DR, you can use a product like MossOut, making sure to follow label directions, to get rid of the moss, but I would also investigate the conditions that led to the development of the moss.
What does cause or encourage moss to grow in a lawn? Is it just moisture conditions or does type of soil contribute? I notice a lot of it growing in my lawn just this year. We have had a couple of very wet years, and I have a heavy clay soil.
Nichter...the moisture is the leading cause. Moss belongs to a class of non-vascular plants called "bryophytes" They lack vascular tissue like trees and other flowering plants...this limits their size due to cell to cell transmission of water. They reproduce by spores much like mushrooms and various molds....( my masters thesis was on Bryophtye ecology)
Three things encourage moss: damp soil, heavy clay and shade. If you eliminate these the moss will disappear. If you can't fix them you'll have to rely on short term solutions like MossOut.
Applying lime does help. Moss prefers to grow in acidic soil. In most cases the permanent way to get rid of moss is to improve light to the area, remove the moss (You'd be surprised how much people are paying to get moss for their gardens these days,), till or dig the soil to reduce compaction, add lime and fertilizer. Then decide what you want to put in the area - sod for grass or other landscape plants.
Actually I'd love to transplant the moss growing in the shady part of my lawn to the rocks in my rock garden. I tried making the sludge w/ moss & buttermilk--almost burned out my blender. the result was a disgusting mess which I slathered on the rocks. It didn't work!!
DR you wouldn't believe how many people call our show show love the way moss looks and want to know how to grow it and maintain it. That is an alternative if you can't manage the change of conditions for the some reason.
ok; we've talked about unwanted moss, Now does anyone have a good 'recipe' to get moss and lichen to grow on rocks? The buttermilk moss blend didn't work!
Some mosses can be "spawned" by making a slurry of chopped up moss with water ( think broyophyte smoothie) this pastes is applied and the space watered well...you must be patient as moss grows really slow...its not uncommon to wait a year or more for the "crop" to get established.
I was visiting the Maine Home of David Rockefeller and noticed an absolutely beautiful carpet of moss covering the slope above the estate, under trees going uphill away from t he shore.
He said his people keep it misted and spray it with a buttermilk mix.
IIRC, this was a SE facing slope, so the hot PM sun was not drying it out as it was in full shade by then
I was recently in Seattle, I know this a different atmosphere, where a man had a whole lawn that was moss. It almost looked like grass, but he didn't need to cut it. The moss lawn was his way of coping with a lawn that would not grow because tof the shade. You're right , they do make beautiful spaces.
mc
Four Season-thanks, but I have a lot in the shady part of my yard--it just grows where I don't want it!
He said his people keep it misted and spray it with a buttermilk mix.
IIRC, this was a SE facing slope, so the hot PM sun was not drying it out as it was in full shade by then