Moss patches on lawn

[TLL]

We've had quite a wet couple of months, resulting in quite a few patches (large and small) of moss throughout our lawn. What's the best way to rid our lawn of it, and encourage the grass to grow again in those patches? I seem to recall hearing something about lime? Is lime safe if you have animals and kids?

Thanks!
TLL

[The Helpful Gardener]

Sure lime is safe, but why are we killing moss? Look at your lawn right now. Now look at the moss. Which really looks better? If the moss gets brown in summer, I know five minutes with the hose will have it back to good in no time. I don't have to mow my moss. Doesn't need polluting fertilizers, or anything other than a good vacuum once and a while. My favorite garden in the world is the Kokedera...

[url]https://academic.bowdoin.edu/zen/intro_template.shtml?saiho[/url]


Immaculate grass is a desert really; a biological wasteland that only supports one or two species and requires way too much time expenditure. Moss is nature's first step in regaining her feet whaen she gets knocked on her butt, Think about leaving it...

Please?

Scott

[opabinia51]

How to get rid of moss? Easy, use a rake and rake it up, put it into the compost pile, repeat a few times and it is gone.

I think that Val had a cool concoction of Tabasco and something else somewhere? Perhaps that was my brother and I when we were younger. Anyway, that works as well.

Incidentally, when raking it up, you want to get EVERYTHING because moss reproduces via structures called gemmules that basically exude small cellular structures that grow into whole new plants.

[The Helpful Gardener]

See how cool moss is

HG

[opabinia51]

Moss is cool Scott! There is this spot below one of the local watertowers that I have been hiking in since I was a small boy, swamp/pond included. Some of the trees have moss that is over a foot thick! Beautiful.

Anyway, my idea for a lawn (and I've yet to try it) is to plant Rye, buckwheat and a few other grasses along with a bit of vetch and some crimson clover. I think that mowed, it would look really nice and it would provide the soil with lots of good stuff.

Though, buckwheat isn't really a grass but, you get the point.

[The Helpful Gardener]

I have been contemplating redoing the lawn with buffalo grass; not native here but it should still be hardy. Mow once or twice a year and don't sweat the fertilizer...short grass prairie rules!

Scott

[opabinia51]

I'm with you, I'm with you.

Did you know that in Canada, 90% of Canada's wild grasslands are located in British Columbia and that 10% of British Columbia consists of wild grasslands? (I got that bit of trivia from a Seminar several years ago)

That means that most of the prairies is farmland. Wow! I guess an entire ecosystem has developed around agriculture now. Basically, the small things that each individual does can have a profound effect on the environment.

Good on you Scott.

[TLL]

Thanks everyone. Scott, I was anticipating your response to my question (tee hee) after seeing a couple of your posts on moss I actually do like moss, but I guess my only worry (and this may be unfounded - feel free to set me straight) is that it will spread so much and have an negative effect on other things in the garden. But it sounds pretty easy to keep in check. My paranoia stems from our last property which was INFESTED with morning glory that choked everything it got its arms around. In our west coast climate there is a kind of morning glory that is a major pest which gathers strength and numbers with each passing year. Tired of putting up the annual fight, we have moved (tee hee), so no more morning glory... just soft green moss.

TLL

[TLL]

by the way ... the Kokedera garden is breathtaking - thx Scott!

[The Helpful Gardener]

Moss actually doesn't compete with plants for the same nutrients while grass is a voracious feeder. Point:moss. Even growing on another plant it does no damage. Grass regularlly chokes out and kills other plants, point, moss. Even if it totally dries out, just a little water and it's green again. Grass.....point, moss. Green in winter, point moss. Never needs mowing, point moss. No fertilizers that pollute our lakes and streams, point moss...

Soft, green moss...

I guess I'm wondering... why do we plant grass?





Moss...the REALLY green lawn

HG

[TLL]

you make some VERY convicing points Scott!

TLL

[opabinia51]

TLL, I'm glad that you are receptive to knew (actually old) ideas TLL. Good for you!

[Grey]

I guess I'm wondering... why do we plant grass?





Moss...the REALLY green lawn

HG

Now if you could JUST convince my hubby we don't need a lawn of fescue and centipede....

[Michigan2Iowa]

Question,

How well can moss take foot traffic? Can the kids romp and play in a yard of moss without harming it or tearing it up?

-Paul-

[The Helpful Gardener]

Depends some on species, but generally no, point turfgrass...

HG

[opabinia51]

Clover is incredilby resistant to foot traffic, as is Rye and Clover is a legume so, it harbours N-fixing bacteria in root nodules. But, generally mosses that you would find growing naturally growing in your lawn, are somewhat resistant to foot traffic.

The species of moss in the link that Scott provided are pretty much not resistant to foot traffic.

[Michigan2Iowa]

Depends some on species, but generally no, point turfgrass...

HG

Sorry Scott, just playing a little devil's advocate...

-P-

[The Helpful Gardener]

S'all good Paul; it's a good point...

Scott

[brendan]

Hi, I've heard that you can actually grow moss by blending your favorite moss and buttermilk, and then spreading it. is this true? I'd like to do moss walks in my garden I'm planting this spring and I was going to use this technique.

[opabinia51]

Yep, I've heard that the above described technique works, though I have never tried it myself.

[The Helpful Gardener]

Sure, it's a great way to do it (my friend Dave Mizejewski was doing just that on his TV show Backyard Habitat today; it's the chickadees/ frog/toads show)

HG