The increased understanding of our nature results not least in a new appreciation of moss. Rather than fighting the small, rootless terrestrial plant, ecologically-minded gardeners are striving to introduce it into the garden. Here you can find out how to let moss grow in beds and on stones.
Bare rocks can be greened quickly and easily with moss
How to green a bed with moss
One of the many benefits of moss is that it thrives in places other ornamental and crop plants avoid. Numerous types of moss are the ideal problem solvers for greening a shady spot in the garden with moist, compacted soil. How to grow moss as a ground cover:
- Create a 5 cm thick base of leaf compost or bog soil and sand
- Press down the substrate with the lawn roller
- Place small cushions of moss halfway into the ground at a distance of 10 cm and press down
Water the moss bed regularly on the day of planting and afterwards, because drought stress is the greatest danger for the green carpet in this phase.
Let moss grow on stones and walls - this is how it works
Since moss does not have roots, it also likes to settle on stone bases. As long as the location is not in the blazing sun, is humid and lean, you can create a green patina on walls or stones with moss. If you want it to be quick, arrange small patches of moss on the ground that you have previously coated with liquid leaf compost or nettle manure.
If time is not an issue, use a special mixture to grow moss on horizontal and vertical surfaces. To do this, put 2 handfuls of crushed pieces of moss, rinsed with water, in a blender. Pour 2 cups of buttermilk or yogurt on top. Only mix the ingredients briefly, as a coarse, viscous consistency should develop. Use it to coat facades, garden walls, stone figures, boulders and similar stone bases.
tips
The pictures with razor-sharp moss graffiti that are presented everywhere on the Internet were not created from the propagated mixture of moss and buttermilk. Rather, it is the creative work of the world-renowned artist Anna Garforth. Her trick is to stick on ready-made moss pads and cut them into shape.