Western Mail

ASK DIARMUID

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QWhere

can Vermiculit­e be used in the garden? I’ve heard it can be used to keep moss down in the grass. AVermiculi­te

is a fine mineral that can absorb and retain water and so is sometimes added to soil to improve aeration and moisture retention.

It is usually used to improve composts for pots and seedlings. If you are sowing fine seeds in pots, a light sprinkling of this on top, instead of compost, is good for germinatio­n as it allows the light through.

I wouldn’t use it to treat moss in lawns – you are better off tackling the underlying causes instead.

If you have a lawn in a damp shady area, the applicatio­n of vermiculit­e will simply be a waste of your resources.

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