Shade Garden Moss

Mosses Are Shade Loving Evergreen Plants That makes the perfect ground cover plant

Mosses are non-vascular (without roots) plants that absorb moisture through humidity and precipitation. All 11,000+ species of moss receive nutrients from the water, air, and natural debris absorbed by moss greenery. Mosses reproduce by spreading spores instead of seeds. Although fungi reproduce by spreading spores, mosses are not classified as fungi. Mosses are simple plants with tiny green leaves colored by chlorophyll. Fungi do not have leaves or chlorophyll.

Without a root system to anchor them in soil, mosses rely on rhizoids (thin, short filaments) to keep them attached to the ground. Non-vascular plants like mosses never grow more than a few inches high due to lacking roots for internal transportation of water.

Mosses Grow in Sun or Shade

Some garden moss species need more sunlight than others for producing chlorophyll and photosynthesizing nutrients. Like other plants, mosses utilize their tiny leaves to absorb sunlight. Mosses also require sufficient water for photosynthesizing ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

An example of a moss species that thrive in consistent shade or minimal sunlight is the tree moss. Hardy and capable of withstanding overwatering, tree moss also adapts well to loamy, rocky, or sandy soil. Landscapers place rocks covered with tree moss in areas where plants would be difficult to grow due to lack of sunlight.

Juniper moss is a hardy, fast-growing moss that thrives in shade or partial sun. With spiky foliage adopting a rosetta-like pattern, Juniper moss makes a decorative addition to gardens, landscapes and walkway edging.

Horizontal and Vertical Garden Mosses

Most species are further divided into horizontally-growing mosses or vertically-growing mosses. Pleurocarpous mosses grow horizontally and are best suited for cultivation on trees, trellises, and vertical landscaping elements. Acrocarpous mosses grow on vertical surfaces, such as stones and ground. Pleurocarpous mosses tend to grow thicker than acrocarpous mosses. However, what horizontally-growing mosses lack in volume they make up in length.

Mosses vs. Lichens: What the Difference?

Mosses and lichens belong to two different plant Kingdoms--mosses to Kingdom Plantae and lichens to multiple fungal Kingdoms. Lichens are not green like mosses but pale white or gray in color. Some lichens produce small "fruit"; mosses do not produce fruit. Lichens emerge from a symbiotic relationship between algae and fungus during wet, cool conditions. Lichens are not used as decorative components in gardens or landscaping because of their unattractive color and form.

How to Grow Garden Moss on Soil

The best way to start growing garden moss on a patch of soil is to dig up a chunk of moss and transplant it to the desired area. Use a leaf rake to loosen soil, then dampen soil with water and lay the moss sod on top. Press the moss into the soil with several rocks. This ensures the moss remains in contact with the soil. Keep the moss moist as rhizomes take hold of the soil over the next several weeks. To find out if transplanted moss has anchored itself to the ground, simply tug on the moss leaves gently. If the moss sod doesn't move, then it's likely the moss has anchored itself into the soil.

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