So you mow it regularly, give it some love and you cannot figure out why there clover and moss are constantly taking over your lawn?
Some people actually prefer to have a moss or clover lawn, if you live in an area that has the completely wrong conditions for growing grass then giving up and growing a moss or clover lawn may be the only option.
I am going to do my best to tell you how to get rid of moss and clover in your lawn so you can have a lawn that is thick with beautiful lush green grass and it is not a case of simply applying a herbicide to solve your problem.
If you are willing to take action it is possible to transform your lawn from a lawn that has moss and clover growing all over it and into the lawn of your dreams and the envy of your neighborhood.
The best way to get rid of moss and clover in your lawn is to mix baking soda with water and spray it over your lawn. You should test a small patch first to make sure this mix will not have a detrimental effect on your specific variety of grass. This is the easiest way to get rid of them both with one application.
Check out my detailed article on what moss growing in your lawn is an indication of.
Why Is Moss Taking Over My Lawn?
If moss is taking over your lawn it suggests to me that your lawn is not in the best condition for growing vibrant lush green grass. Moss will thrive in completely conditions to those that make grass thrive so if moss is taking over your lawn you may have to take action to alter, maybe severely alter, the condition of your lawn.
Some of the conditions that may be the cause of moss taking over your lawn could be that:
- The pH of your soil is not ideal for grass
- Your soil may not be draining properly and moss likes the damp
- The soil may be compacted which leads to poor air circulation and drainage
- Your lawn may be getting too much shade
You will be glad to know that you will be able to take action and sort most of these issues however if you think it’s just a case of applying herbicide and your moss problem will be solved you are mistaken.
If you want to permanently stop moss growing on your lawn you have to change the condition of your soil under the grass otherwise when you use herbicide to remove moss it will simply grow back over time.
Check out my article on the best time to remove moss from your lawn.
How Do I Rid My Lawn Of Moss?
So you want to get rid of the moss in your lawn and more than that you want to keep it gone. There are a number of reasons that may cause the moss to grow so there are a number of solutions to get rid of the moss for good.
Let us take a look at the long term solutions…
- Rake the moss out of your lawn – this is the most obvious solution, it is hard work and it will get rid of the moss, however, unless you correct the underlying issues and improve the condition of your soil the moss will more than likely grow back.
- Use Baking Soda – in addition to the initial raking of the moss you may want to use baking soda to try and get rid of the moss that will still be growing after you rake it. Mix in a box of baking soda to water and spray it all over your lawn.
- Change the pH of your soil – you will have to first test the pH of your soil and you can do this by using a home test kit or get a professional to test it. If the pH is too low you should apply lime at the recommended dose to make your soil more ideal for grass to flourish.
- Improve the drainage – if you have a lawn that has lots of water on it then that is likely a cause of moss as it loves damp conditions. To improve the drainage the easiest way is to aerate your lawn, this will improve the drainage and also allow for better air circulation.
- Water your lawn less – if you are overwatering your lawn then that will definitely be helping moss to take over your lawn. You may want to change your watering routine to only watering when it needs it instead of watering it to a strict timetable.
- Fertilize your lawn – if you have moss growing in your lawn it will be because it can thrive in conditions your grass will struggle to thrive in. Use fertilizer to add nutrients back into your soil as when your grass is thriving it will be more difficult for moss to find space to invade.
- Fix excessive shade problems – if you have a lot of overhanging trees that cause your lawn to be shaded this will be contributing to making conditions that moss can thrive in. prune back and overhanging branches or chop down trees to improve the lighting for your grass.
If you take all of these steps to improve your lawn not only will you rid the moss from your lawn but you will keep it gone and have some lush green thriving grass.
Check out my article on how to tell if your lawn actually needs lime.
Why Do I Have So Much Clover In My Lawn?
If you have clover growing in your lawn then just the same as moss it suggests that the condition of your soil is far from the perfect condition required for lush green grass to grow.
Clover is a weed and it will grow in soil with practically any pH level whereas your grass needs a certain level of pH to thrive. Clover will also grow in soil that is deficient in nutrients, especially soil that is deficient in nitrogen.
If your lawn is not in perfect condition and has drought problems, drainage problems, or has become compacted this will make your grass struggle to grow healthy and when your grass is struggling that is when clover takes over.
To summarise reasons you have clover growing in your lawn:
- Your lawn may be at the wrong pH level for your grass to thrive
- If your soil is deficient in nutrients your grass may not thrive but clover probably will
- Your soil may be stressed due to lack of water due to drought, stressed grass is less dense which leaves room for clover to grow.
- If your soil has become compacted the grass on your lawn will find it difficult to thrive whereas clover has longer roots which make it more able to thrive in adverse conditions.
Check out my detailed article on what kills clover but not grass.
How Do I Rid My Lawn Of Clover?
Just like a moss problem if you have clover growing in your lawn there are a number of reasons why this can happen so there are a number of solutions to get rid of it and keep it gone. To keep rid of it long term you will have to change the condition of the soil to make it ideal for thriving grass.
Here are some solutions to improve your lawn and get rid of clover…
- Use a herbicide – you can use a herbicide or weed and feed that is designed to get rid of broadleaf weeds. This will kill the clover but you should also be looking at a long term solution that improves your soil to make it ideal for grass as that’s what will keep the clover gone.
- Use baking soda – if you mix baking soda with water and spray it over your lawn this should get rid of moss and clover that is growing on your lawn. This should work but there is a risk it could damage your grass so you may want to test it on a small area first.
- Change your mowing height – clover is known to thrive in short grass. If you change your grass cutting height to 3+ inches this should help combat clover. This length of grass will block out the light clover needs and you should see a dramatic change to your lawn.
- Fertilize your lawn – if clover is growing in your lawn it suggests the condition of your soil is probably not perfect for growing grass. Clover can thrive in soil that is lacking in nutrients whereas grass will struggle. Adding a nitrogen-rich fertilizer will boost your grass and help it fight back against clover.
Check out my article with lots of lawn care tips for dummies.
Conclusion
Using baking soda mixed with water is the best way to get rid of both moss and clover at the same time.
Long term you will have to improve the condition of your soil if you have clover and moss growing on your lawn. You can use herbicide to get rid of them but they will just grow back unless you fix the condition of your lawn.
If you have a lawn that is full of beautiful lush green grass that is the best way to prevent weeds from taking over as they tend to only thrive when the grass is struggling.
