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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Gary Hedges on May 27, 2010 at 22:28

The first cut on such a lawn is always the worst. I have one customer who likes her moss!
Take it down a level each cut it will get better and easier with time
See it as an opportunity if the customer wants the moss eradicated ie extra charge for treatment.

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Permalink Reply by GORDON on May 27, 2010 at 23:06

Hi Clare

Most of the lawns that I cut have a high percentage of moss in them. Some are very short with the moss just covering the soil whereas there are others which are like walking on a mattress. In either case I do not recognise the problems you have described. Obviously the height setting needs to be increased/decreases according to the thickness and sometimes adjusted for different areas of the same lawn.

I had a look at the Stiga range of mowers (could not find the mower you use) and as far as I can see they are 4 wheeled mowers as opposed to a roller mower.
I have always used a roller mower and wonder if they perform better than a 4 wheeled mower on thick moss beds. Alternatively and not wishing to condemn your mower but if that is not the case then I can only imagine the problems described is actually down to the mower not having sufficient power to drive through the resistance caused by the moss.

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Permalink Reply by Andy Thorne on May 27, 2010 at 23:17

HI Clare
I have done lawns that are similar sounding to your customers'.
If the moss is very thick and high density it will cause huge amounts of material to be removed from the lawn, in effect you are performing moss removal with a mower!
The problem is further compounded if the lawn in question is not level, if there are small uneven areas, small bumps etc - you will find that the mower can easily 'dig in' to the moss and leave a very unsightly 'chunk' missing.

The 'get by' solution is to just cut on the highest setting and give the lawn some CRF. On a lawn that is as problematic as this I'd actually treat it with mosskiller now. However I would use Jewel as it will turn the moss white instead of black. Mow at a more 'normal' cutting height when it has died and make sure that you've applied fert beforehand.
I'd mosskill again in Sept and scarify also in the autumn.

Any solution is this case is making the best out of a bad situation.

Andy

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Marc ~ Pro-Cut on April 1, 2011 at 23:36

Hi all

First post :0)

 

Many of my customers had 80-90% moss lawns despite having regular gardeners before me.

I think the previous guys used to just tickle over the top as the sponge layer in some gardens could easily be 4-5 inches deep!

 

My view with a heavily mossed lawn is to cut it moderately low on the first cut and remove masses of moss and even lower on the second cut a fortnight later untill you can feel the ground beneath your feet rather than a moss carpet.

 

You must have a powerful mower though or your machine will sink and keep cutting out. This can really stress an underpowered mower.

 

Otherwise scarify the lawn which is offered as an extra service. If you only service domestic lawns you can pick up an electric scarifier really cheap.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

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PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Dan Frazer Gardening on April 2, 2011 at 9:16

I think trying to deal with the moss with a  mower is going to be more of a headache for you than anything. I would just cut it as usual, blades just above the moss, and offer them a scarify and iron treatment, light for now, then deeper in autumn..

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Permalink Reply by Neil Petrie BSc Landscape Mgt on April 2, 2011 at 13:25

If you're not confident enough with chemical treatments then try just putting wheels at the rear one setting higher.  This way the belly of the mower wont drag across the moss carpet.  Gradually lower the mower until moss isn't so bad.

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