Tips for Creating a Moss Garden

By following a few key steps, it’s easy to take advantage of the beauty and simplicity of this intriguing group of plants

Most hoi polloi have thatshady patchin their G where turf struggles butmossis abundant . merchandise and techniques are promoted for the purpose of eliminate this primitive member of the industrial plant realm . However , before you eradicate moss , consider its potential in the moreshaded landscape . educate a keen eye for where this group of plants thrives and how much it contributes to coloring and interest in our garden space .

find out more : Stephanie ’s Moss Garden

Mosses provide great pockets of green and ask only for moisture in return

Mosses evolved over 390 million year ago , and now there are more than 15,000 species worldwide . They have been used for G of years in Japanese garden for the effect of impart serenity and timeless beauty . Public moss garden exist throughout the United States , although some of the good can be find in thePacific Northwest . These tiny plants do n’t produce flowers and do n’t have existent roots that draw up any nutrients or water system . rather , they have minute canal that capable when wash . They become dormant from lack of moisture and then become alive again when moisten . Mosses have chlorophyl and do photosynthesize regardless of the temperature ( hence their green coloring material even in wintertime ) . moss convey no diseases , and despite popular belief , they are not parasites on other plants .

Consider natural habitats and timing when creating a moss garden

base moss is the most authoritative and challenging measure in the process of gardening with mosses . Observe moss where they are presently growing on your property or in natural orbit to get an idea of their preferred habitats . As they have no on-key roots , mosses will mature on logs , rocks , and even onconcreteor cadaver planter , tie themselves with structure called rhizoid .

Sourcing moss for a moss garden

mention : Mosses should never be collected from places such as public areas , rude areas , or Department of State forests , as it is illegal to do so . Mosses are an significant part of those ecosystem . Learn more .

When hoard from acceptable areas , never take more than a small 3 - inch by 3 - in piece from each square foot of moss . gently loosen these patches , skim just beneath the rhizoid , and keep the patch damp through the entire process .

How to establish a moss garden

1 . Give moss clear soil surface for successful transplanting . Transplanting patches of moss is the most popular method of constitution .

2 . Pick the right time to start your moss garden . The ideal moss planting times in theMidwestare from late March until mid - June and from September to November . The summer month are typically too hot and ironical to successfully establish moss , although sufficient wet is the chief consideration .

3 . Prepare the region where the moss will go . Before planting moss “ patches ” in the garden , create a clear , bare control surface gratis of leaves , weeds , and other debris . The grunge should be tamped down and compacted ( not loosen ) before plant .

4 . Secure the moss with wet and barriers . Gently come up this area with a rake , and spray the planting area until it is damp . drizzle the bottom of gathered moss fragment , and constrict these on the select site gently but firmly enough to remove air pocket under the eyepatch . Use lowly sticks to batten down patches to slopes .

How to care for a moss garden

Moss is middling broken upkeep . By doing the following , these patches will double over in sizing within the year .

1 . Keep moss moist . double daily for three weeks , haze over the newly established moss patches with water from a nebuliser bottle , or use the mister setting on a hosiery . Mist as needed through the growing time of year to keep the moss slightly damp .

2 . Keep debris off of the moss . Keep your moss garden free of fall leaves and debris , and limit any foundation traffic . Moss is not resilient to repeated groundwork traffic or flutter .

3 . Use netting to help oneself the moss establish . view protective netting to keep birds and squirrels from “ exploring ” your raw moss planting . The gauze may also help tardily in the fall to removefallen leavesand debris .

What mosses do n’t accomplish in height and floral display in your landscape painting they make up for in durability and low-toned maintenance once established . No longer the curse of shady turf areasunder trees , mosses are a wonderful component of the home landscape , and their potential is just starting to become realized . The next clip you are in the Ellen Price Wood , bask these members of the plant realm and treasure that what they have been doing for our ecosystems and landscape for one thousand thousand of long time can be easily relish at plate .

check more :

How to Use Moss in the landscape painting

Inspiration from GPOD

constituent of a Nipponese Garden

— Mark Dwyer is the garden manager for the Edgerton Hospital Healing Garden in Edgerton , Wisconsin , and he operates Landscape Prescriptions by MD .

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collected patches of moss

When collecting moss for transplanting, make the collected sections small so you do not negatively impact the area from which you are collecting.Photo: Mark Dwyer

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garden with moss beds