I'm getting a late start on my lawn care this year, and I've been diving into various threads about scarification. However, I'm torn on whether to apply moss killer first. If I wait for the moss killer to work, it'll delay my reseeding by about 4-6 weeks, which makes me worried about the lawn coming back in time for spring and summer. If I scarify without using the moss killer, what kind of impact will that have? I know there's a chance of spreading moss spores, but will it significantly affect my lawn's growth during the upcoming seasons?
1 Answer
You're probably overthinking this! Whether or not to use moss killer really comes down to how much you're worried about getting rid of the moss this year. When you scarify, you usually just pull up dead debris like thatch, which is great for letting grass breathe. If you use iron sulphate (that's your moss killer), it’ll just add more moss to that thatch. Iron sulphate kicks in pretty quickly; you can scarify about a week after applying it. If you’re planning to topdress with seed, just keep it well-watered, and the new seeds should thrive. But honestly, if you skip the moss killer, it’s fine too. You’ll just have some moss around this year. Personally, I’d spread some Westlands 3-in-1, water it well, then scarify when the moss has turned black. After that, topdress and reseed with quality topsoil, and make sure to give it plenty of water every morning until the new grass takes off.
Totally agree with you, I've done that before! Just remember your watering will make a big difference.
Thanks for the reassurance! That’s what I initially thought to do with the Westlands 3-in-1. I was just worried about the 6-week wait, but it sounds like I’ll be okay if I keep it watered.