Gardeners are being urged to sprinkle baking soda on the lawn this October — here’s why

Just because temperatures have dropped, this doesn’t mark the end of gardening season. Fall is the perfect time to do those essential jobs that will get your garden in top shape for spring. If you take pride in your lush, green lawn, there is one ‘controversial’ natural plant that can ruin the overall look — moss. While some people love the look of moss, not everyone is keen for it to be on their lawns,

What’s more, moss is one of the most common lawn weeds, known as a ‘silent grass killer’, that appears in the form of green, sponge-like patches between the blades of grass. But if you’re unsure of how to get rid of moss, experts are urging gardeners to do this one simple thing to their lawns this October.

In fact, this lawn care hack is a common kitchen staple found in most households, and it's often used in cleaning hacks around the home. So what is this?

Sprinkle baking soda on your lawn

Essentially a key ingredient to cakes and bakes, baking soda has now become a great, multi-purpose, household staple. Besides the many things you didn't know you could clean with baking soda, it can be put to good use in the yard too.

According to gardening experts, sprinkling baking soda on lawns is a quick, non-toxic way to banish unsightly moss. Typically, commercial repellents contain harmful toxins that, in turn, can kill beneficial things in your yard, such as insects, worms and bees — needed for pollination. This is the ideal way to kill moss, without the need for chemicals.

“With the arrival of spring, we can expect rain showers and high humidity, which create the ideal conditions for moss growth,” states Chris Bonnett, the founder of GardeningExpress.co.uk. “While moss growing on trees in your garden can be a charming sight, if you notice moss spreading on hard surfaces in your garden, then it’s time to take action to prevent safety hazards.

"Baking soda is a cheap and effective solution for eliminating moss, and it works well on larger surfaces. To use it, simply mix baking soda with a small amount of water to create a paste. Apply the paste to the affected areas, let it sit for a few hours, and then scrub it off.”

Bear in mind that while baking soda doesn’t contain chemicals, it can be harmful to pets if large amounts are digested.

Nutricost Baking Soda (2 lbs): $15 at Amazon

Now we all know the miracle cleaning powers of baking soda, and I always have a supply at hand to cut my cleaning chores in half. Not only is baking soda great for baking, but can be used for removing stains and absorbing bad odors in the fridge or trash bins.

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Alternatively, you could try mixing dish soap with another white vinegar that is also known to kill moss and weeds. “Mix around a pint of white vinegar with five teaspoons of salt and around a third of a teaspoon of dish soap into a spray bottle and spray the base of any unsightly weeds,” advises Jonathan Creber, Commercial Director of Modern Garden Rooms.

Another rather strange hack to remove moss are fizzy drinks like Cola. “If you’ve got fizzy cola in your fridge, you can use it to remove small patches of moss,” advises Bonnett. “Fizzy cola contains phosphoric acid which attacks moss cells and prevents it from coming back. Simply pour the drink into a spray bottle, spray it on moss, let it sit, wipe and rinse with clean water. Remember to not use cola for concrete as it’s acid-sensitive.”

So if you want a moss-free lawn, you might already have the secret ingredients in your kitchen cupboards.

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