Second, by encouraging already-present mosses by pulling out grass and weeds and acidifying (or in some cases, liming) the soil.“In the right habitat mosses will naturally colonize.” says Kimmerer, who advocates a let-them-come-to-you approach. First, by clearing ground and waiting for airborne spores to land.Moss gardens can be established in three ways:
“Unless the conditions are sufficiently moist and shady, in a competitive situation between grass and moss, the grass is generally going to win.” Robin Kimmerer, author of Gathering Moss (Oregon State University Press 2003). Grass can be tough to keep at bay, says moss ecologist Dr.
Use it between stepping stones or, because of its low growth habit, as a ground cover to highlight other low-ranging plants. Its dense green mats can handle light foot traffic. Sheet moss ( Hypnum), one of the most common types of moss, thrives in deep shade and has a great transplant success rate. “But with a firmly established moss garden, you really only have to keep the majority of the leaves off and make sure weeds don’t encroach.” “With a grass lawn you’re looking at mowing once or twice a week,” Navage says. It’s not bothered by compacted soil, doesn’t require pesticides, and is remarkably resilient when it comes to drought and cold, going dormant when conditions are less favorable, and rehydrating when things improve. Experts suggest setting down netting on top of moss in the fall and regularly emptying it of fallen leaves.Įven so, “a moss lawn requires far less maintenance than grass,” says Andy Navage, director of horticulture at the Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island in Washington. So are a consistent source of ambient moisture and vigilant maintenance to keep it free of weeds and debris (because mosses are nonvascular-no roots-they rely on their leaves for transportation of nutrients and moisture). Shade or semi-shade is usually a necessity. Like many 400-million-year-olds, moss is particular about its environment. But it is essential for those hoping to lay a carpet in their own backyards or coax the spread of an existing patch to understand the quirks of this ancient plant. Anyone who has happened upon a velveteened log in the woods or glimpsed emerald-draped statuary is likely to be seduced by moss’ color-saturated sumptuousness.
0 kommentar(er)
