Moss Gardens

Tired of fighting moss in your lawn and garden? It may be time to embrace it and grow a moss garden.

The easiest way to get started is to allow existing moss to spread and cover a larger area. Simply keep it free from debris and keep other plants out of its way.

Or you could speed up the process by digging, dividing and moving moss in from other areas of the landscape with similar growing conditions. Simply press the moss pieces into the soil in their new location. Then water thoroughly to remove air pockets.

One more way to propagate your moss is the blender method. Blend your moss with water or beer, and a thickener like yogurt, soil, or water retaining crystals and pour it onto the soil where you want it to grow.

Or try a small scale moss garden in a container. Fill with soil, press the moss in place and add a few stones for interest.

A bit more information: If I haven’t convinced you, here are some tips for eliminating moss. Scrape the moss off the soil and correct the growing conditions that are more conducive to moss than the plants you are trying to grow. Moss thrives in shade and poorly drained often acidic soil. Increase the light when possible or grow shade tolerant plants. And improve soil drainage by working organic matter into the top 6 to 12 inches of soil.