Gardeners urged to pour washing up liquid on lawns

A lush green lawn is without doubt one of the best features of any British garden - but when moss sets in, that thick green grass can be quickly overrun and ruined. While some people don't mind the look of moss, for others it can be an irksome problem at it slowly creeps between the blades of grass and turns your lawn into a patchy, uneven surface.

But now garden experts have shared a way to get rid of it - simply by using washing up liquid. There are many who argue that moss is actually beneficial to the environment because it traps carbon dioxide, provides a habitat for insects and creates shade for the soil. But at the same time, there are others who detest the look of the squidgy green carpeting in their lawn and want to get rid of it.

Any garden centre is packed with expensive sprays, bottles and chemicals that promise to 'banish moss' or 'kill moss fast' but the problem with these - aside from the expense - is that they can kill beneficial things in your garden, like insects, worms and bees, with their potent chemical mix.

That's why garden experts have come up with a much better way to kill moss without chemicals - a standard issue bottle of Fairy Liquid (other brands are available).

According to JoesLawnCare.co.uk, dish soap can be turned into 'an awesome moss killer'.

It says: "You can eradicate your moss problem with a two-ingredient cocktail of water and dish soap.

"Mixing 60ml of dish soap into 4-and-a-half litres of water and then filling up a hand sprayer is one of the most incredible moss killing recipes you could ever come across. Simply take your mixture outside and spray on any patches of moss you come across, holding your bottle just a couple of inches away as you drench the moss with your epic creation.

"'How will I know it has worked?' I hear you ask. Well, over the next day or so, you'll see your moss invasion turn from a lush green colour to an orangey-brown before it totally dries up and succumbs to the surrounding grass. It's epic.

"Now, ideally, you'll want to have checked the weather first and time your homemade moss spraying session with a rain-free period of 24 hours or more, otherwise your solution will be washed away and rendered useless. But as long as you do that, there's no reason this won't work. Then, once your moss has turned that weird orangey-brown colour and died, simply grab your rake and remove it from your lawn."