barnhardt9999
Full Member
Posts: 50
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:23 pm
Location: Charlotte, NC

Moss Lawn

My in-laws have a cabin on the western slope of Roan Mountain. Most of the shaded lawn is a mix a mix of grass, wild strawberries and wild ginger. There is one area, about 10' by 10' that is a thick carpet of extremely soft moss. Is there any way to help this area expand? I would love it if the lawn was eventually all moss.

bullthistle
Greener Thumb
Posts: 1152
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2008 10:26 am
Location: North Carolina

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Gardening with Moss
Al Benner demonstrates how to properly plant moss for a beautiful garden.
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Gardening with Moss
Al Benner demonstrates how to properly plant moss for a beautiful garden.

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Garden types ideas
The Martha Stewart Show, April 2010

Shade and moisture are key requirements for a moss garden. Shade-loving mosses can tolerate partial sun, but not prolonged afternoon sun. They are drought-tolerant once established, but require watering, misting, or sprinkling for the first two to four months.

Moss has no true roots and obtains all of its nutrients from the air, so it requires nothing more than shade and adequate moisture to flourish. All moss plants need is a firm soil bed in a location with enough shade. Many mosses also seem to prefer poorer quality, compacted soils. A mixture of compost manure, sand, and topsoil raked into the soil can be helpful.

Prepare the planting site by removing all leaves, weeds, and debris. Then, scratch up the soil to loosen it slightly. Rake in water-absorbent gel powders, and moisten the soil.

Relocating entire sheets or clumps of moss to a new spot has a high success rate, provided that the new home for the moss is shady and kept moist for the first few weeks following transplanting. Mist or sprinkle the moss thoroughly for three to four weeks, at which point the moss should bond to the soil. Be sure to remove any leaves or debris as they fall on the moss so that your new plants can breathe.



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