Lawn moss is a problem faced by many gardeners. It not only spoils the appearance of the lawn, but also destroys all the grass. Getting rid of it is not easy enough, but it is even more difficult to prevent the emergence of new moss. Therefore, it is important not only to destroy the parasite plant, but also to carry out appropriate prevention from time to time. To combat this plant, both chemical and organic agents are used.
Moss in the garden, how to get rid of. Moss in the garden: what to do
Getting rid of moss in your garden is difficult. But when it is discovered, you should not panic and rush to destroy it.
Firstly, the plant should not be categorically attributed to weeds, and secondly, its appearance can help in diagnosing problems that have arisen. If it is found in a vegetable garden or garden, this is evidence that changes for the worse have occurred in the ecosystem of the site (primarily in the soil). Experienced summer residents can easily read such a message and understand the reasons for the appearance of moss:
- light green tops of long and straight stems of moss indicate increased acidity of the soil;
- low stems / thallus with a tight fit to the ground indicate such a phenomenon as high soil moisture (due to the close occurrence of groundwater, excessive watering, etc.).
Among other reasons, it is also worth mentioning excessive density and insufficient aeration of the earth, a lack of sunlight (mosses prefer shade), an excess of fertilizer. There is insufficient ventilation in greenhouses. If all these reasons are eliminated, the uninvited guest can be easily removed. If you ignore its appearance, the situation will gradually worsen - the moisture and acidity of the soil will increase, the soil will become even more dense.
Step one: removing excess moisture from the soil
Before finding out the reason for waterlogging, it is worth reducing or stopping watering and at the same time establishing a water-air regime: dig drainage grooves to drain excess water around the perimeter of the site, improve the physical characteristics of the soil - add sand, apply mulching (preferably at the beginning of summer), improve aeration ( puncture more holes in the ground with a pitchfork).
A good way of aeration is a simple technique: walking around the site in special garden shoes with metal spikes - aerator sandals
Step two: fight against increased soil acidity
One of the important reasons for the appearance of moss is the increased acidity of the earth. If there is no apparatus or indicator at hand for determining acidity, then you can determine whether it is normal or not using:
- chalk. Pour warm water (5 tbsp. L.) Into the bottle, add soil (2 tbsp. L.) And crushed chalk (1 tsp. L.). Put a rubber fingertip on the neck. Shake the bottle for 5 minutes and observe the fingertip. If it is filled with gas and completely straightened - the soil is strongly acidic, not completely - slightly acidic, if there is no gas - the acidity is normal;
- black currant leaves. 5-6 fresh leaves should be poured with boiling water in a mug and left to cool. After that, place 1 tsp in the broth.earth and observe the color, which will report the level of acidity (red - high, green - slightly acidic, blue - normal);
- glass and acetic acid (9%). Place a thin layer of earth on a piece of glass and drip with vinegar. If the soil is normal, abundant foam will appear, with high acidity, foam will not form, etc.
If the check has confirmed high acidity, then it should be reduced using chalk, lime fluff and other means.
The use of dolomite flour reduces the acidity of the soil
If the ground is slightly acidic, you can use a small amount of ash. Some green manure plants will also help reduce acidity - oil radish, rye, mustard, etc.
Acidity can differ in different parts of the garden or vegetable garden, so it makes sense to take several measurements.
Step three: combating the darkening of the area
You can get rid of the intruder by providing more access to sunlight. To do this, you may have to thin out thickened tree crowns, remove undergrowth, weeds, and mow tall grass. Mosses prefer shady places, and dry out quickly in the sun.
Eliminate extra shadow
Sometimes excessive shading of the area contributes to the appearance of moss. If the lawn is not getting enough sunlight, the owner should get rid of the shade. Bushes can be transplanted to another location.
The crown of tall trees that cannot be moved must be thinned out. Within a few weeks after such manipulations, the weed will stop growing on the lawn.
Did you know? In times of famine, the inhabitants of modern Finland added moss to the dough when baking bread.
Iron vitriol from moss on the lawn. inkstone
Unlike copper sulfate, iron sulfate in appearance is a crystalline powder of greenish or yellowish-blue color.
Previously, it was even used as a fertilizer if there was a lack of iron in the soil. It manifested itself in the fact that chlorotic leaves, a weak growth of young shoots, ugly leaves and even underdeveloped fruits appeared on apple trees, pears, plums, peaches, raspberries or roses. Vegetables such as tomatoes, potatoes and cabbage also suffer from iron deficiency. Most often, iron deficiency manifests itself in alkaline soils, as well as in areas where large doses of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers were applied or irrigated with water with a high calcium content. There is also a lack of iron in the soils of greenhouses, where the top layer does not change at least every 3 years.
However, it is very difficult to use iron sulfate as a fertilizer - it causes severe burns when it gets on the leaves. Therefore, it is better to use a drug such as Ferovit, which contains iron in a chelated form.
Ferrous sulfate solutions are used as an effective remedy in the fight against spores of fungi infecting fruit trees (500 g per 10 l of water). But the processing of plants should be carried out before the buds protrude or after the autumn leaf fall.
In very unfavorable years, when roses literally bend from black spot, you can try to spray them with iron vitriol, making a solution of 30 g per 10 liters of water. All the same, the leaves crumble from the spotting, so they are no longer afraid of burns. This remedy is very effective, as a rule, the disease does not appear for two years after such treatment.
I will say right away that I use iron vitriol only for two purposes:
1. For the destruction of mosses and lichens on trees and garden tiles.
2. For processing wood and basement walls from fungi and decay.
To destroy mosses and lichens on trees, I make a solution of 500 g of vitriol per 10 liters of water and very carefully, before the first drop of water flows down the branch, I spray the trunks and skeletal branches of pome crops (apple-pear). For stone fruits, the concentration should be lower - 300 g per 10 liters of water.After 2 weeks I repeat the spraying. The main thing here is not to rush to clean the trunks from moss and lichens: they should die off naturally. By the way, it was with iron vitriol that my apple tree was cured of black cancer. It took 4 treatments in 2 years and the tree was saved. With the same solution as for apple trees, you can disinfect the hollows and large wounds of trees, unless, of course, you do not have sorrel on hand.
To clean the paving slabs from mosses, you can use spraying with a solution of ferrous sulfate (500 g per 10 liters of water) three times during a month.
All wooden structures of high ridges, greenhouses, pergolas, etc. before manufacturing, they must be treated with a solution of ferrous sulfate - 400 g per 10 liters of water.
If a fungus or mold appears in your basement, then it is imperative to treat the walls and all surfaces with a solution of ferrous sulfate - 600 g per 10 liters of water.
By the way, earlier iron sulfate was still used to disinfect outdoor toilets - it does not smell effectively and does not smell of bleach.
Fertilizers and green manures
An obligatory technique in the fight against mosses is the introduction of organic and mineral fertilizers and sowing green manure crops. In this regard, oil radish and phacelia are best suited. Let them bloom, mow, leave them on the ground.
During the winter, this green manure will turn into an easily digestible fertilizer, which will make neutral soil out of acidic soil. In addition, the roots of these plants will deeply loosen the soil and enrich it with nutrients. For feeding growing cultivated plants, it is necessary to use fertilizers with a high content of nitrogen, potassium and iron.
How to get rid of moss in a greenhouse
Moss in the greenhouse is propagated by spores and grows deep enough into the soil. This plant loves moisture and shade, so in order to lime it, it is worth creating exactly the opposite conditions - add sunlight and drastically reduce watering. It is important to remember that these plants are very unpretentious and can endure a lack of water for a long time, and then quickly revive and multiply. Therefore, it is worth using other methods of getting rid of moss.
Greenhouse cleaning
It is necessary not only to wash the greenhouse, but also to remove from it everything that creates a shade favorable for the reproduction of moss: unnecessary barrels, stands, etc. You can also use foil to further brighten the darkened areas. Your goal is to add maximum sunlight to the greenhouse, but not to the detriment of cultivated plants.
If the moss grows on the soil, pay attention to the elements of the greenhouse frame, they may also be affected. In this case, remove the moss with a scraper or brush. Then wipe the wooden structures with iron sulfate, and the stone foundations with a solution of soda.
Greenhouse ventilation
Moss feels great in poorly ventilated, musty rooms, so the influx of fresh air will cause great damage to it. Leave the greenhouse vents open more often and make sure that air penetrates into all parts of the building. Airing after evening watering has proven especially effective. But do not let the draft so as not to damage the plants.
Often there are not enough vents in greenhouses, so it is worth making additional ones. If funds permit, you can install a ventilation system or temporarily install a regular household fan.
Greenhouse treatment with Bordeaux liquid
Processing the soil in the greenhouse with Bordeaux liquid - a solution of copper sulfate and slaked lime (1: 1) - is guaranteed to return the soil to its original appearance. First, dissolve 100 g of lime in 1 liter of hot water and add cold water to obtain 5 liters of solution, strain. Do the same with copper sulfate and gently pour it into the slaked lime. Then spray the soil, preferably before planting the plants.
Many summer residents are afraid to use copper sulfate, becausebelieve that it is capable of causing great damage to plants and microflora. But if you follow the instructions, do not exceed the dosage of 1 g per square meter and add hydrated lime, the product can be used without fear.
Sowing siderates in greenhouses
Green manure plants will reduce acidity and improve soil condition. Before planting tomatoes or cucumbers, you can sow mustard, phacelia and other fast-growing crops in the greenhouse. After a while, plant the seedlings there, and when it takes root, mow the siderates and leave them in the beds. After harvesting, repeat the procedure. Only you don't need to mow the siderates, just leave them in the greenhouse for the winter.
In especially advanced cases, you can cope with moss with the help of special chemicals. But if you do not want to use such means, there is a safer way - to completely replace the top fertile soil layer.
Types of moss in the garden. Reasons for active reproduction of moss
If you understand the reasons for the growth of moss on the site, you will find an effective method of dealing with it. Sometimes painstaking mechanical scraping of moss from the surface of the earth helps, but, as practice shows, only for a while. He returns in the spring and fall. Why? The reasons for the appearance of moss are:
Moss loves waterlogged soil, therefore, if the site is located next to a reservoir, then drainage must be done.
- Stagnation of water. Mosses like dense, poorly drained soil. If your site is located in a lowland or near a river or lake, most likely, you have waterlogged soil. Drain the soil at your dacha (rows of grooves to collect and remove excess moisture). You can build a closed drainage system from pipes connected underground.
- Acidic soil. If the moss has erect stems, green at the end and brown towards the root, this is the main sign of acidic soil. For confirmation, an analysis of the water suspension of the earth from the site is done. If the pH is below 5.5, then it is acidic. To raise the pH level, use dolomite flour or a mixture of sand and slaked lime. They are introduced into the soil of the lawn at the rate of 0.5 kg of lime or dolomite flour per 1 m² of the lawn. Small areas of growth can be watered with a solution (1 dessert spoon of crushed chalk in a bucket of water). You will have to repeat the procedure 1-2 times per season.
- Shady places. Moss loves to settle in shaded and waterlogged areas. Try to increase the light, cut the lower branches of the trees, water this sector less often.
- Peak growth times for moss are spring and autumn. During this period, you can apply a general herbicide or dichlorophene solution. In the morning, in sunny weather, treat the place where the moss grows with a chemical preparation. After a few days, the etched area can be watered. After the death of the moss, the blackened remains are collected with a rake. The bald spots in the lawn must be re-sowed with lawn grass. Application of a herbicide is a good solution for controlling moss growing on paved paths, in tree cuts or in gaps between stones. Sometimes a solution of copper or iron sulfate is used to destroy it.
- If the moss grows on the path or under the trees, these parts of the garden plot are mulched with wood chips, needles, chopped bark or straw. It is enough to repeat this twice a season.
Dichlorophene from moss. How to deal with moss
If everything is clear with the question of why moss grows in the garden, then another question is brewing - how to deal with it? How to get rid of moss in the garden beds? You can deal with moss in the beds using various methods.
If the cause of the appearance of the weed is an excess of moisture in the soil, then drainage must be done. To do this, you need to make small grooves to drain excess water or make a high-quality drainage system.
In the event that the reason is the increased acidity of the soil, then in order to get rid of the moss, it is necessary to add 50-55 kg of lime to the soil of 100 m².To get rid of moss forever, this procedure will have to be carried out every year.
Effective use of various herbicides. Especially if the moss begins to grow actively in the spring or autumn periods of time. A glyphosate herbicide can be used. But this drug does not always give the desired result. More effective remedies would be ammonium, iron or copper sulfate. To prepare the solution, you need to take 20 liters of water and 100 ml of sulfate. You can take ferrous sulfate, for example, and then spray it all over your garden plot.
Another effective remedy is dichlorophene for moss. You need to water all the moss with dichlorophen, and after it turns black, you need to collect it, and sow the soil in this place with grass.
Also, those places that are covered with moss can be covered with mulch from pine needles, bark, straw or sawdust.
If the moss grows in a low area, then you can level the soil surface and add a small amount of sand. Periodically, the soil can be loosened so that it is saturated with oxygen.
It is advisable to remove all objects that create shade in areas where a large amount of moss grows. If this is a spreading crown of trees, then you can cut down several lower branches.
If darkening cannot be avoided, then shade-loving plants can be planted in the same places. For example, it can be hosta, hydrangea, fern, or astilba. These plants will force the moss out of the area.
An effective remedy for moss in the garden is mowing the grass. Cut the grass, preferably up to 5 cm, so that the soil is better ventilated.
If moss does not interfere with growing vegetables and berries, then you can use it as a decorative decoration for landscape design. With its help, you can arrange beautiful and unusual lawns.
Physical destruction methods
Eliminating the immediate causes of the appearance of moss will lead to its disappearance. The process can be accelerated by methods of its physical destruction:
- mechanically. The procedure for pulling a plant by hand gives good results, although it is laborious. In this way, you can more effectively clean the walls and roof of buildings, country paths;
- with an opaque black film. Cover the contaminated area with foil until the moss disappears. Minus - this site cannot be used until the end of the struggle process;
- by replacing the topsoil. This method requires a large amount of work and, accordingly, a lot of time, effort and additional costs;
- with the help of herbicides (glyphosate, ferrous sulfate, etc.). Chemicals should be used on the walls of homestead buildings, on paths, fences, etc., from where chemistry cannot get on cultivated plants and into the ground.
Moss on the site is good or bad. Moss in the garden - what is dangerous and how to cure the soil?
I often hear from my neighbors that in certain areas they have nothing but Moss. And practically everyone is doing nothing to combat this problem, yes, yes, the problem. If you see that moss begins to develop in your garden, then it's time to be alert and start acting. Otherwise, the soil will deteriorate initially, and you will not be able to grow anything on such land.
The causes of moss in the garden and their solutions.
Sour soil is an ideal place for active growth of moss, but the same cannot be said about our crops, they categorically will not grow in such soil. Therefore, we use lime to equalize acidity.
The earth is highly compacted. This happens due to the fact that the tractor, for example, did not plow the land well. But in most cases this is due to the presence of clay and loamy soil in the soil. In such areas, water is absorbed worse, constant soil moisture contributes to the active growth of moss.
I advise you to dig up such soil by hand 2-3 times over the summer. And be sure to plant siderates. Phacelia and mustard are best.If it is not possible to plant green manure, then you can dig it up together with humus.
Good article about green manure, what to sow, how to embed in the soil !!
If the area is not sufficiently clarified, then this can also lead to the appearance of moss on it. The sun does not warm up the area, the water evaporates poorly, there is no ventilation, and this contributes to the appearance of moss.
It is desirable to eliminate the shadow. If this is not possible, then the best option would be to plant shade-loving flowers in this place. And the place will not be empty and the earth will not deteriorate "at the root".
But in any case, if you see such an area of soil with moss, then liming and growing green manure is a priority. They are the best helpers for correcting unfavorable soil. True, there is also a special powder for combating moss in a summer cottage. But I have never used it.
Decrease moisture
The reason for the overgrowth of the lawn with moss can be an increased level of moisture. It is possible to prevent waterlogging of the soil even at the design stage by providing a drainage layer... If water is still stagnant in the soil or there is no drainage, the problem can be solved by loosening the soil with a fine-toothed rake. Then it is necessary to fill in the sand with a layer of up to 1 cm. In the future, it is worth abandoning night watering, and halving the daytime soil moisture.
Did you know? Different types of moss are found on all continents, including Antarctica.
What is the danger of moss on the site. Why is the soil covered with moss and what to do about it
Owners of summer cottages and personal plots are often faced with such a phenomenon as moss, which covers the soil in the beds, in the greenhouse, flower beds and settles on the surface of the paths, blind area. This attack did not escape my section.
I began to look for answers to why the land in my garden began to turn green and found out that the cause was a plant - marshantia, which is a representative of liver mosses. In nature, marching can be found on stones, along the banks of reservoirs, in low places of the forest. The plant is very aggressive, and without meeting competitors, it can occupy quite large areas.
Here are the main reasons for the appearance of moss on the soil:
- Constant waterlogging of the soil
- Low sun exposure
- Poor or acidic soils
In my case, prolonged rains and a prolonged absence of the sun were to blame, as a result of which greenery appeared on the ground.
Why green moss is dangerous
If moss practically does not interfere on the paths, then on the beds or in the flower garden, cultivated plants suffer from it. With the ability to quickly grow into solid carpets, green moss begins to oppress neighbors, to whose root system oxygen ceases to flow. In addition, marshalling takes nutrients from the soil that are necessary for cultivated plants, as a result of which they grow poorly, bloom and bear fruit. On lawns, such a weed can destroy all vegetation.
How to deal with green moss
If you take action in time, you can get rid of the green misfortune in a short time, using garden chemistry and your own labor. Gardeners use a variety of methods to eliminate moss:
- The soil is spilled in early spring or late autumn with copper sulfate mixed with potassium permanganate.
- They remove a layer of earth 3-4 cm thick, and turn it down. As a result, the root system of marshalling is exposed to air, and the plant dies.
- Loosening is constantly carried out with the removal of moss rhizomes.
- Liming of soil is carried out with dolomite flour, slaked lime, wood ash, followed by mulching of the ground surface.
How I fight moss in the garden
My personal experience with green moss removal is the constant loosening of the soil. I try to disturb the ground as often as possible with a hoe or a shovel in those places where this attack appears. The earth dries up, becomes loose, and the moss does not like it.
Experienced gardeners are advised to use siderates in the fight against marching, which are sown directly on the moss, making furrows or holes for seeds.It is also advised to cover the entire area where greenery grows with a black film for a long time. And in early spring, spill this area with boiling water, in which vitriol and potassium permanganate must be dissolved.
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Mulching
Weed growth can be controlled by laying mulch. Use dry materials for mulching.
Among them:
- sawdust;
- dry hay;
- straw.
The mulch effectively absorbs moisture and inhibits the growth and spread of weeds. It is sometimes difficult to get rid of moss growth on the lawn grass. This is especially true for old weeds. However, with the right approach, the problem can be solved quickly enough. The main thing is to choose the appropriate method and follow the correct step-by-step instructions.
