What are Moss Landscaping Benefits?
When they think of landscaping, most people think about grass, terraces, flowers, trees, and shrubs. Too often forget the unique advantages of one of the hidden gems of the gardening world: moss.
Moss is versatile, inexpensive, easy to grow, and surprisingly attractive, offering a wealth of environmental advantages. Moss thrives in shade but can withstand soemfiltered sunlight.
Here are some reasons to give fresh consideration to this flexible green cushion.
Is Moss Is Easy To Grow?
Moss is easy to grow and often grows where grass won't. Like the fern, moss is perfectly happy in heavy shade and on the north side of your house. While it prefers shade, moss won't die if exposed to sunlight.
Moss is low-maintenance. The only thing it will ask you about is that you keep it clear of debris. It doesn't need mowing, trimming, fertilizer or pesticides. While moss likes it wet, you don't have to water it once it's established. It can go a long time in dry conditions. Thirsty moss will go dormant, and its green color will fade but not disappear. When the rains come, it will perk up within hours.
Moss tolerates a wide variety of pH levels. Moss doesn't have to be rooted on flat ground. You can use it on walls, rocks, and roofs. Instead, it holds itself in place with thin, root-like projections called rhizoids.
Is Moss Attractive?
Moss is versitile and stay lush and green year round. It's a beautiful and attractive garden staple in shade and moisture.
If you've never paid attention to moss, you may not have noticed how wide varieties there are. Garden centers in the US carry over 34 species! The most appealing types include carpet moss, cushion moss, sheet moss, hair cap moss, and tree apron moss.
Lush, green moss is bright and vibrant. You can use it to cover large swaths primarily by itself, with perhaps a fern added here and there. Moss can create accents in a flower garden. Moss can cover small garden structures for a topiary effect.
The moss green is a color associated with peace, serenity, and hope. The addition of moss has a settling effect in a lively garden, a stillness amid the energy of the flowering plants. Nothing, either natural or artificial, looks quite like it.
Even when moss goes dormant, it retains some color, and the texture adds interest and character to any outdoor space. It's instrumental in maintaining some of a garden's beauty over the winter months.
Moss Is an Environmental Hero
A mossy garden doesn't require fertilizer or weed killer. Moss keeps weeds at bay. You don't have to burn gas to run a lawnmower over it.
Moss is good for the soil. Its rhizoids hold soil particles together. In a damp or rainy garden, it absorbs up to ten times its weight in water and prevents erosion.
Moss not only absorbs water; it absorbs toxins as well. It makes it a favorite for reclaiming compromised wetlands. Sheet, cushion, and other mosses will thrive in areas too polluted for other plants.
You probably don't have a toxic waste site in your backyard, but many homeowners have low spots that retain standing water. These can breed bacteria and mosquitoes and can also diminish the quality of the air around them. Sometimes they smell bad. Moss will suck up the excess water in a low-lying area and make it look better. Wet moss grows fast and can accomplish its cleansing in a reasonably short time frame.
Beauty, versatility, ease of maintenance, environmental friendliness: what's not to like about moss? Don't overlook this hardworking green beauty when planning your next landscaping upgrade.
