Awesome Product for Grass!

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Anyone struggling with moss in either utility lawns or fine turf might be interested to hear my experience with a new product.

 

The last two washout summers have favoured moss considerably, even more so than householders scalping their lawns hoping for a bowling green and getting the other green stuff...

 

Anyway, having used Dichlorophen until it was phased out and Lawn Sand for years, I recently needed to keep a contract by finding an alternative. This prinicipally arose from the client having rare expensive cats (!) who was v worried about the effects of Ferrous Sulphate.

 

I did a bit of research as you do and have come across a product from DJ Turfcare called Mo Bacter. It is an Organic Fertiliser and also destroys moss by pottasium and bacterial action. Whilst it's almost three times the price of Lawn Sand, digested moss doesn't require raking out etc.

 

Point is, I have just used this stuff for the first time and am well impressed! Will completely change greenkeeping practices for me from now on - brilliant stuff...

Edited March 22, 2009 by TimberCutterDartmoor

[Stephen Blair]

why not just spike the lawns through the winter and scarify twice a year then lower your hieght of cut, moss doesnt like much more than 8 mm. moss is a side affect so to speak from poor aeration. a mechanical control rather than a chemical. but more expensive, better for you though.

[Quickthorn]

Healthy grass should out-compete moss. Like Shrek says, scarifying and spiking in Autumn help, but what often turns things round is top dressing, also in Autumn.

[Stephen Blair]

Healthy grass should out-compete moss. Like Shrek says, scarifying and spiking in Autumn help, but what often turns things round is top dressing, also in Autumn.

 

bone meal and pigs blood. i remember that smell:ohmy:

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

why not just spike the lawns through the winter and scarify twice a year then lower your hieght of cut, moss doesnt like much more than 8 mm. moss is a side affect so to speak from poor aeration. a mechanical control rather than a chemical. but more expensive, better for you though.

 

With regards 8mm, we can only be talking fine turf here not the average lawn! It is exactly that - Mr & Mrs Smith & Jones trying to create 8mm with a PRG and other Meadow / Ryes that moss loves; weak grass and moss everywhere. Agree with all the mechanical stuff altho hollow tining is better than spiking IMO. Customers rarely have the patience to wait for mechanical results and where shade might be an issue I have no prob accelerating the recovery process.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

bone meal and pigs blood. i remember that smell:ohmy:

 

And molllases!

[Stephen Blair]

With regards 8mm, we can only be talking fine turf here not the average lawn! It is exactly that - Mr & Mrs Smith & Jones trying to create 8mm with a PRG and other Meadow / Ryes that moss loves; weak grass and moss everywhere. Agree with all the mechanical stuff altho hollow tining is better than spiking IMO. Customers rarely have the patience to wait for mechanical results and where shade might be an issue I have no prob accelerating the recovery process.

 

gotcha, there is a company up this way that will spray your garden green. so you can scalp the life out it in the middle of summer, dont bother doing any kind of maintenance, give them a bell and bobs your uncle.(we never had a hollowtiner at the course i used to work in years ago)

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Further to my starting this thread a while ago, I'm reviving it simply because I'm so bowled over by the product mentioned previously - M.O. Bacter. No I am not an agent for it! Am now seeing the long term effect it has and am seriously impressed, especially since it is an organic product. The total destruction of moss, sward density and lushness of the turf are marvellous! Love it when you find a product that exceeds expectations so comprehensively!

[Gavin]

why not just spike the lawns through the winter and scarify twice a year then lower your hieght of cut, moss doesnt like much more than 8 mm. moss is a side affect so to speak from poor aeration. a mechanical control rather than a chemical. but more expensive, better for you though.

 

from a nvq qualified greenkeeper the main cause of moss/ undelining cause is compaction so your right .

solid tine lawn or4 hollow core and scarifi

and then topdress

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

Yeah, the lawn was a dogs dinner and had everything against it to promote moss altho in this case compaction was not the primary problem, rather shade and moisture were. Nonetheless, two passes of hollow-tining were carried out pre treatment, cores swept etc. I'll be spiking all summer, topdressing in autumn with overseeding, maybe plug again, NPKing etc etc. Just nice to see a worn out lawn turned into first rate util so quick with the help of a product, which traditionally being organic would not have been considered in fine turf circles.