| Friday Five: How to Grow Moss |
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| Written by Heleigh Bostwick Friday, 17 August 2012 | |||
 Last week we discussed moss gardens in general, today here’s a look at how to grow it. 1. Choose your moss. Some mosses such as the flat, low growing fern moss are better suited to growing between the flagstones, while others like Haircap Moss and Cushion Moss grow in clumps and are better suited for rock gardens and boulders. 2. Prepare the soil. It's important to test the pH of the soil, which should be between 5.0 and 6.0 ideally. If necessary a liquid sulfur solution can be added to the soil to lower the pH. 3. Buying or digging up moss. Moss can be purchased by the square foot for larger areas or by the cubic foot for smaller areas. If you have moss growing on your property (or a friend’s) it’s possible to dig it up with a flat shovel making sure there’s at least an inch of soil under the moss mat and transplant it. Use a putty knife to remove moss from rocks. 4. Transplanting moss. Lay the sheet of moss down on bare soil just like you would sod, and tamp it firmly. Water well for the first 2 to 3 weeks, the amount of time it takes to establish itself. 5. Recipe for growing moss. Crumble a clump of moss and place into a blender. Add 2 cups of buttermilk and 2 cups of water. Beat at low speed until your moss milkshake is completely mixed. Pour over the soil and moss should eventually become established there. |
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