Lawn is Filled with Moss

My lawn is filled with moss. The area is shaded with pine and oak trees. I tried liming the soil, but it did not help.

Eliminate the cause of the problem and you will eliminate the moss. Excess shade and compacted, poorly drained and acidic soils are the major causes of moss. Adding lime should only be done to acid soil. Liming high pH, alkaline, soils can cause other problems. Have your soil tested and wait for the test recommendations before adding lime. Improve soil drainage by adding organic matter to the soil. Try using a shade tolerant grass seed in these areas. If this doesn’t work consider using a shade tolerant ground cover. If you are determined to grow grass hire a certified arborist to thin out the shade producing tree canopy. Visit the International Society of Arboriculture’s website (www.treesaregood.org) to find a certified arborist near you. Or add a few flagstones and call it a moss garden. Sometimes it is easier and better for the environment to follow nature’s lead. Visit the United States Department of Agriculture website extension.org to find your local Extension Service for soil test information.

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