How To Remove Moss From A Paddock
You will need:
- Iron based product, e.g Ferro-gem
- Applicator (spreader, knapsack sprayer, boom sprayer)
- Towable dethatcher/scarifer
- Correct PPE (overalls, rubber boots, chemical resistant gloves & face shield)
What Is Moss?
Take a look at our A > Z guide on Moss.
Mosses are small flowerless plants which have no true roots, stems or leaves, hence why they are able to grow in areas that most other plants cannot. There are over 12,000 different species of moss found throughout the world on all types of surface, including lawns and driveways.
With the colder, damp conditions through autumn and winter, moss can become a common problem. Moss can cause hard surfaces such as paths, patios, drives and artificial sports turf to become slippery and dangerous, as well as looking unsightly. In grass it can take over and force the grass out, causing an unsightly and spongey surface to walk on.
Poor paddock maintenance, growing and weather conditions are often the common causes of moss problems in grass. With good paddock care practices and ideal growing conditions your field will have little or no moss. Encouraging gentle grass growth by feeding and undertaking regular maintenance will help prepare your grass for winter and help prevent the growth of moss.
Moss is a problem in paddocks and grazing land as it will take over, reducing the amount of wanted grasses for livestock or horses to graze on, or for hay production.
Why Should I Remove Moss From My Paddock?
Moss competes with the grass blocking light and restricting airflow which in turn prevents the growth of grass and encourages diseases. Dead moss then turns to thatch.
Moss treatment should take place in autumn or early spring. Apply an Iron based product such as Iron Sulphate or soluble Ferro-Gem. You can also apply a fertiliser which contains iron such as Moss Top to do two jobs - fertilise the grass and treat the moss. Our MossTop is a quality fertiliser which is ideal for areas suffering from moss. Although not classed as a moss killer, it can significantly reduce the moss population due to its high level of Iron (Fe). MossTop also contains a balanced amount of nutrients which are ideal for the autumn/early spring. It is a mini granule compound fertiliser which means it is ideal for use on paddocks, lawns, sports turf or amenity areas. It will slowly release over a 6 week period.
Once the moss has blackened and died, it will need to be scarified to remove it. Before scarifying, make sure the soil conditions are optimal. The soil should be moist but not soaking.
How Do I Prevent Moss?
Good autumn paddock maintenance is very important. Applying autumn fertiliser will help prepare the paddock for winter. Ideally this should contain Iron to prevent moss growth. We also recommend preventing the grass becoming too short by over grazing as this can weaken the grass. If you need to re-seed or overseed some bare areas, we recommend using a grass seed which contains ryegrass and fescue varieties.
We control moss we recommend using a fertiliser with a high iron content, such as Nutrigrow 6-5-10+Fe MossTop which contains all the macronutrients needed to treat grass as well as 6% iron .
For more information on controlling moss in a paddock, please get in touch with our sales team on 01522 246491.