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THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2001. PAGE 23.
Home & Garden 2001
Rolling greens may gather some moss
About 50 different species of moss
are commonly found in grass. Unlike
seed-bearing plants, mosses produce
spores that are blown from one area
to another by the wind. These spores
germinate to form thread-like struc-
tures.
Mosses are opportunistic plants
that will develop and grow in bare
soil or where grasses are weak and
thin. They generally appear in areas
with shallow, rocky. or poor fertility
topsoil. in acidic soils, or in areas of
heavy shade and excessive moisture.
Because these conditions are tough
on turf grasses; mosses can invade
and establish themselves. Moss will
not crowd out healthy turf grasses,
but once moss is established, grass
plants will not spread into those
areas.
Should I get out the rake?
Although it may look as though
you are reducing the moss by raking,
you are only spreading and reseeding
Bird-watching is an enjoyable
activity for young and old alike any
time of the year. One way to attract
birds is to create a perfect backyard
watering hole they can't resist. YOu
will see an increase in the activity
and variety of wild birds attracted to
your backyard.
Outdoor experts offer the follow-
ing tips for attracting birds to your
bird bath:
• Wild birds need secure footing
around water. If your bird bath has
a slick surface, layer a few partly
submerged flat rocks or pieces of
wood to make the spot more bird-
friendly.
the moss spores and fragments. If the
moss infestation isn't too severe, a
better alternative would be to regu-
larly scout .your lawn and carefully
pull out any moss present.
Acidic Soil
The ideal soil pH for most lawns is
'neutral'. about 6.5 to seven. A pH
below six is considered 'acidic' and
over seven is 'alkaline'. Acid soil
will often be associated with poor
fertility, and may encourage moss
growth in bare areas. Limestone is
the common remedy used to 'neu-
tralize' acid soils.
If • you live in southern Ontario.
you will not need lime, as the pH is
usually neutral, at 6.5. If you live in
.some parts of northern or eastern
Ontario, soil tests may show pH lev-
els, of four or five. In. these cases,
applying limestone twice each grow-
ing season, in addition to regular fer-
tilizer applications, should signifi-
cantly improve the pH level.
• Many birds also have a fear of
deep water. A maximum depth of
seven centimetres is best, with a
gradual slope to the deepest point.
A minimum diameter of half a
metre will allOw numerous birds to
share the spot at any one time.
• Keep the water open year round as
fresh water can become quite scarce
in many parts of the country during
winter. Regularly clean the birdbath
and ensure the water is fresh.
• Bathing birds can be easy targets
for predators, so keep elevated bird-
baths at least three feet above the
ground level. For the same reason.
Continued on page 24
Moisture and shade
Moist soil conditions, caused by
poor drainage, low air circulation,
and excessive shade, support the
growth of moss. What are some
remedies?
I) Try to alter -the soil surface to
encourage moisture to drain away.
Dig a gentle trench that will divert
water away from the moist area, or
bury a drainage tile that will pick up
excess moisture and carry it away.
Raising the soil level by adding
new topsoil can help move water
away from that area. Sometimes
aeration may help improve com-
pacted soils.
2) If shade is the limiting factor for
good turf growth, prune some tree
branches to allow sunlight to filter
in. Reseeding with grasses that are
more adapted to shade may help,
however even shade-tolerant grass-
es will not survive too long under
extremely heavy shade or in soils
that are saturated for long periods.
3) Finally, if pruning and draining
are not feasible, consider a more
permanent solution by building up
the soil, and replacing the grass
with pachysandra, periwinkle, or
other shade-loving ground cover.
Poor soil fertility
If your soil is in a dry, and fairly
sunny area, then the appearance of
moss is probably caused by poor soil
fertility. Recent studies at Ohio State
University and at Cornell University
in New York indicated that fertiliza-
tion with a high nitrogen fertilizer
had a significant effect on moss
reduction, and supported the growth
of healthy turf. Monthly applications
of iron and potassium, in combina-
tion with nitrogen, were alsO helpful.
Specific moss control fertilizers
are available that contain nitrogen,
potassium and iron. These ae most
effective in a four-application per
year program, with applications in
early spring, late spring, mid-sum-
mer, and early fall. As with all fertil-
izers, carefully read and follow the
directions on the project.
Create a watering spot
for feathered friends