Moss in the Organic Garden
Get Rid of Moss or Grow Moss Without Chemicals
Moss can be a wanted or unwanted presence in the organic garden. Learn the needs of this prehistoric fuzzy plant, and decorate your garden with moss or eliminate it.
Although there is some confusion and debate regarding the taxonomy of mosses, there are well over 10,000 species of mosses recognized by bryologists. Many gardeners think of the dangling gray tendrils of Spanish moss when discussing moss, but botanists classify Spanish moss in a separate category of plants.
Undesirable Moss
- Create Unfavorable Growing Conditions
Moss abhors alkaline soil and dry conditions. Make your yard and garden unattractive to moss by adding lime or ashes to sweeten the soil. You can add lime in the form of ground limestone rock or dolomitic lime, which also adds magnesium to the soil. Wear gloves and eye protection when working with lime, as it can burn eyes and skin.
Increase the drainage of your soil to reduce the moist conditions that moss favors. Avoid walking on your lawn or soil when it’s wet to prevent compaction. Work ample amounts of compost into the garden to improve drainage. Consider replacing weak turf with groundcover if moss is winning the battle in your lawn.
- Physical Removal
In the right conditions, moss can grow on all kinds of inanimate objects, including patio furniture, garden ornaments, and roofs. What adds character to one garden is a sign of decay in another. Scrub moss with a stiff brush, and rent or borrow a power sprayer to remove the remnants.
- Organic Moss Elimination Spray
Safer Brand makes a moss elimination spray as an alternative to the conventional copper sulfate products. The active ingredient comes from biodegradable fatty acids. You can use Safer Brand Moss and Algae Killer on lawns, trees, and garden structures.
Desirable Moss
- Create Favorable Growing Conditions
If your lawn features patchy moss growth, work with nature and cultivate a moss path or moss lawn. Add sulfur to the soil to create a pH of 5.5, which is ideal for moss growth. This level of acidity will also kill your grass, making way for the moss. Enhance your mossy glen by planting azaleas, foxgloves, or gardenias, which also like shady, damp, acidic conditions.
- Grow Moss on Rocks and Planters
Moss can give a terra cotta planter you purchased at a big box store last week a timeless patina. Encourage moss growth on planters or a rock wall by painting the surface with a moss cocktail. Fill your blender with a combination of ½ moss and ½ buttermilk, and pulse until the mixture is lumpy but not pulverized. Spread the mixture over desired surface and mist daily until new growth appears.
