Gardeners urged to water lawn with 1 common ingredient - ‘gets rid of moss’

Many gardeners battle with keeping moss out of their gardens, which competes with grass for light, water and space. This can lead to the growth of your lawn being stunted, yet removing moss can be incredibly easy. While some green-thumbs battle with chemical sprays to remove the plant, which they often find harms the grass and results in the moss returning, there’s one natural remedy to say goodbye for good.

Ann Lovejoy, a gardener and founder of Loghouse Plants said that moss can only grow on unhealthy grass and will continue to thrive if the root cause of the issue is not properly addressed. She said: “I am also often asked if it’s possible to prevent moss from invading lawns and garden beds in the first place…most important are to improve the amount of light and air circulation in the garden, and to change soil from fungal to bacterial domination.”

Moss grows in shaded, damp and acidic environments. Before tackling the moss, the first step is to properly take care of your lawn before removing the spongy, unwanted plant.

Start by aerating the lawn, the expert says, which is a simple technique of poking holes in the ground with a pitchfork. This will help to move the soil around, helping with water draining, as grass will not grow in compacted soil.

The more the grass is watered and fertilised, the higher chance it has to outcompete moss.

The next key step is to maintain a tidy garden by pruning any overgrown plants. This will allow sunlight to reach every part of your lawn, minimising the risk of moss growing.

“Reorganize beds so pathways are spacious and hedges are divided from beds by service walkways (this really helps when pruning time rolls around),” Ms Lovejoy said.

If you do find that moss has grown in your garden, the best way to tackle it is to use a homemade baking soda solution.

You will need:

• Two tablespoons of baking soda
• One tablespoon of safflower oil
• A quarter teaspoon of castile liquid soap
• A gallon of water

Baking soda is an alkaline which will help to dissolve acidic moss, while safflower oil blocks air to help suffocate it. Castile soap will break down the protective outer layer of moss, so that the solution can penetrate it, preventing any regrowth.

Mix the ingredients together, and place it in a garden sprayer or a bucket. The expert says to spray it directly onto the mossy area and leave it to sit for 48 hours. The plant will then begin to wilt and turn brown. Finally, remove any dead moss and enjoy your new, healthier lawn.