Moss thrives in damp and shady places and on plants under stress. It can appear in lawns, on trees, shrubs and hard surfaces and in greenhouses. A good time to deal with most moss infestations is when other plants won't be affected. You can get rid of moss through physical and chemical means, although it may return if conditions suit its growth.
Fall is a good time to apply moss killer and fall lawn fertilizer to your lawn, and then later rake out all black, dead moss vigorously. Piercing your lawn all over with a garden fork to aerate the soil also helps kill moss at this time. You can follow the treatment in spring on a dry day, applying spring lawn fertilizer and moss killer. Grass is actively growing in spring, so rake out dead moss lightly.
Trees and Shrubs
Winter is the time to deal with moss on trees and shrubs, because this is when most plants are dormant. Removing moss by hand or power washing it away with plain water can damage buds and shoots, so you should avoid any time the plant is actively growing. Remove structures or plants that throw shade, which causes the moss to proliferate. You can do this any time of year.
Moss on paving, containers and other hard landscaping features sometimes looks attractive, adding an air of maturity and character to the home garden, but slippery paths and steps are dangerous to walk on and moss makes garden furniture look unsightly. You can remove moss on hard surfaces anytime, but it's a good idea to remove it in fall on garden paths before it makes them hazardous to walk on during the wet winter months.
One place that moss loves is a backyard greenhouse. A good time to rid your greenhouse of moss is in late winter to early spring, when the greenhouse is least used. You can use this time to thoroughly clean out moss and algae from all its nooks and crannies. The moist, low light conditions of winter suit moss well, so you can help eradicate moss by keeping your greenhouse well ventilated throughout winter months.
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