Moss: Easy Green Landscaping

If you need ground cover, a few things work, including moss. It can be placed over the soil quickly and does not grow roots. It has proven to be a great plant in areas prone to soil erosion. Though it doesn't have roots, it does anchor itself to the soil with its rhizoids. These are short filaments that keep the moss attached to the soil, and they absorb nutrients from it. They keep the moss in place without you having to bury a root system. It also prevents weeds from growing in the bare spots in your landscaping.

Adding Greenery

Green is well-known as a calming influence on humans, and moss comes in many shades of this soothing color. If you have spots of ground that don't look great when mixed in with your foliage, mosses can create a more uniformly green look. It grows in many spaces where any other plant would struggle to survive. With moss, you can have greenery between rocks, on shady slopes, and in areas with little space for a plant. Most mosses only get anywhere from 2" to 4" tall. And it's an evergreen plant that keeps its green color even if it goes dormant in the winter.

Ease of Maintenance

If an area is shady and gets moisture regularly, moss needs little to no maintenance. If it spreads too far for your landscaping design, it's easy to cut it back. It does not need to be fertilized or fed. It doesn't need to be pruned or deadheaded. Once it's laid on the soil, it makes itself home. 

Here is the most popular native moss to use in gardens:

Sheet Moss (Hypnum): A versatile moss that thrives in a variety of conditions, often used as a ground cover or in shaded garden areas.

Cushion Moss (Leucobryum): Known for its bright green, dense mounds, this moss is perfect for adding texture and color to shaded garden areas.

Fern Moss (Thuidium): Resembling tiny fern fronds, this moss thrives in shaded, moist environments and is often used in woodland gardens.

Haircap Moss (Polytrichum): With its tall, upright growth, this moss is excellent for creating vertical interest in the garden and thrives in a variety of soil types.