For a long time, people have been doing whatever they can to get rid of the moss growing in their yards. If you are trying to get rid of it in your garden without success, maybe it is time to think about constructing a moss garden instead.
In the right area, it can be an excellent landscaping idea. There are many types of it, including cushion, carpet, fern, hair cap, and mood. No matter what type you choose, there are certain tips to help you get the perfect garden.
Choose Your Preferred Moss Plants
They can be either acrocarps or pleurocarps. The pleurocarps grow fast and resemble creeping vines. The fern type and carpet type fall into this category. On the other hand, acrocarps types grow in an upright manner, spread slowly, and have a tight formation that prevents the weed from sprouting.
In this category are cushion type, hair cap type, and mood type. The cushion type is very beautiful, especially because it can be grayish-green or white.
Choose a Spot for Your Moss Garden
By checking the surroundings, you will know if it is possible to have this type of garden in your area. It can grow almost anywhere. Some of the factors determining the type of it are bedrock, soil, and humidity.
It will normally grow in damp places, but others grow in a humid climate. This is why forests and mountainous areas have it in plenty. It requires a little bit of light to grow.
Too much sunlight is not good for its growth, and areas that are too dark are not suitable for growth. If you have a partially shady area, like under a tree, this is a perfect place to grow it.
The soil should be slightly acidic. Under these conditions, it will endure dry conditions better than grass, for instance. During droughts, it stops growing but will continue to grow when water comes.
Make the Ground Ready
You can either use chemical or mechanical methods to get rid of the weed, and unwanted grass in the area set aside as a garden. Once you clear the ground, smooth it out to get rid of any sunken area where water may collect.
Next, compact the area to prevent settling once you introduce it. Finally, add logs, paving stones, and rocks all around the moss garden.
Press the Moss Into the Ground
The next step is to water your garden heavily. You can use a sprinkler to water your garden. Using a firm hand, place them section-by-section onto the surface. Then, press down it onto the rocky area or into the soil to get it firmly situated while preventing it from moving.
Maintaining and Caring for Your Moss Garden
You should not grow pleurocarp and acrocarp together because the former group requires more water to grow than the latter one. Acrocarps such as the cushion type should be watered once a day during the first few months to prevent rotting and allow for drying.
Pleurocarps like sheet type and carpet type can be watered several times every day without tapering. You will occasionally find weeds in your garden. Make sure to remove it because the weed has deep roots that it cannot compete with.
Reaching the weed will not be a problem because you can easily walk on it without causing damage. However, most cannot handle sliding, jumping, or running. Do not forget to get rid of all fallen leaves. For it to keep growing well, make sure to maintain the right conditions of moisture, shade, and soil that is low in pH.
It can be an ideal complement to your home's landscape. What's more, compared to a grass lawn, this type lawn requires less maintenance. Compacted soil does not affect it.
It is also resilient to cold and drought. To maintain a pleasant garden, all you have to do is ensure that there are no leaves on it and that weed does not invade.
