Lawn Sand

Search This Site

Search With Google

Conditions That Stimulate Moss Growth

Lawn Sand

Moisture Meter Guide

The complete moisture meter website

The reason you have, or want to have, a lawn scarifier is to remove any unwanted thatch from your lawn and deal with any moss that has taken over patches of your lawn. Another method of dealing with moss and weeds in your lawn is to use lawn sand. For as long as I can remember using lawn sand to deal with and control moss has been the traditional method.

Lawn sand contains iron sulphate which will remove the moss, ammonium sulphate which encourages and stimulates grass growth for recovery and sand which is used as the carrier. Lawn sand can be in the form of a powder or granular form. You can spread it using your hands or with a garden spreader specially designed for the job. You do this when the grass is dry and water it thoroughly afterwards if there is no rainfall due.

Moisture Meter Guide 2010 Contact details:garnett65@hotmail.com

When moss becomes a problem in your lawn you will need to take action by applying lawn sand and using a lawn scarifier. If the moss has spread rapidly you will have a bug job on your hands. So it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the conditions that moss thrives in.

If you know these conditions then you can try to eliminate them at source. This way you will be able to manage your lawn more efficiently.

It is during the winter months that moss can be a severe problem to all types of turf and lawns. The conditions that moss thrives in are :

1- Poor drainage. If your lawn drains badly this is the perfect scenario for fern and tufted types of moss to thrive.

2- Acidic Soil. Moss absolutely loves soils which are acidic. By acidic we mean soils that have a low PH level.

3- Lack Of Nutrients. Any lawn or turf that has nutrient deficiency will be both weak and thin. Moss picks on weakness and will easily invade.

4- Shading. If any parts of your lawn are shaded by buildings or trees they will susceptible to moss invasion.

5- Drought. If it is a hot summer and drought like your lawn will lose grass cover. This is an open invitation for moss to invade.

6- Cutting The Lawn. If you cut your lawn too low you will have the effect of scalping. This leaves areas of your lawn very thinly grassed and moss will move in.

To Care Is To Share

Uses Of Lawn Sand

Lawn sand is applied to a lawn to control any lawn weeds or moss. It is made up of ammonium sulphate, iron sulphate and sand and is applied to any lawn by hand or specific spreader. It is mostly necessary for lawns that are under stress from shade, drought and water logging where weed and moss infestation is rife. As effective as it is, it should not though be used all the time. It should be incorporated as just one step in your lawn care regime. Remember , by employing a good lawn care regime you will have a healthy lawn that is less susceptible to problems such as weeds and moss.

Tips

4 days after applying thoroughly water the lawn.

3 weeks after application, rake up dead undergrowth. If weeds or moss are still present then employ a weed killer or use your lawn scarifier.

How Lawn Sand Works

For dealing with weeds and moss lawn sand has to be selective in the plants it actually destroys. Because grass leaves are different in shape and structure to weed and moss leaves the lawn sand can differentiate. When applied the lawn sand will settle on broad leaves and fibrous mass like moss. It the scorches them until they are destroyed.

Because the grass blades are fine with hardly any horizontal surface area, the lawn sand simply slides off them and falls between them in to the soil or thatch layer. The result is that the grass blades are never scorched. An additional benefit of the lawn sand is that when it reaches the soil it actually stimulated root growth and assists with the “green” effect of the lawn. So lawn sand not only protects your lawn, but it also stimulates it as well.

Application Of Lawn Sand

Using lawn sand should be limited to early Spring and again in Summer if necessary. You need to apply it on a dry day and if after a couple of days of applying it there has been no rain, then you need to water your lawn thoroughly.

Before applying lawn sand always check the lawn weeds and moss. What you want are weeds that are in mid growth. This is because you need a suitable weed leaf area for the lawn sand to settle on and do it’s job. Also before applying lawn sand never cut your lawn. You need to have at least 3 days growth of your weeds to provide a suitable base for the lawn sand to work upon. In our experience we find that if you do not cut your lawn for a week, the weeds and moss have perfect leaf areas for the lawn sand to excel.

Though more environmentally friendly than the majority of chemical lawn weed killers, you still need to take care and precautions when applying lawn sand. Always follow the manufacturers instructions for the amounts to use on your lawn. Wear good gloves if you are applying by hand, but if at all possible always use a spreader as your first choice of distributing the lawn sand.

Once you have applied the lawn sand leave it to do it’s job. Do not cut your lawn for at least 4 days. This is the minimum amount of time that the lawn sand requires to work it’s treatment. When you do eventually cut your lawn again, remember not to put the first clippings on your compost heap. They will higher levels of chemicals than normal.