Removing Moss before Seeding

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Q: I have a sunny location but the moss is spreading through it…. can I just overseed with grass seed or will the moss smother it too? Its just too big of a job to remove the moss and restart.

It is possible to do a partial renovation to rejuvenate your lawn. Cut the lawn low without scalping it. Next I would get it dethatched or “power raked”. Do at least two passes with the machine at right angles to remove some of the existing moss. Rake up any moss removed. This should leave a very
barren looking surface which is ideal for “overseeding”.

Apply a grass mixture consisting of perennial rye and fescue which is ideal here for coastal B.C. Broadcast a thin layer of compost or topsoil, e.g.. 1/4 to 1/2 in ( .5 to 1 cm) thick. Keep the soil surface moist by watering regularly, e.g. 3 or 4 times a day for 10 minutes during the first 7 to 15 days, after that it will need less frequent but longer watering.

The best time to do this is either in spring or fall when the lawn is actively growing. Maintaining a thick lawn in the long run will minimize moss development, e.g. longer cutting height 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in), deeper watering, lime annually, apply overseeding regularly, aerating, feeding via topdressing with compost or “grass cycling” (not bagging clippings) plus a constant feeding program.