March has arrived, and many homeowners will be keen to start tackling their lawn, which has probably become unruly and moss-ridden throughout winter. Yet Monty Don, the renowned gardener famous for presenting Gardeners’ World, has explained why it’s preferable to concentrate on one key job – promoting grass health rather than trying to eliminate moss.
Writing on his website, Monty stated: “The best grass likes very well-drained soil. Moss, for example, is always a symptom of poor drainage, made worse by shade. Unfortunately, even the best-prepared soil becomes compacted by matted roots, rain and, especially, normal family use. The answer is to work on it at least once a year by sticking a fork in the ground and wiggling it about and repeating the process every six inches or so.”
Moss establishes itself on lawns suffering from waterlogging, as it flourishes in damp conditions, meaning its presence indicates the grass cannot drain effectively due to compressed soil.
Compacted soil can cause grass to rot and encourage disease, whilst also blocking nutrients and sunlight from reaching the grass roots, making patchy growth more likely come spring.
Using a garden fork to pierce the ground helps aerate the lawn, creating openings in the soil that allow improved air and water penetration to the grass.
After thoroughly aerating the grass, you can encourage growth by preparing a straightforward homemade mulch that will decompose naturally and enrich the lawn with nutrients. Monty advised: “Mix up equal portions of sieved topsoil, sharp sand and sieved leaf mould or compost. If you do not have these things to hand, then just sharp or silver sand will do the job.
“Spread it across the area you have pricked and brush it in with a stiff broom, filling the holes with the mixture. This will help drainage and feed the grass.”
Mulching doesn’t just nourish the soil but also naturally prevents weeds and moss from establishing themselves on your lawn, as it strengthens the grass, enabling it to outcompete any rivals.
Lastly, ensure you also use a wire rake across your lawn, as it will assist in removing moss and any other organic debris accumulating on your lawn that’s preventing nutrients from penetrating the soil.
Monty explained: “It is also worth giving the lawn a good scratch with a wire rake. This will get at all the overwintering thatch and moss, and let light and water get to the soil and to the roots of the grass.
“Put the debris on the compost and then mow. It will look a little bald for a week or so, but will grow back thicker than ever.”
Dedicating time to complete these straightforward tasks in March will not only eliminate moss from your lawn but also encourage the grass to grow more robustly, ensuring you’ll have a lush, verdant lawn to appreciate this spring.
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