How To Get Rid of Moss in Your Lawn

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There are several simple ways to get rid of the moss in your lawn—but prevention is the best medicine.

Written by Brenda Woods Updated 07/01/2024

While moss isn’t actually detrimental to your grass, some homeowners may not want moss to overtake their yard. Getting rid of moss is relatively simple, but takes several steps—and discovering just why it finds your lawn so hospitable is key.

In this guide, you’ll learn what you need to know about getting rid of moss in your lawn and how to prevent moss from coming back.

What is Moss?

Moss is a flowerless, ancient plant that often grows in dense clumps or mats. It doesn’t have true roots and it isn’t actually detrimental to your grass. In fact, some people incorporate moss into their lawns on purpose.

However, the presence of moss could indicate that your lawn is struggling. Common causes for lawn moss include issues like excessive shade or soil problems—it can be compacted, have low soil pH, or poor drainage. While grasses suffer in these conditions, moss thrives. So even though moss won’t kill your grass, the conditions that support its growth can.

Getting Rid of Moss in Your Lawn Naturally

Moss isn’t like other weeds, so traditional weed killers won’t be effective against it. The most common way to get rid of moss naturally is by using dish soap. The best time to kill moss is when it’s actively growing, in late spring to early summer or late summer to early fall.

Using Dish Soap

Raking and Dethatching

If you have a small patch of moss, you can mix 1 gallon of water and 2 ounces of dish soap in a spray bottle and spray the mix onto patches of moss. For larger lawns you should double the proportions of each.

Spray the mixture onto patches of moss and drench them thoroughly. Within 24 hours, the moss will dry up, turn brown, and die. Rake up the dead moss, and re-seed the areas.

If you’re dealing with a limited moss problem, you can try simply raking it up, going at it at different angles to loosen it up. Once you’ve gathered all the moss, place it in a trash can.

For a speedier fix, use a power rake—a gas-powered tool that can remove thatch and moss—or fit your lawn mower with a dethatching blade to speed up the process.

Getting Rid of Moss in Your Lawn With Chemicals

The two most common ingredients in moss-killing chemicals are iron sulfate and glyphosate. Iron sulfate will start damaging moss in a matter of hours and effectively kill it within two days. This ingredient is commonly found in fertilizers and won’t harm your lawn’s grass.

Glyphosate, on the other hand, is non-selective and will kill both the moss and grass it comes into contact with.

How To Prevent Moss

If you want to prevent moss from taking up residence, make your lawn less hospitable to the weed. The best way to do this is by resolving the issues that may have led to the moss in the first place.

Excessive Shade

Low Soil pH

Poor Drainage

Compacted Soil

The precise amount of sun your lawn needs will depend on your region and grass type. On average, most lawns need about four to six hours of sunlight per day. If branches are casting a shadow over a large area of your lawn, prune them back. You can also switch to growing a grass that tolerates shade better, like tall fescue.

Send a sample of your soil to a university or your local cooperative extension. They can test the soil to determine if it has the proper nutrients and whether it’s alkaline enough. In general, a lawn’s pH level should be between 6.0 and 7.0. To make your lawn less acidic, you can apply lime. Soil amendments and regular fertilization are the key to a healthy lawn.

Drainage issues welcome moss. The type of soil you have can impact the likelihood of drainage issues—clay soil tends to puddle. However, you can amend the soil to make it easier for moisture to pass through.

Excessive foot traffic and thatch can compact your soil, preventing it from retaining a steady flow of nutrients, water, and air. You can rectify this by aerating, using a tool or machine to poke thousands of tiny holes into your lawn to let it breathe. Dethatching, or breaking up the layer of decomposing organic matter between grass blades and the soil, will also alleviate this issue.

Top Recommended Lawn Care Provider

TruGreen does not specifically treat moss, but it can decrease your chance of getting moss in the first place with practices like proper aeration and fertilization. The lawn care company offers five annual programs and a variety of a la carte services in every state except for Alaska. To get a free quote, call 866-817-2287 or fill out this easy form.

Our Conclusion

You can keep your lawn moss-free by addressing the factors that allow moss to grow. Grow the right grass for the amount of shade your lawn receives each day, check your soil pH, and fix problems with drainage or soil compaction. While moss won’t harm your grass, you can get rid of it with a solution of dish soap and water and keep your lawn moss-free with preventative measures.

FAQ About Getting Rid of Moss in Your Lawn

How do I get rid of moss in my lawn naturally?

You can get rid of moss naturally by using a solution of water and dish soap, or by raking it up if there’s just a small patch.

Why do I have so much moss in my lawn?

If you have a lot of moss in your lawn, the likely culprits are excessive shade, poor soil drainage, soil compaction, or a low soil pH.

Will lime kill moss?

Lime will not kill moss, but it will make the soil more alkaline, helping to prevent moss in the future.

Is it bad to have moss in your lawn?

It’s not necessarily bad to have moss in your lawn. Moss will not kill your grass, but it does indicate that your lawn has some issues that need correcting.

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