent moss coming back. We recommend forking the area to improve soil drainage and aeration. Forking is the process of moving across your lawn with a large garden fork and pushing it deeply into the soil at regular intervals and then removing it cleanly (essentially poking lots of holes in your lawn).

Once this is done apply a lawn fertiliser or lime to your lawn raise the soil pH. This helps to reduce the soil’s acidity making it less attractive to mosses as well as many other broadleaf lawn weeds.

Finally, cut away any overhanging trees or shrubs to allow light to the area.

Step 3: Fill in any bare patches

Once the moss has been removed your lawn may be left with a few bare patches. Don’t stress about it - There is absolutely no need to rip out your lawn and resow it. Our LawnPro Smart Patch Mix is specifically designed to help fill in these patches and get your lawn looking healthy and lush. Yes, your lawn will look like it’s been in a fight with the lawnmower at first, but much like growing out a bad haircut, your lawn will be looking as good as new before you know it (and for a fraction of the price and hassle of ripping everything out and resowing a new lawn).