An abundance of vibrant green moss might resemble a scene out of a fairy tale. Learn how to plant and cultivate moss in your own yard to get this effect. Furthermore, since moss is often more low-maintenance and environmentally benign than turf grass and many other attractive plants, it provides useful answers to common gardening problems. This tutorial offers step-by-step planting instructions, basic maintenance advice, and an explanation of the advantages of cultivating moss, as well as the best kinds to cultivate.
Motives for Adding Moss to Your Garden
Some gardeners believe that moss is an annoyance that should be removed from their yards. You may be surprised by all the ways moss can improve your garden, however, if you give it a try. Moss requires less upkeep than turf grass and many other garden plants since it doesn’t need fertilizer or mowing. Moss is an excellent plant for rainy landscapes because of its high water tolerance; nevertheless, well-established moss plants can withstand droughts and need less water than grass lawns.
Many types of moss grow well in shade and in compacted, acidic soils that are rich in clay, unlike turf grass. There are more than 14,000 types of moss in the globe, so gardeners may choose moss variations that thrive in sunny, dry conditions. In addition, moss plants may be utilized to suppress weeds, manage erosion, and absorb rainwater runoff in addition to providing a home for insects and other creatures. Insect pests and deer do not really like eating it either.
In addition to being quite practical, moss has a captivating beauty. For those who want to design a garden in the Japanese style, moss is an essential plant that comes in a variety of textures, hues, and heights. It may also fill in steep landscapes that are difficult to mow, enliven water features, and give color to rock walls.
Obtaining Moss
You must get some moss before you can begin a moss garden. You may utilize the moss that is now growing in your yard to “seed” other parts of your land. But you may also hunt for moss in the surrounding terrain or buy moss in sheets or plugs from plant nurseries.
Moss Types
Gardens may be planted with a wide variety of moss species; however, to choose the kind that will thrive on your land, you’ll need to do some study. These are a few common moss kinds (seen above, clockwise from top left):
Moss Sheets
The laid-back moss type known as sheet moss (Hypnum spp.) is very simple to transplant and looks great when grown as a groundcover or along garden walks.
Support Moss
Leucobryum glaucum, an attractive cushion moss, grows in lovely clumps or mounds that will stand out in any garden.
Moss Rock Cap
For deep shade, rock cap moss (Dicranum spp.) is a suitable option. It enthusiastically scrambles over stones and rock walls and may be used as a groundcover.
Moss Hair Cap
As long as it receives adequate water, hair cap moss (Polytrichum commune), in contrast to many other moss types, can withstand full sun conditions. One of the greatest mosses to cultivate for reducing erosion is hair cap moss.
Growing a Moss Garden: A Guide
If you want the moss in your yard to spread, break off some clumps of the moss and plant them about your garden, or use a leaf rake to rake over the current area. However, if you’re starting from scratch when creating a moss garden, use the easy planting instructions below to sow moss sheets, clumps, or plugs in the spring or autumn.
Step 1: Get the planting area ready. Eliminate any existing grass, plants, and weeds. Remove any remaining plant debris by raking the area.
Step 2: Test the soil. It’s a good idea to test your soil if you want to plant a lot of moss to make sure the conditions are right for moss development. Mosses usually grow best in conditions with a pH of around 5.5, which is acidic, in contrast to many other decorative plants. Use elemental sulfur or another organic soil acidifier to adjust the pH of your soil if it is excessively alkaline. While it may seem important to add compost to your garden before planting moss, as moss thrives in poor soil, this is often not the case.
Step 3: Compact the ground. Go ahead and stroll the whole area where you want to plant your moss garden since mosses not only need acidic soil but also compacted ground. To further compact the dirt if you have a large area to cover, you may wish to use a garden roller or tamper.
Rake the area in step four. Once the soil has been prepared, use a rake or three-pronged digger to gently scrape the soil’s surface to encourage moss to “root.”
Step5: Spread the moss out. Spread your moss across the desired growth area after lightly moistening the soil. When working with moss sheets, spread the sheets out on the ground. But, if you need to cover a large area, you may scatter smaller moss plugs or clusters over your landscape and let the moss fill in naturally.
Once the moss has been laid down, cover your plants with your foot to push them into the ground, and use landscaping staples to anchor any larger pieces if necessary.
Step 6: Include water. Water the moss well after planting to ensure that the soil is damp but not soggy. For the following four to six weeks, give the moss plants regular watering.