Firstly what we do is identify which of the above factors are likely contributing to the occurrence of the moss. What is your soil pH? If you don’t know, then a soil test is required. A soil test is simple to perform and very affordable for the amount of information you will receive regarding lime and nutrient requirements in general. Is there poor drainage? We can install drainage or regrade the area to promote water removal. Mosses thrive in these conditions, whereas all turf grasses struggle. The third factor that likely is limiting the turf is lack of sunlight. Many species of moss tolerate dense shade and prefer moist soil in the shaded areas. Removing trees from the lawn would fix the shade problem but this practice is almost never acceptable. However, simply pruning trees to remove lower limbs or thin the canopy fosters much improvement of turf grass growing conditions. Any arborist would concede that tree pruning usually promotes healthy trees, so pruning benefits both trees and lawn. If moss occurs in sunny spots, mower “scalp” may be the culprit. Wide mower decks reduce time on the mower but may contribute to scalping on uneven slopes. Scalping severely weakens turf grass and allows moss to thrive. Smooth the uneven places in the lawn by topdressing with soil, regrade the area, or use a smaller mower in uneven areas. Another common problem is mowing your grass too low. This can let the moss take over and leave your grass unable to compete. Compacted soils also give mosses a competitive advantage. We use a core aeration machine to alleviate compaction and improve turf grass growing conditions.