You don’t need to use harsh chemicals to get rid of the pesty moss build-up on your lawn this spring – TV gardening expert Monty Don says you need one cheap item
It’s officially spring and as the sun begins to shine, it is the perfect time to get outside and spruce up your garden.
As we have seen a lot of rain this year, your grass may be looking worse for wear. So there is no better time to sharpen those pesky grass edges and turn it into a crisp, immaculate lawn. While many will be eager to get going, moss can often build up – forming carpet-like patches in your grass.
Moss is a common issue in lawns and gardens as it thrives in damp, shaded environments. Often it loves a poorly maintained garden, where the grass is thin and soil malnourished. Rather than pouring a load of chemicals on the moss – which can be harmful to soil – gardening expert Monty Don says you don’t need to go out and buy a moss killer.
The TV gardener has come up with an easy and cheap way to remove moss from your grass in a natural way. Monty claimed that moss is “always a symptom” of poor drainage, which is made worse by shade.
All you need is a fork, reports the Express. You can pick up a garden fork for just £7 now at Wickes. Monty, 68, says if you don’t have a fork nor want to buy one then just sharp or silver sand will do the job just as well. His tip is said to leave your grass growing “thicker than ever”.
Monty says that the “answer” to moss 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 – also known as aeration. After using the fork, next mix up equal portions of sieved topsoil, sharp sand and leaf mould or compost.
Then, spread it across the area you have pricked and brush it with a broom before filling in the holes with the mixture. This method is said to help stop further drainage and feeds the grass.
Monty suggests then giving the lawn a “good scratch”. He uses a wire rake to do so. This is essential to get rid of moss and lets water and light reach the soil and roots of the grass. Wickes are selling rakes for £11.25.
Put the debris collected on the compost and then mow the lawn. When mowing, make sure not to cut the grass too short as this will stress the grass and encourage moss.
Monty said, “It will look a little bald for a week or so but will grow back thicker than ever.”
Have you tried the gardening hack? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
