[240173paul]

Hi all - I scarrified my lawn yesterday and as a result have 4 bin bags full of grass/moss!  What are your thoughts on using moss/grass as a mulch around fruit bushes, strawberries, peas and beans??  I obviously don't want to use it if the moss might grow!  thanks for the words of wisdom to follow - it seems a shame to put it in the green bin  - sould i compost it even???

cheers happy potting Paul

[Springlands]

If you use hanging baskets the moss acts as a really good liner. Not too sure about using it as a mulch - would probably be OK to compost it. 

[mumofstig]

I think unless you want to spread it everywhere, it's not a good idea in the compost bin 

[Diddy Gardener]

Ooh, good question. We scarified our lawn after coating it with phosphate of iron... guessing can't use the moss in baskets unless they're full of azaleas etc.

[JayG]

I think it is probably too light to use as a mulch, and if you were to cover it with something heavier to stop it blowing away it might decide it likes the damp conditions and start growing again. 

It can be composted, but I found it took at least a year to even die off, and another year before it "disappeared."

If it's been treated with moss-killer you'd be better off putting it in the green bin.

[Goosegirl]

Definitely the green bin. Tried it a few years ago and it re-grew.

[arugula]

I did ours yesterday too. We were planning to use it to line hanging baskets as Springlands suggested above.

[allotmentann]

Ah Paul - just four bags, I have removed twenty bin bags full so far and a third of my lawn left to scarify! (I wish I could say my lawn was huge and that is why there is so much moss, alas it isn't - just very mossy!). I got a great new gadget for getting the moss out, but I have the same problem as you. I can confirm that it doesn't compost well and very much regretted putting it in my compost bins a couple of years back. We don't even have a garden waste scheme in my area so I am left to fill my wheelie bin each week until it is gone. It feels dreadfully wasteful though. I spent ages googling for uses for it, but no one seems to have anything other than the already mentioned basket linings.

[Christine]

My experience is that composted moss grows again and also if it is used as mulch. Once out of your lawn, out of your garden is my rule. But that's just a few years of practical experience.

[jrko]

If you have the time and space, dry it out and compact it.  Its basically raw peat. 

Its has also been used in potting mediums for its water retention properties

[fatcat1955]

You should use moss killer on your lawn before scarifying or you run the risk of spreading the moss all over your lawn. Obviously if you weed killered it you should not use it as a liner or mulch .

[JayG]

You should use moss killer on your lawn before scarifying or you run the risk of spreading the moss all over your lawn. Obviously if you weed killered it you should not use it as a liner or mulch .

The moss will come back anyway if you don't change the conditions which allowed it to flourish in the first place.

It's not always compacted soil and damp conditions either - my "lawn" is like a trampoline thanks to moss because the soil is dry, sandy, and poor - if I feed it the grass out-grows the moss, if I don't (because it gets a bit expensive!) the moss gets the upper hand (obviously it only really prospers from autumn through to spring, but it's tough stuff and quite happily sits out the drought waiting for cooler, wetter conditions to return.)