Buzz
If you've ever walked barefoot on the forest floor, you're likely familiar with the soft, damp feeling of moss beneath your feet. Moss is the perfect ground cover for gardens, as it helps retain moisture in the soil and doesn't require mowing like grass. You can even spread moss on fences, house foundations, or rocks to give a mystical, forest-like appearance. Growing moss requires a bit of effort at the start, but once established, it will continue to thrive on its own for many years.
Steps
Planting Moss in Your Garden
Collect moss from your garden or purchase it from nurseries. If moss is already growing in your garden, you can use a garden trowel to carefully lift it from the soil. If you can't find any nearby, head to a nursery and ask about the types of moss they carry.
- You may opt for acrocarpous moss, or varieties with long, hair-like strands.
- You could also choose pleurocarpous moss, which is shorter and spreads out in a dense mat.
- Moss doesn't have roots, so you don't need to worry about disturbing anything beneath the surface of the soil.
Select a damp area in your garden with slow drainage. Moss doesn’t require very specific conditions, but it thrives in wet environments. Choose a spot in your garden where water tends to collect after heavy rainfall, such as at the base of a slope.
- Moss can actually help improve drainage in your garden.
- Since moss lacks roots, it can easily grow on stony surfaces where grass may not be able to survive.
Find a relatively shaded area. Most types of moss don’t grow well under direct sunlight because they need high humidity. Observe your garden and select a spot that isn’t exposed to too much direct sunlight, such as beneath a tree canopy or along the side of a house.
- There are some moss species that thrive in direct sunlight, but these are quite rare.
Test the soil's pH to ensure it falls between 5.0 and 6.0. Use pH testing strips to check the soil. Moss prefers acidic soil with a pH between 5.0 and 6.0, so you may need to adjust the pH based on your test results.
- If you’re planting moss on the soil or a surface, ensure the area is smooth and level. Unlike grass, moss will expose soil patches and small depressions if the ground isn’t flat.
- To raise the pH, you can add lime to the soil.
- To lower the pH, you can add sulfur, aluminum sulfate, iron sulfate, or peat moss.
Press the moss patches into the ground. Clear away leaves and debris from the surface, then smooth the soil as much as possible. Place each patch of moss in the desired area and press down firmly with your hands. Make sure the moss adheres to the ground.
- You can press some patches onto stones or rocks, but remember that most of the moss should be planted directly on the soil.
Water the moss daily for the first three weeks to encourage growth. Use a misting nozzle or a watering can with a fine spray to gently water the moss, as direct watering pressure can damage it. You can also use a light watering system to keep the moss continuously moist.
- If the moss starts to turn dark green or develop patches, it may have been overwatered.
- You can reduce watering after about a month, but the moss should always stay moist.
- You’ll know the moss has adhered to the surface when you gently tug on it and it doesn’t move.
Remove the surrounding weeds to help moss thrive. Weeds, especially grasses, can absorb moisture from the surrounding area, causing the moss to dry out and become brittle. If you notice weeds growing around the moss, pull them up along with their roots. Keep an eye on the moss throughout the season to ensure it has enough space to grow and flourish.
- Moss doesn’t kill the grass or weeds; it simply takes up space where the grass would grow.
- Moss can spread quickly in gardens or lawns, especially if there is a large patch of open soil. If it begins to spread uncontrollably, you can manually remove some patches of moss to prevent it from overtaking the area.
Grow moss on different surfaces
Gather moss from outdoors or purchase it from a nursery. Use a gardening trowel to lift the moss from the ground or other surfaces like walls or fences. Try to find pleurocarpous moss or short moss that grows densely and spreads widely.
- Long-growing moss varieties don't thrive well on non-earth surfaces.
Pour 2 cups (480 ml) of buttermilk into a blender. Buttermilk's acidic and sticky properties make it an ideal base for moss. Add water and buttermilk in equal parts to the blender to mix with the moss.
- If you don’t have buttermilk, you can also use plain yogurt as a substitute.
Place crumbled moss into the blender. Crumble a handful of moss and fill the blender with it. Both dry and wet moss will work. You don’t need to be precise with the amount of moss, but if in doubt, it’s better to use more than less.
Turn on the blender to blend the ingredients into a thick mixture. Blend 4-5 times until the ingredients are evenly mixed. The consistency should be similar to that of a milkshake or smoothie.
- Avoid blending too finely. Over-blending the moss pieces may prevent them from growing back.
Pour the mixture onto surfaces such as tiles, stone, plant pots, or fences. Buttermilk has adhesive properties, which will help the moss adhere to any vertical surfaces. Choose shaded surfaces that are easy to water. Use a cloth or a paintbrush to spread the moss mixture on fences, plant pots, stones, tiles, or even the side walls of your house.
- If you want an eye-catching design, try painting patterns or words with moss.
Water the moss daily for 2-3 weeks to help it stick firmly. Moss needs to stay moist as it begins to grow and attach to the underlying surface. You can use a watering can to gently water the moss for the following weeks until it looks healthy and green. Avoid direct sunlight during the day to keep the moss cool.
- You can also use a spray bottle to mist the moss if it's easier for you.
Tips
- Moss absorbs nutrients from the air rather than the soil, making it easy to maintain without the need for fertilizers or other nutrients.
- When placing moss on surfaces, try laying a piece of wood or another hard object on top and press it down.
Things You Will Need
Growing Moss in Your Garden
- Garden Trowel
- pH Testing Paper
- Rake
Growing Moss on Vertical Surfaces
- Garden Trowel
- Blender
- Water
- Buttermilk
