In a moist, shady spot in your garden, a lush carpet of emerald green moss can suggest a fairytale landscape. You don’t plant it; it simply arrives – like magic – settles in and transforms a hardscape with the softness of a billowy cushion. Moss also brings a sense of age and permanence to even the newest landscape. When it blankets a stone, it makes it look as though it’s been sitting there for centuries. When it embraces a ceramic pot, it gives it the appearance of a long-lost relic. Moss is just bewitchingly beautiful.
Mosses are ancient plants with no roots, flowers or seeds. Instead, they absorb water through their leaves and lightly anchor themselves to the pores or cracks of surfaces with tiny, hair-like structures called rhizoids. Moss doesn’t have roots, so stone, concrete, brick, terracotta, timber, and even tree trunks can turn green when colour in the garden is greatly diminished. It needs very little care but gives back so much!
Types of moss
01
Sheet moss (Hypnum spp.)
This is a soft, feathery and fast-growing moss that forms dense, bright green to yellowish-green mats. It thrives in high humidity and shade and can be used as a groundcover or on walls.
02
Cushion moss (Leucobryum glaucum)
Growing in dense, compact, pillow-like cushions, this can look silvery when dry and vibrant green when wet. It creates a hilly landscape that thrives on rotting wood. It prefers partial shade but is sensitive to over watering.
03
Fern moss (Thuidium delicatulum)
The delicate, fern-like fronds mimic a natural forest floor. This creeper loves high humidity and low light, and will spread over rockeries, soil or timber.
How to care for moss
You can buy live moss online from specialised nurseries such as Koda Moss, Lulu & Angel, or Flower & Twig. Or you can send out an invitation by making the area ideal where you want a bit of moss to lob in, so it appears like magic.
Aspect
An area that gets shade or dappled shade.
Preparation
Clear away leaves, weeds and debris. Moss prefers a firm, compacted base. If you’re working with soil, gently tamp it down.
Surface
Moss thrives in slightly acidic conditions – a pH of around 5.5 – so sprinkle the surface with a little sulphur that you can buy from your local nursery. To determine your pH, buy a pH tester.
Transplanting
If you’re using moss that’s growing naturally on your paving – you don’t want it there because it’s a slip hazard – use a fish slice to lift it. Moisten the surface you want it to grow on and press firmly onto the new surface, ensuring there are no air pockets between the moss and the new surface. Mist with water. If you’re using bought moss, soak for about 30 minutes before transplanting.
Where not to plant
Moss doesn’t cope with regular foot traffic, so if planting around a clothesline or other high-traffic areas, put in stepping stones.
Water
For the first four to six weeks, mist daily. Moss doesn’t like to dry out while establishing.
Feeding
Not needed.
On-going care
Established moss only needs to be watered during periods of drought.
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