Do you have moss in your lawn that seemed to develop overnight?

It may not have been there the last time you cut the grass last fall. The weather last winter — mild and moist — is ideal for moss to grow.

The moss spores are blown by the wind from place to place. Moss is an opportunistic plant that will grow in bare soil or where turf grasses are weak and thin. It keeps growing during cool and wet winters while the turf is dormant.

Now that the moss is in your lawn, the grass will not grow in the moss areas. So, how do you get rid of it?

If you check the shelves of your garden stores, you will find products that kill the moss. Unfortunately, they will not do the job until you correct the cause that permitted the moss to grow on your lawn.

The problem is that your turf is in poor condition and there are several reasons that could be the culprit. These include: shade, low soil fertility, acidic soil, compacted soil and poor maintenance.

Turf that is growing in the shade is weak because of the lack of sunlight. The amount of sunshine can often be improved by pruning the lower branches of trees and shrubs.

One of the fastest ways to improve a poorly growing lawn is to fertilize. Improvement is usually seen within a few days after the fertilizer is applied.

The soil may be too acidic and this can be corrected by following directions received when a soil test is made. The amount of lime required to raise the pH will be given along with other recommendations.

Many lawns are in poor condition because they are poorly maintained — they are either cut too short (less than 1½ inches) or not cut often enough.

Once the lawn problem or problems have been resolved, you can apply a moss killer.

According to Penn State, there are two products registered for moss control. These are DeMoss from Mycogen Corporation and LESCO Moss and Algae Eraser from LESCO, Inc. These products contain salts that will dehydrate or "burn" the moss. Unfortunately, they can burn the grass if used improperly.

To use the products safely and correctly, be sure to follow directions on the label.

If you prefer not to use chemicals, raking with an iron rake will remove the moss.

For more detailed information on moss control, request Penn State publication "Moss in the Lawn." This free publication is available at the Cooperative Extension office.

Pete Hale of Sarver is a Master Gardener with the PennState Master Gardener program.