[AlaninCarlisle]

Does moss carry on growing through winter, and if so should I continue applying Sulphate of Iron solution, or wait until Spring? I must say that the moss  patches in my lawn look remarkably healthy despite all the applications of Iron Sulphate through summer and early Autumn

[JayG]

Perhaps the iron sulphate solution wasn't strong enough?

Possibly better to concentrate on improving the drainage and aeration by forking and brushing compost/sand into the holes, although moss will even grow on well drained lawns if the grass isn't growing strongly due to lack of food (yup, that's my lawn!)

If the lawn is very boggy now it's probably best to leave it alone until spring, because it doesn't grow much in the depths of winter and both the grass and the soil could be further damaged by trampling on it now.

[fatcat1955]

moss on a lawn is a good sign that you need to lime the soil.

[Yorkie]

moss on a lawn is a good sign that you need to lime the soil.

Have you a source for that info, fatcat?

I've always been taught that it is a sign of poor drainage, shade, etc.  I don't think the RHS mentions pH particularly.

[gypsy]

Maybe my lawn needs some lime then. Or draining, or iron sulphate. It deffo has moss.

[fatcat1955]

moss on a lawn is a good sign that you need to lime the soil.

Have you a source for that info, fatcat?

I've always been taught that it is a sign of poor drainage, shade, etc.  I don't think the RHS mentions pH particularly.

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CC8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fapps.rhs.org.uk%2Fadvicesearch%2Fprofile.aspx%3Fpid%3D422&ei=cW6SUt7KMaq47AaZ5oE4&usg=AFQjCNEucW-nVaTQT61rsnuW3zRijZntNw&bvm=bv.56988011,d.ZGU
Try the above from funny enough from the RHS. specifically the point regarding acidic soils.

[allotmentann]

My lawn was really more moss than grass and nothing got rid of it, until  I did just what Jayg suggested last autumn. It took me ages and was really hard work. I used a spring tine rake and raked and raked. Then plunged the fork in all over to aerate it. I didn't brush sand in as I didn't have any, but it has made a huge difference to my lawn, it is far better than it has ever been.   

[Yorkie]

That link doesn't work fatcat, but thanks for the pointer.  I'll have another look 

[compostqueen]

The best moss remover I ever got was three chickens. After five minutes my lawn looked like an explosion in a matress factory. The moss was pulled out all over the lawn, lovely and loose for picking up with the mower. Job done    Plus they manured it too. 

[AlaninCarlisle]

Does Ferrous Sulphate continue to do its moss-killing in winter, or would I be wasting my time until Spring?

[JayG]

It can be applied in winter, but because you really need to rake out the dead moss and try to change the conditions which caused it to flourish it's not really the best time of year to be doing it - spring is better, and the grass will recover more quickly too.

[Goosegirl]

One of my big lawns had a lot of moss which made mowing hard, so in September the other year, I used moss killer, then set to with a lawn raker and gave it a good going-over both length- and cross-wise. I got LOADS out! I used a fork to aerate it all, then got some gritty topsoil and used the back of a rake to spread it over and level it. Finally, I sprinkled some lawn seed over it all, especially on the bald areas. Took me ages! True, had a better covering of grass, but when aerating it I didn't find it particularly compacted. The main cause of the moss was shade from several big trees, so have just had then thinned out and we'll see what happens next year. I really would recommend an electric lawn-raker but forget the collector as it fills in no time - just use a lawn raker tool to collect it all together in piles for disposal. Don't use as a mulch as it seems to take root!!

[AlaninCarlisle]

The lawn in question is about 30 metres x 30 metres and the cause of the moss is shade from two large specimen holly trees that I'd ruin if I thinned them. Also the soil is only about six inches deep and below that is an originally cobbled yard

I have a petrol scarifier and usually fill two of those builder's 1 tonne sand bags each spring-time.

Interesting thing about the thatch/moss that I remove. It refuses to be composted by normal means so I just dump and leave it for a couple of years in an out-of-the-way spot before attempting to use

[superpete]

Alan, from your last comment I might be inclined to take off your shoes and socks and enjoy it..

Without naming the product - there is an organic lawn fertiliser and moss killer on the market that kills the moss (with potassium) and then some bacteria digests the dead moss - you can only use it in the warmer months though - look for "organic lawn fertiliser that digests moss" and read the reviews.

Can I ask you Alan (cuz I've wanted one for a long time but can't decide which) what machine have you got and would you say it's comfortable to use - a machine with swinging knives is what I need but I'd like to have the spring tine option too, - Pete

[AlaninCarlisle]

Can I ask you Alan (cuz I've wanted one for a long time but can't decide which) what machine have you got and would you say it's comfortable to use - a machine with swinging knives is what I need but I'd like to have the spring tine option too, - Pete

It's a Mountfield, about 22 inches wide with a 3.5 HP Briggs and Stratton engine. It has spring tines and in the ten years I've had it has been no problem. No idea what they cost because I bought it as an ex-demonstration model from their rep. Extremely easy to start and comfortable to use