How Can You Garden With Moss?
Moss is one of our planet’s oldest plant species, with a fossil record dating more than 300 million years ago. Japanese gardeners were among the first to incorporate moss into their designs. Today, Japanese gardens still provide some of the most stunning examples of moss use, with horticulturalists recognizing and respecting the unique environmental considerations required for diverse moss species to thrive.
If you want to elevate your lawn or garden to new heights, a vibrant, emerald-green carpet of moss might be the perfect addition. Read on for our top three reasons to garden with moss, plus bonus tips on cultivating it.
1. It Creates a Soothing Retreat
According to color psychology, green is a naturally soothing shade. Greenery is a crucial component of ecotherapy, a practice that’s gaining momentum among mental health proponents looking for medication-free ways to heal and strengthen the mind-body connection. Traditional Japanese gardens lend themselves to quiet reflection and meditation. You can turn your yard into a refreshing sanctuary by growing moss in your garden.
2. It Provides Low-Maintenance Ground Cover
To give any yard a fairytale garden feel, allow a velvety blanket of lawn moss to spread across the ground – and anything else nearby! Because moss does not have a root structure, it doesn’t require nutrients from the soil. In the right conditions, it will happily grow in places grass can’t, such as on trees and stones and in any bare patches on your lawn. This small, hardy plant also does not need mowing or pruning. Once it’s established itself, it stays thick, dense, and short.
3. It Is Eco-Friendly
These days, many of us are looking to shrink our carbon footprint by recycling, driving hybrid vehicles, or eating less meat. Moss provides an easy way to quite literally go green! Moss obtains its nutrients from the air, which means it works to purify its surrounding environment of pollutants.
Our Favorite Tips for Using Moss in Your Garden
If you’re ready to beautify your landscape with moss, here’s some advice to get you started.
- Thoroughly remove all weeds and debris from a small patch of ground, ideally one with some texture. Moss is so low-growing that it can be less noticeable when planted in a flat area.
- Pair your moss patch with other small, delicate plants for contrast. For instance, ferns and foam flowers can make excellent growing companions.
- You can also add character to your landscaping with elements such as paving stones or a water feature.
- Keep growing moss free of litter such as twigs and fallen leaves.
- Moss prefers damp conditions. To ensure your moss remains healthy and green, water it daily. If moss gets too dry, it will stop growing and wait for the water supply to return.
- Consider your environment if you want to know if a moss garden is possible in your area. Humidity, soil conditions, and the average ratio of shade to sunlight can all affect whether specific moss varieties will do well in your yard. For best results, choose a species native to your area or search for one that does well in your gardening zone.
Where to Buy Moss for Your Garden
Whether you are interested in growing moss for ornamental purposes, to blend in with your landscaping, or to put in an aquarium or terrarium, we sell various moss species ideal for your growing zone. To purchase mail-order moss and other specimen-quality plants and trees delivered to your home, call Tn Nursery, the cheapest moss supplier, online at 931-692-7325 or shop online to find the perfect plants for your region.
