Moss growth is a major problem on tennis courts. Some locations near forests or rivers greatly encourage moss growth on tennis courts. Unfortunately, since players rarely sweep the entire court to the edges after a match, the perimeter areas aren't loosened sufficiently and become compacted more quickly. Unsightly moss growth is then usually the result.
Prevention is the primary goal.
If the tennis court is infested with moss, this not only has aesthetic effects; the mossy areas can also become very slippery when it rains, thus becoming dangerous for the health of the tennis players.
Since scraping off existing moss is also very tedious, the main focus should be on prevention. While active ingredients like ferrous sulfate can kill moss, the dead moss remains on the surface, forming a smooth, slippery area. Even when using such products, scraping is still necessary.
The steel broom is the tool of choice.
Moss prevention begins early in the season, even before any moss is visible. Once or twice a week, the edges of the tennis court, right up to the playing area, are swept with a steel broom.
If the surfaces become harder, the steel broom can be weighted down with pipes, stones, or weights to achieve a good result. However, this is very laborious, so it is recommended to attach the broom to a lawn tractor or moped.
By skimming off the excess material, the edges don't compact as quickly. The edges often compact faster because water collects around the sprinklers, keeping them very moist. Combined with sunlight, this results in a very hard surface.
Existing moss spores are detached from the surface and cannot grow; with regular application, this process repeats itself and the moss spores never grow properly.
Moss prevention can be supported by sweeping the entire tennis court with a PVC squeegee at least three times a week. This also helps to loosen moss spores.
Regularity is key to successful tennis court maintenance, especially when it comes to moss control.