As spring approaches, many homeowners are preparing to mow their lawns for the first time in months. However, gardening enthusiasts may find their grass has been invaded by moss over the winter. BBC Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don has advised that now is the time to tackle the problem before warmer weather arrives.
Moss thrives in the damp, shady conditions of winter, spreading across lawns while grass growth slows when temperatures drop below 8C. While moss can be a nuisance for those seeking a pristine lawn, it does have benefits: it provides a habitat for tiny creatures, absorbs water and helps prevent flooding. Its presence often indicates poorly drained, acidic soil and heavy thatch.
Don recommends a simple method for improving drainage and reducing moss. He wrote: "Moss 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 6 inches or so." This translates to spacing the fork marks approximately 15cm apart across the lawn.
In addition to forking, Don advises that grass should be mown in March, but not cut too short. He said: "Just give it a light trim for the rest of this month. This will encourage good root growth and as a result the grass will be a lot healthier and better able to resist summer drought."
According to Don, the key to a good lawn is to focus on promoting healthy grass rather than trying to eliminate perceived problems. He added: "Nine times out of ten if the grass is healthy then everything else will take care of itself."
