Moss Control in Lawns Mosses are nonparasitic, primitive green plants that have fine, branched, threadlike stems with tiny leaves. They reproduce by means of wind-blown spores.
Mosses typically form a thick, green mat on the soil surface.
They produce their own food and do not kill grass plants but rather fill in the spaces in the lawn where grass is not growing. If mosses are present in your lawn, it indicates that conditions are not favorable for the growth of a healthy stand of grass but are favorable for the growth of mosses. While mosses can be removed mechanically or killed chemically, unless the underlying conditions are altered culturally to favor grass production, any solution that is attempted will be temporary. The conditions that are commonly associated with moss growth and their cultural controls are described below. Mowing grasses in a shady area at the top of their recommended mowing height range to encourage deep rooting and provide maximum leaf surface area to intercept the limited sunlight in order to manufacture food.