Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VT
Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VT
Teresa Merelman, Broker, Pall Spera Company Realtors-Stowe, VTPhone: (802) 793-5171
Email: [email protected]

Lawn moss: What your lawn is trying to tell you

by Teresa Merelman, Broker 02/15/2023

Lawn moss is often described as an irritation for many homeowners. But what if it was more than an annoyance? What if the moss growing among your lawn grasses was simply a message your lawn was trying to get to you? What could it possibly be saying? And how can homeowners decipher these messages?

Here are a few things to consider when it comes to moss in your lawn:

Soil pH

Encroaching moss can be a sign of acidic soil or soil pH levels that have dropped too far. A soil test can measure your pH levels and tell you exactly which direction to go in when treating your lawn. You may also find the areas that your soil has nutritional deficiencies.

Drainage

Moss growth may also indicate that your soil isn’t draining properly. Poor drainage can lead to a plethora of problems, such as root rot. If you notice your lawn has an excess of moss growth, and you’re confident the pH levels are right where they should be, you may need to break up the problematic patches.

Compacted soil

Poor drainage could also be linked to compacted soil, which moss truly seems to love. To break up the soil, try core aeration, which roots plugs of grass - also known as cores - from your lawn to give it more room to breathe and grow.

This method greatly reduces compacted soil patches and has been touted as one of the best places to start when searching for a solution to a cramped lawn.

Excessive shade

Lawn moss also shows up if there’s simply too much shade. By giving overhanging trees and excessive brush cover a good trim, you can help create perfect light penetration conditions to help your grass lawn thrive while keeping the moss growth down.

If your lawn seems to have contracted a moss problem, try any of these solutions before jumping into a full lawn overhaul. If you’re still concerned about your lawn, hiring a landscaping professional or lawn expert may help set you on the path to a happy, healthy lawn.

About the Author
Author

Teresa Merelman, Broker

 Teresa's beginnings were at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She was child #5 of 8 and born into an Air Force family that moved all over the United States but usually ended up back in the Washington, D.C. area. Teresa attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and received her bachelor's degree in business from George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia. Some of her prior careers include: computer buyer in Fairfax, Virginia; Deputy Clerk at the U.S. District Court in Denver, Colorado; Police Officer in Steamboat Springs, Colorado; and Bed & Breakfast owner in Stowe, Vermont. Teresa obtained her license as a Realtor® in 1998. She has been through many ups and downs in this profession and continues to learn every day. She very much enjoys the real estate profession and the wonderful people she has met and assisted along the way. In order to serve her clients and customers, Teresa continually attends classes and seminars. Some of her Designations and Certifications include: 

  • ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative (2003)
  • CBR - Certified Buyer Representative (2000)
  • e-PRO - Internet Certified Professional (2001)
  • CNHS - Certified New Home Specialist (2005)
  • CRS - Certified Residential Specialist (2005)
  • AHS - Accredited Home-Stager Specialist (2008)
  • TRC - Transaction Referral Certification (2009)
  • RSPS - Resort and Second Home Specialist (2009)
  • GREEN - NAR's Green Designation (2009) 
  • SFR - Short Sales & Foreclosures Certification (2009) 
  • SRES - Senior Real Estate Specialist Designation (2012)
  • AHWD - At Home With Diversity (2021)
  • SRS - Seller Representative Specialist (2021)

Teresa has also served and continues to serve on several boards:

  • Lamoille Area Board of Realtors - President and Board of Directors
  • Vermont Association of Realtors - Board of Directors
  • NEREN (MLS) - Board of Directors and Shareholder 
  • Vermont Real Estate Commission - as a member of VAR's Liaison Committee
  • Stowe Vibrancy - Board of Directors - this is a volunteer group that promotes activities in the Village of Stowe

In 2007, Teresa was named Vermont Realtor of the Year.Teresa and her husband, a local attorney, moved to Stowe in 1987. They had two sons and Stowe has been their home for the past 36 years. She still feels the Stowe area is a wonderful place to raise a family, there's always something going on. Teresa can often be found behind the lens of her camera documenting the beauty of the area and its many events.As an update, Teresa's older son is now a Doctor/resident at the University of New Mexico's Emergency Management Program. Her younger son graduated from James Mason University and currently resides in Chicago, IL as a supervisor for OKTA.