Precautions With Ferrous Sulfate & Iron for Moss
Moss can be a problem when it starts to grow in a lawn. It begins to cover the ground and crowd out the grass, and will eventually take over the entire area if not controlled. There are various products available that can help to kill moss that is growing in grass. One of these is ferrous sulfate. The word ferrous means that it contains or is made of iron, and ferrous sulfate is an iron-based compound that kills moss but won’t harm grass. It is relatively safe when used properly, but there are some precautions to consider when using it. Does this Spark an idea?
-
General
-
Ferrous sulfate is a corrosive product that can injure people and animals if it gets on the skin or in the eyes. When applying this product all animals should be removed from the area. Children should also be prevented from being in or around a treatment area. Anyone working with this compound should wear both gloves and eye protection. If it touches skin or eyes it should be rinsed off completely. If accidentally swallowed, seek medical help immediately.
Runoff
-
It is important to consider any impact to waterways when applying products containing ferrous sulfate. Such products are toxic to fish and should not be applied in areas adjacent to open water, such as creeks, canals, lakes and ponds. It is also best not to apply these chemicals when wind or rain might carry residue into open water. Manufacturers warn that containers should not be rinsed out, as the rinse water will carry excess chemicals into the water system and is a potential source of water pollution.
-
Application
-
Ferrous sulfate should only be applied to lawns. It may damage other plants if it gets on them so it is best applied when there is little or no wind. A test application with the ferrous sulfate mixed to a strength of 1 percent is suggested, since lower concentrations of chemicals have less side effects than do higher concentrations. The ferrous sulfate mixture must be kept off of hard surfaces, such as concrete, since it may cause brown rust stains that are difficult to remove.
Animals
-
Pets should be removed from areas that are being treated with ferrous sulfate. They should be kept off of treated lawns for a week. Not only does this minimize the pet’s exposure to the chemicals, but it also prevents pets from tracking the moss killer onto walkways and other hard surfaces, which will cause stains. Treated pastures should have livestock removed for a period of four weeks, to keep the animals from ingesting the ferrous sulfate, which could cause health problems.
-
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
