Question
Hello, and thank you

What is the best way to kill Moss in my yard??

Around the driveway I racked it out, but cannot do that in the lawn.

thank you
Jim

Answer
My friend, some people would love to have your Moss 'problem' - in fact I know several who are banging their heads against a wall trying to cultivate Moss between flagstones and on bricks.  The Japanese have their Moss Gardens too.

Moss removal is really quite easy and there are several ways to go about it.

I first should mention that if you happen to consult a Moss Removal Company - to remove Moss say from your roof, if that is where your unwanted Moss is growing - you should take steps to avoid any use on your home of zinc sulfate monohydrate, a common treatment held as a PAN Bad Actor Chemical (this label is bestowed on gardening chemicals known for causing cancer or other side effects) and distinguished for its Acute Toxicity:

www.pesticideinfo.org/Detail_ChemUse.jsp?Rec_Id=PC34741#ChemID

Ferrous Sulfate Monohydrate (Iron Sulfate) is another commonly used Moss removal chemical you should be careful with.

You did not identify what country or state you are writing from.  If your climate is very rainy, I would like to know before signing off on an official answer to you.  People in the Northwest for instance have too much of a good thing in the overcast rain department.  Add shade and you have Moss Paradise.

Some states are spared the thick heavy Clay soil we on Long Island must wrestle with to plant anything.  Sulfur or Iron added to Soil will acidify it.  Moss finds Sulfur and Iron a thing of beauty, a joy forever.  These minerals reduce Soil pH of your soil and make it Moss-friendly.  Just add water and your work is done.

You might also consider the thought that if your home was built on land that used to be a forest, unseen underground felled tree trunks and roots can make growing Grass VERY difficult and growing Moss VERY simple if not inevitable.

Contrary to popular science, Moss is NOT a Fungus.  Moss is a tiny Green plant that grows in cool, damp, semi-shady or shady areas with a
low pH, perhaps 5.5 to 6.5.  Poor drainage and compacted Soil can make survival impossible for Grass, but Moss DEPENDS on excess moisture for survival - it has no roots or vascular system (Bryophytes) so it has no way to absorb or distribute water.  Poor drainage takes care of that problem by making water constantly available.

The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides zeros in on the cause of Moss in the garden: 'The most common conditions that lead to Moss problems are a lack of Soil fertility, acid Soil, dense Shade, compacted Soil, wet Soil, and injured turf.'

The Safer's product line carries its own Green brand of 'Moss Killer' that is earth-friendly.  Gardens Alive (www.gardensalive.com) sells a product called 'Moss Aside' to remove Moss.  The Moss Aside formula, they say, mixes 'naturally-occurring fatty acids to kill unwanted oss,  algae, lichens and liverworts within hours.'  Hours! Would you say that is fast enough for you?

I have not used these to remove Moss.  The companies that carry them are however quite reputable and I would be inclined to use their products without hesitation.  Please let me know what system you decide on and I would love to hear how it works for you.  rsvp,

L.I.G.