Best Time To Kill Moss In West Sussex Lawns

If moss has crept across your lawn, timing your treatment makes a big difference. West Sussex lawns often face shade, winter wet and compacted soils, which give moss the upper hand. Treating at the right moment means less product, better results and longer gaps before it returns.

Why moss thrives locally

• Shade from fences and trees reduces photosynthesis.
• Winter rain compacts soil and keeps the surface damp.
• Mowing too short weakens grass and exposes soil.
• Low fertility creates thin swards that moss can invade.

Best seasonal windows

• Early spring, March to April: soil is beginning to warm and grass is ready to recover. Apply an iron-based moss control, wait for blackening, then scarify and overseed.
• Early autumn, September to early October: warm soil plus regular rain speeds recovery. This is the ideal time for a fuller renovation with scarification, aeration and overseeding.

Avoid peak summer heat or deep winter. The grass will not bounce back quickly and you risk stressing the sward.

Simple three-step plan

1. Treat with an iron-based moss killer.
2. Scarify to remove the dead moss and thatch.
3. Overseed and feed to thicken grass so moss has fewer places to return.

For help deciding where scarification or aeration fits into your plan, read this local guide:
https://lawncarechichester.co.uk/scarification-vs-aeration-which-lawn-treatment-does-your-west-sussex-garden-need/