Clover is also very tolerant of wet, compacted or poorly drained soils. It may become very competitive during cool, wet weather. This crust often restricts the movement of water and air into soils. Algae thrives on compacted, water-logged and fertile soils. Mosses are small plants that survive in a wide range of soil and weather conditions.
Mosses produce a thick, green mass in full sun or shade on both dry and wet soils.
They may grow in areas of your lawn where both light and air movement is limited. Prostrate knotweed thrives in heavily trafficked lawns, playgrounds and athletic fields. This low-growing broadleaf weed adapts well to poorly drained, compacted soils. The plant grows from a thin, long taproot. Wiry, leafy stems, which radiate from the root, produce a dull, blue-green mat well below the mower blade.