If you love the look of a lush, green lawn but don’t love the maintenance, a moss lawn might be for you. Moss is an excellent alternative to turfgrass, able to grow in challenging environments and requiring little care once established.
We’ll walk you through how to grow a moss lawn, what type of care it needs, and its pros and cons.
What is a moss lawn?
Moss is a low-growing plant that has no roots, grows in clumps, and can be used as a lawn or groundcover. It’s available on every continent, silently improving ecosystems, helping other plants flourish, and enhancing properties as a striking carpet of green.
Mosses thrive in damp and shady areas and can survive for long periods without water or sunlight. They reproduce through spores rather than seeds and use threadlike structures called rhizoids to attach themselves to rocks, soil, and trees. These qualities make mosses incredibly adaptable to new environments.
Growing a moss lawn may seem challenging at first glance, but it actually doesn’t take much. You just have to follow these steps and provide the right conditions for the plant to grow into a soft, spongy, green carpet you can enjoy for years.
How to grow a moss lawn
Growing moss is different from planting grass seeds or laying down sod. You’ll need to do your research and determine whether your yard is even suitable for moss. Analyze everything from sun exposure to shade levels and soil type.
Don’t be fazed; just like any new endeavor, growing moss will simply require some extra initial effort. Ultimately, a moss lawn can provide impressive natural beauty to your property without much need for maintenance or upkeep, making this type of lawn sustainable and well worth the investment.
Follow these steps to achieve a healthy moss lawn:
1. Choose the right location
The key to growing a moss lawn is ensuring the right conditions for the plant. Mosses thrive on:
- Acidic soil
- Compacted soil
- Shady areas
- Moist conditions
- Wind-free areas
Start with a small corner of your yard and closely monitor how your moss develops. If successful, enlarge the area until you have a full-fledged lawn.
Moss lawns require acidic soil with a pH of between 5.0 and 5.5. If you can, get a soil test to ensure the area where you want to grow your moss lawn meets these conditions. Alkaline soil will need a soil amendment like sulfur to help reduce the pH and allow the moss to grow correctly.
2. Pick your moss type
Not all species of moss are the same. In fact, each type may have its own growing conditions and climate requirements, so selecting the right kind for your lawn project is essential.
Give preference to mosses native to your region, as they are more likely to be accustomed to your yard. Pay close attention to the species you’re getting and their growth habits, as these aspects are key to successfully growing a long-lasting moss lawn.
Moss can be broken down into two main categories:
Acrocarps
This variety is drought tolerant, grows vertically, and thrives in drier climates. It has thick stems that make weed invasion less likely. Some well-known acrocarps include:
- Common haircap moss (Polytrichum commune)
- Springy turf moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus)
- Mood moss or broom-fork moss (Dicranum scoparium)
- Pincushion moss (Leucobryum albidum)
- Heath star moss (Campylopus introflexus)
Pleurocarps
This type of moss is resistant to excess moisture and cool, wet climates. It can tolerate partial sunlight and grows horizontally in a creeping way. You may be familiar with these types of pleurocarps:
- Fern moss (Thuidium delicatulum)
- Sheet moss (Hypnum imponens)
- Shiny seductive moss (Entodon seductrix)
- Plume moss (Ptilium crista-castrensis)
- American tree moss (Climacium americanum)
- Spoon leaved moss (Bryoandersonia illecebra)
- Baby tooth moss (Plagiomnium cuspidatum)
3. Wait for the right time to plant moss
Moss is best planted in spring when sunlight is weaker, the air is cool enough, and the ground is still moist from snow or rainfall. Plant your moss early enough in the season, and you’ll have an established moss lawn by the time summer rolls around. You’ll avoid stifling heat that could hamper the development of your moss lawn and enjoy a striking, lush carpet all summer.
4. Prepare the yard for moss planting
For a healthy moss lawn, you’ll need to remove grass or weeds from your yard. The most convenient way to remove grass is by applying a weed killer, but you can also dig up your lawn with a flat shovel or a sod cutter. Remove the weeds from the root. Get rid of debris like rocks, fallen leaves, and sticks.
Next, loosen up the top layer of soil with a rake to give it more texture so the moss has more area for contact.
5. Purchase the desired moss
You can order moss for your garden online or buy it at a local nursery. Moss is usually sold on approximately 10-inch by 20-inch trays or by the square foot.
After it arrives, check the condition of the moss to ensure it looks green and alive. If not, soak it in water before planting.
6. Water the area
Water the bare soil thoroughly before laying your moss pieces on the ground. Moss needs moist conditions to thrive, so start with damp soil.
7. Plant the moss
Since moss is rootless, there’s no planting involved. Simply lay your moss pieces a few inches apart on top of the area you’ve selected. To ensure they’re firmly in place, gently press them into the soil and secure them using sticks or landscaping pins. You may even anchor the pieces with light rocks to prevent them from moving around until the lawn is established.
Once the moss is firmly attached to the ground (tug gently to check), you can remove the pins or rocks.
8. Walk across the moss
To keep the moss in place and anchor it to the soil properly, lightly walk over it occasionally. Avoid stomping.
9. Water the moss daily
Watering the moss every day until it’s established (4 to 6 weeks) is essential. On hot summer days, you might need to water more than once a day–– pay attention if the edges are dried out. You can water with a spray bottle or a hose until every piece is consistently moist.
Once mature, your moss lawn will only need watering if it looks dry. Remember that changes in color don’t necessarily mean dehydration but can indicate seasonal changes. The best way to know is to watch for any changes in appearance. If your lawn becomes more vibrant after watering, moisture levels aren’t where they should be.
How to care for a moss lawn
Moss is probably the most effortless lawn to care for after it’s established, so even if you’re the busiest homeowner and don’t have time, you can still handle upkeep. Here’s what you can do to keep your moss lawn thriving.
- Water – An established moss lawn has very low watering needs. Moss can survive solely on rainwater and moisture from the air. That said, if you notice your moss lawn looking dehydrated, give it a daily spray or sprinkle until it regains its lush, green look.
- Weed – Until the moss is established, you might need to deal with pesky weeds. Remove them by hand as soon as they appear to prevent damage to your spongy moss carpet. Moss also doesn’t deal well with herbicides, so that’s out of the question when dealing with weeds.
- Keep foot traffic to a minimum – Moss can take light foot traffic but might become damaged by kids or pets running over it. To prevent problems, consider adding stepping stones to the area.
- Remove leaves – To give your moss lawn the best chance at photosynthesis, remove leaves and branches that fall over it and block access to light.
Pros of moss lawns
Moss lawns are beautiful and low-maintenance, as already mentioned. But their perks don’t end there. Here’s why a moss lawn is superior to a grass one:
- Moss lawns don’t require irrigation, mowing, aeration, or dethatching like conventional grass lawns. They grow well in poor, compacted, rocky soil and don’t require fertilizer to stay healthy.
- Moss lawns don’t attract pests that usually attack turfgrass lawns. Instead, you’ll sometimes see your moss lawn surrounded by insects like fireflies.
- With a moss lawn, you can’t use herbicides or pesticides, eliminating the risk of nearby waterway contamination.
- Moss is often used to prevent soil erosion on steep hillsides. Planting it as a groundcover can stabilize the soil surface and protect it from eroding due to stormwater runoff and wind.
- Since it doesn’t taste good, moss isn’t attractive to wildlife.
- Moss pretty much maintains itself. It goes dormant during dry spells and absorbs the moisture it needs as soon as heavy rainfall occurs.
The benefits of moss make it an excellent choice for those who want to use their lawn as an eco-friendly tool, reduce their carbon footprint, and save time and money.
Cons of moss lawns
Moss lawns are visually appealing and require little maintenance. That said, they aren’t without their caveats. Check out some disadvantages associated with this plant.
- Moss is not as durable as regular turfgrass and can’t deal with heavy foot traffic.
- Moss lawns aren’t suitable for every yard. They prefer shady areas and soils with plenty of acidity (6.0 or lower)..
- Moss lawns may require removing weeds by hand, as it doesn’t handle herbicides well.
- A moss lawn should be kept relatively leaf- and debris-free to thrive.
- Moss costs more than grass seeds, so always consider your budget and the area you want to cover.
FAQ about moss lawns
Is moss good for my soil?
Moss is good for the soil and the environment. It helps keep your soil moist, provides erosion control, and can decrease the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Can moss lawns survive winter?
Yes, moss can survive winter and sub-zero temperatures. It’s able to photosynthesize and stay green year-round if it’s not covered by leaves or snow (although some types can even photosynthesize under snow).
How long does it take to grow a moss lawn?
It can take between 12 and 18 months for a moss lawn to fully cover your yard, while maximum thickness may require two full years. Fern moss and sheet moss are the most rapidly growing species and will spread quickly when planted in shade and moist conditions.
Call a professional
Ultimately, just because you have a shady yard doesn’t mean you have to settle for lifeless soil. Instead, you can have a beautiful moss lawn with the right preparation and upkeep.
For a smooth, no-fuss process, contact a local lawn care professional to help clean up your yard before planting the moss.
Main Image Credit: Pxhere
