Bicarbonate of Soda: the 75p Trick to Get Rid of Moss in Your Lawn

After wet winters, a lawn can look more like a brown sponge than a rich green play area - but one simple kitchen ingredient can change that.

Stepping into the garden in spring often brings the same frustration: instead of thick grass, there’s a carpet-like layer that feels soft and spongy underfoot. Moss has taken over. Many keen gardeners then reach for pricey specialist treatments - or even vinegar and harsh chemicals. Yet there’s a surprisingly simple trick using a powder from the kitchen cupboard that costs around 75p, and it’s already causing a stir in England.

Why moss spreads so quickly in lawns

Moss isn’t proof of “bad gardening”; it’s a sign that conditions suit moss better than grass. It takes advantage of every weakness in the turf.

• Wet soils: If water sits on the surface, moss thrives while grass struggles.
• Compacted ground: Hard, trodden-down soil leaves little air for the roots.
• Shady spots: Under trees, by walls, or next to hedges, there’s too little light for strong grass growth.
• Cutting too short: Mowing the lawn “like a carpet” weakens it and gives moss free rein.
• Acidic soil: A low pH slows grasses down, while moss copes well.

In winter, the effect becomes even stronger. Sunlight is weak, the soil is often waterlogged, and the lawn more or less goes into forced downtime. That’s exactly when moss gains ground, patch by patch. If you simply leave it alone, some of it may die back in summer - but what’s left are unattractive bare areas where weeds can quickly establish.

"If you only scrape moss away, you’re tackling the symptom, not the cause - the lawn stays vulnerable."

The low-cost kitchen powder that drives moss away

A tip from England is currently doing the rounds on countless gardening forums: plain bicarbonate of soda, usually sold as “bicarbonate” or “baking soda”. It’s widely available in supermarkets and budget shops, often costs less than £1 per tub, and many people already have it in the cupboard.

The thinking is straightforward: bicarbonate of soda changes the surface environment of moss cushions so the tiny plants dry out - without the whole garden suffering. Chemically, it’s a mildly alkaline substance that is generally seen as relatively gentle when used in low doses.

How gardeners mix the bicarbonate of soda solution

The method is refreshingly simple and doesn’t rely on vinegar or other household standbys:

• Fill a standard pump sprayer or a sturdy spray bottle with water.
• Stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda per litre of water and shake well.
• Spray the solution only onto the mossy areas, not onto borders or sensitive ornamental plants.
• Wait until the area has dried and the sun can do its work.

After 2 to 3 days, many moss patches show a clear change: they lose their deep, dark green colour, turn yellowish to brown, and feel dry and crumbly. That’s when the rake comes in - the dead layer can be combed out of the lawn relatively easily.

"The trick: let it dry out first, then rake thoroughly - that creates space for new grass."

Step-by-step guide to tackling moss in your own garden

To try the method with as little risk as possible, it pays to proceed in small stages. That makes it easier to judge how your own lawn responds.

1. Choose a test area

Don’t treat the entire lawn straight away. Pick a clearly defined corner where moss is the main problem. This lets you assess the result objectively without putting the whole garden at risk.

2. Pick the right timing

The best conditions are on a warm, dry day with no rain forecast for the next few hours. The soil shouldn’t be soaking wet, otherwise the solution is diluted too quickly. Intense midday heat is also unhelpful, because droplets evaporate rapidly.

3. Dose carefully and spray precisely

Mist on only as much solution as needed. The goal isn’t to flood the area, but to lightly dampen the moss cushions. The more controlled the spray, the lower the chance of harming nearby plants.

4. Remove dead moss and relieve the lawn

Once the cushions turn brown, move on to the physical part: rake firmly over the affected areas with a leaf rake or lawn rake and remove the dead material. This restores airflow to the grass roots and allows young blades to reach the light.

How gardeners stop moss coming straight back

The bicarbonate of soda solution can remove moss from the surface, but the underlying soil conditions don’t automatically change. If you leave those as they are, you may face the same issue again in one to two years.

Loosen the soil and aerate the lawn

Compacted areas are especially prone. A classic approach is to lightly scarify in spring, then use an aerator or a garden fork to make holes in the soil. This helps rainwater drain away and allows air to reach the roots.

Set the right cutting height

Many people mow too low out of habit. A cutting height of 4 to 5 centimetres helps grass thicken and shade the surface naturally. A stronger, slightly longer lawn makes life much harder for moss.

Check pH and lime if needed

Overly acidic soil is one of the most common causes of moss. A simple pH test kit from a garden centre will give you a clear indication. If the reading is firmly in the acidic range, carefully matched lime applications can help move the soil over time towards conditions that favour grasses.

• pH below 5.5: Strongly acidic; moss feels very much at home.
• pH 5.5–6.5: Borderline; grasses can quickly fall behind.
• pH 6.0–7.0: Ideal for most lawn seed mixes.

What risks and limits the bicarbonate of soda method has

Even though bicarbonate of soda is often considered mild in the home, it isn’t a harmless magic fix. Too strong a concentration or applying it over large areas can upset the soil balance. Newly sown lawns and fine ornamental grasses can be particularly sensitive.

If you have pets or small children, make sure the treated area has dried properly before anyone plays on it. Residue on patio slabs or garden furniture can leave white marks, which should be rinsed off with water.

"Bicarbonate of soda is better suited as a targeted helper against moss - not as an all-purpose weapon for every garden problem."

Practical additions for a consistently tough, healthy lawn

For the lawn to return to a dense, usable surface after moss treatment, it needs support. Once you’ve raked out the brown cushions, it’s worth overseeding with a high-quality lawn mix suited to the location (shade-tolerant grass for north-facing areas, hard-wearing play-lawn mixes for heavily used spaces).

Light, regular feeding in spring and late summer strengthens grasses, helping them grow more vigorously and close gaps faster. In dry spells, watering less often but more thoroughly encourages deeper roots rather than only dampening the surface.

If you combine several of these building blocks - targeted bicarbonate of soda use, soil improvement, an adjusted mowing height, and overseeding - you remove the conditions moss relies on in the long term. That’s how a former sponge-like lawn becomes a space where children can run around and deckchairs can sit, without shoes sinking into moss.