Killing Moss on Tennis Courts

Maintaining a tennis court’s surface is important to ensure optimal conditions for the players and the game. The growth of algae, moss and mildew is one of the most common problems associated with tennis courts. For the playability, safety of the players and aesthetics of the court, it’s important to ensure there’s no moss lingering on the surface. If you do find moss growing on your tennis court, killing it quickly is the best way to protect the surface.

Why does moss form on a tennis court?

Moss is a hardy plant that will survive in difficult conditions for a long time. Light, moisture and drainage are the three main factors that affect moss growth.  Moss thrives in heavily shaded areas with lots of moisture.

Regardless of the type of surface, moss will find a way to grow on it. There are three main types of tennis court surfaces: clay, hardcourt (asphalt), and grass. In general, clay is the worst type of surface for moss growth because of how much water the material retains. Grass is better than clay, since it is more responsive to conditions and faster to dry out. Hard court is the best, since it dries out quickly and doesn’t retain water, but as it wears down the cracks in the asphalt make an optimal moss growing environment.

How to kill moss on a tennis court

Step 1: Walk the perimeter

Trimming back the shrubs and trees that surround your court will help remove shaded areas and help with moisture build up on any surface.

Step 2: Examine the court’s surface

In courts with asphalt surfaces moss tends to grow between cracks that form from use.  A pressure washer can easily get in those cracks to clean out the moss.  Salt and water can also clean these cracks as moss cannot survive in saltwater.

There are several kinds of moss killer products recommended to be applied during the wetter months of the year. However researching before buying is a better way to know which products will be most effective for your court.

Certain chemicals work better depending on the type of surface and in some cases using the wrong chemical can cause irreparable damage. The end result of the damage leads to an expensive resurfacing of the entire court.

Step 3: Look for sources of moisture on the surface of the court.

Add extra drainage in areas where water puddles are common.

In grass courts keeping the soil freshly cultivated and well drained will prevent moss from growing and encourage grass to grow better.  A strong growth of grass will crowd out moss as it sprouts from its spores.

Step 4: Prevention

Performing routine checks and cleanings is the best practice for ensuring that your court stays in good shape, rather than doing damage control when moss has overtaken it. Professional pressure washings are recommended as a general rule for courts yearly as well as before any painting/repainting jobs.

After cleaning there are also a number of moss prevention products on the market that can be applied regularly that will inhibit the moss from even taking root. It is recommended to do so because simply pressure washing the surface does not mean that the moss will die or not grow back.

It is essential to ensure that the court is well kept. However if you don’t have the time to do it yourself there are always professionals that you can contact to do the work for you.

Need Tennis Court Repair?

Are you in need of a tennis court repair contractor in South Carolina or Georgia? Give Talbot Tennis a call.

More information: How Does Court Surface Affects Your Tennis Game

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