After a long winter, many will find their lawns looking worse for wear, especially with moss taking over. To help restore your lawn, Yell is sharing expert tips on preparing it for spring and tackling stubborn moss growth, with the help of Simon Akeroyd, Head of Estates and Landscapes at Painshill Park Trust.

What causes moss growth on lawns in winter?

Moss thrives in damp, shaded, and compacted conditions, making winter the perfect season for it to spread. Here are the key reasons moss takes over your lawn during colder months:

- Excess moisture – winter rain and poor drainage create damp conditions where moss flourishes. Prolonged waterlogging will kill finer grass species and allow the weeds to take over. In the autumn and winter months, increased levels of rain will cause your lawn to become even more waterlogged and weeds will thrive.

- Lack of sunlight – shorter days and increased shade from trees or buildings limit grass growth, giving moss the advantage.

- Soil compaction – heavy foot traffic and waterlogged soil restrict airflow and drainage, encouraging moss growth. Signs that you have compacted soil are bare or thin spots in your lawn – left to their own devices, these spots can become a prime spot for moss growth.

- Poor lawn health – weak, thin grass caused by neglect, low nutrients, or improper mowing allows moss to take hold.

- Acidic or low-nutrient soil – moss thrives in acidic soil, which can develop over time without proper lawn care.

How to combat moss growth and restore your lawn

Improve drainage – according to Simon, regular lawn care is essential for maintaining a lush, healthy garden. One of the best ways to improve lawn quality is through aeration.

Simon explains, “One of the most effective ways of improving the quality of the lawn is to aerate it.” Aeration involves creating small holes in the soil to allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots, ensuring they receive the oxygen needed to thrive. This can be achieved by using a garden fork or aerator, maintaining well-draining soil, and incorporating organic matter to enhance airflow and prevent waterlogging.

Simon emphasises the benefits, stating, “Aeration helps to relieve compaction, increases drainage, which will reduce moss problems and increase airflow in the soil, which promotes healthier root systems and therefore a better and denser sward of lawn on the surface. You can then brush top dressing into the holes left by the fork to improve the quality of the soil in the root zone of the lawn.” By incorporating aeration into your lawn care routine, you’ll create the perfect conditions for strong, vibrant grass that’s more resistant to moss and other common lawn issues.

Apply moss killer – use an iron sulphate-based moss treatment to kill off remaining moss before reseeding. If moss has taken hold of your lawn over winter, the first step to reclaiming your green space is tackling the problem head on with an iron sulphate-based moss treatment. This powerful yet effective solution works by rapidly dehydrating and killing off moss, turning it a dark black colour within hours. Applying iron sulphate not only eliminates stubborn moss but also has added benefits for your lawn; it helps strengthen grass roots, enhances the lawn’s natural green colour, and can even deter certain lawn pests. For best results, apply the treatment during a dry day but when the soil is still moist, usually in early spring or autumn. Once the moss has died off, you can gently rake out the blackened moss using a spring-tined rake or scarifier.

Overseed bare patches – after removing moss, reseed your lawn with quality grass seed to encourage thick, healthy growth. With the moss cleared, your lawn may be left with thin or bare patches. This is the perfect time to overseed, scattering grass seed over these areas to encourage lush, healthy regrowth. Finish by watering well and keeping off the grass until the new shoots establish. By combining iron sulphate treatment with proper reseeding, you’ll create a stronger, lusher lawn, ready to thrive throughout the seasons.

Feed your lawn – to give it the best start, feeding your grass with a balanced lawn fertiliser is essential. A well-fed lawn is not only greener and more vibrant but also stronger, healthier, and better equipped to fight off moss, weeds, and disease. Applying a high-quality lawn feed in early spring provides the essential nutrients your grass needs to grow thick and resilient.

Look for a fertiliser that contains:
Nitrogen (N) – encourages lush, green growth

Phosphorus (P) – supports strong root development

Potassium (K) – boosts disease resistance and overall lawn health

A slow-release lawn feed is ideal for steady, long-lasting nourishment without sudden growth spurts. It’s best to apply your fertiliser on a mild, dry day when the soil is moist, as this allows nutrients to be absorbed effectively. By feeding your lawn early in the season, you create the perfect conditions for healthy, dense grass – leaving no room for moss to return.

Mow correctly – achieving a healthy, vibrant lawn isn’t just about regular mowing, it’s about mowing at the right height. Keeping grass at an optimal length (around 3.5 to 4 inches) encourages strong growth, naturally shades out moss, and helps the lawn outcompete weeds. Cutting it too short can weaken the grass, making it more vulnerable to weeds and disease. Plus, lawns mowed at this height maintain an equally attractive appearance as those cut shorter. Before mowing, raking or scarifying is essential for lawn health.

Simon Akeroyd explains, “Scarifying is a useful lawn maintenance activity to increase the health of the lawn. I use a spring-tinned rake and pull it across the surface of the lawn. This removes much of the thatch, which is the dead and decaying material at the base of the grass blades. It may look harsh but it really helps improve the lawn quality.” Thatch buildup can block moisture and air from reaching the roots, leading to moss growth and fungal diseases. Simon adds, “You will be amazed at how much thatch is on the surface of the grass.

The thatch can impede moisture from getting to the roots and smother out the grass blades, resulting in a mossy-looking lawn. Thatch also prevents air circulation and can retain moisture, causing lawn fungal diseases.” By mowing at the right height and incorporating scarifying into your routine, you’ll promote stronger, healthier grass, and keep your lawn looking its best all year round.

Keeping your lawn and garden in top shape can be a challenge, especially if moss, weeds, or patchy grass have taken over. If you need expert advice or professional help to restore your outdoor space, Yell.com has thousands of trusted gardening and landscaping professionals ready to assist in your local area.