A YOUTUBE user with more than 30 years of lawn care experience has shared his advice for tackling lawn moss.
Lawn moss is one of the most common problems homeowners face.
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In a video posted to YouTube, user Robbie on his channel Premier Lawns walks viewers through the full process of reviving a moss-covered lawn.
“Is moss taking over your lawn? Is it tired, hot, and completely smothered in moss?” Robbie asks at the start of the video.
“Does it look beyond saving? Well, in this video, we’re going to show you how to fix it.”
To begin, he recommends mowing the lawn to a manageable height—even if it means breaking one of his own cardinal rules.
“My channel will know that I always talk about the one-third rule,” Robbie says, referring to the idea that you should never cut more than one-third of the grass blade at once.
But in this case, he admits, “we’re having to pause that because the grass is so long.”
Next comes a highly debated topic in lawn care: whether to aerate before scarifying.
Robbie says he’s frequently told he’s doing it wrong – but stands by his approach.
“Aeration is key to a healthier lawn,” he explains.
By removing small plugs of soil, aeration relieves compaction and allows water to drain more efficiently.
He then shows viewers what a core sample from the lawn looks like, pointing out the thin layer of thatch beneath the grass.
Thatch is a mix of living and dead organic matter like grass clippings, roots, and stems that builds up between the blades and the soil.
Once the lawn is aerated, it’s time for scarification – using vertical blades to remove moss, thatch, and dead grass.
Robbie notes that while these professional machines are available for rent for under £100 per day, homeowners can also use a spring rake, though it requires significantly more effort.
“Regardless of the type of machine you’re using, it’s important that the grass is short enough that the tools can get in and remove that material,” he advises.
That’s another reason why he broke the one-third rule earlier in the process.
According to Robbie, the best times to scarify are during the spring or autumn, when the grass is actively growing and can recover quickly.
“The reason why we aerate before we scarify is very simple,” he says. “You can’t see what you have if you scarify first.”
He also stresses the importance of fertilizing after renovation.
“Your fertilizer fuels new root growth and its clear development, giving you a nicer, stronger lawn,” he says.
As a final tip, Robbie recommends watering the lawn thoroughly to help it bounce back and to dehydrate any remaining moss.
With the right tools and timing, he assures viewers, any moss-covered lawn can be saved.