Removing moss in Bergen County, with its tall, shady red oaks and elms, can be a challenge. Moss is a common culprit of shady lawns where drainage may be poor and the soil structure may be thick with clay.
Besides tall trees causing lots of constant shade, moss grows in lawns that have:
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A high saturation of moisture
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High acidity and low ph level
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Not enough nutrients
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Not enough organic compounds
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Grass that has been scalped or cut too short in an attempt to rid weeds or moss
Reaching out to a professional landscaping company is a great way to help with your moss removal.
What is Moss?
It’s helpful to look at what moss actually is made of and the different types. In a nutshell, moss is that spongy mass of what are called bryophytes, which spread from millions of tiny spores that are carried from a mossy source in the rain. The three types of moss people see most in their lawns are:
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Upright moss – A larger type of moss with long wide tufts of leaves similar to the appearance of a shaggy rug. This isn’t the most common moss in lawns, but you can find it especially if you have elm, willow or maple trees, or lots of rocks. Upright moss is generally cultivated in a pond garden, but it can spread into the lawn and when it does, you have a problem.
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Trailing moss – A delicate and feathery type of moss that multiplies at a fast rate and is often found growing at the base of trees. Although it is quite pretty and can be used in hanging pots with it’s trailing ability, it can easily take over your lawn if you let it go.
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Cushion Moss – The most common type of moss found in lawns, cushion moss produce a short and dense growth of green in lawns where the grass may be short or spotty and the soil is dense with clay. Some people cultivate cushion moss on raised beds for sitting on – or a patch of cushion moss in their yard for a nice soft lounging area.
Choices for Lawn Moss Removal in Bergen County
There are several traditional approaches to remove moss from your lawn. In New Jersey, people use a variety of techniques to rid their lawn of mosses and keep moss at bay.
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Covering a mossy patch with mulch such as bark, straw or even cardboard.
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Sprinkling a box of baking soda on the affected parts. Baking soda won’t kill the lawn or your landscape plants, but will kill the moss within seven days.
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Mowing shady areas at the tallest mowing height to keep the grass healthy and rooting deep in the shade.
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Pruning tree limbs to let more sunlight in.
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Try a mixture of a product called Lawn Sand, which contains ammonia, iron and sand. The ammonia helps the grass to grow, the iron kills the moss and the sand acts as a carrier. You need to leave the lawn alone for three days after applying or you will damage the grass with mowing or trampling.
And if you find it’s just too much to handle yourself, it’s always a good idea to call a one of the best landscaping companies in Bergen County.