Control the growth of moss following these tips

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNSPLASH One positive benefit to moss is that it enhances the attractiveness of rock gardens, stone walls and other bare surfaces.

CAROL DALU or aeri cation is a process that removes Master Gardener cores of soil from the lawn either manu- uestion: There is moss grow- ally or with a power-drive aerator. ing all around my house—in ■ Remove thatch (dead organic Q the lawn, in the garden beds, matter) from lawns; this will increase on the trees and even the grass vigor and decrease water reten- brick wall. I’m wondering, how did it tion on the surface. Moss in a lawn is an spread to all of these areas, and how indication that the lawn is not healthy, might I control it? and that the conditions are bene cial to Answer: Moss, it’s everywhere! It’s moss. that bright green, cushion-like mound PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY.COM ■ Incorporate several inches of or- of a plant found growing on just about Moss can be recognized by its green, ganic matter into the soil to improve any surface in our Paci c Northwest carpet-like appearance and thin stems texture and drainage. yards. To understand why that is, and supporting a brown capsule. ■ Physically removing the moss to how one might control it, it is helpful to the moisture returns and become a prevent it from returning and/or spread- understand how moss grows, and the healthy, growing plant again. ing (i.e. digging it up, scrubbing o conditions it prefers. If you are looking to control the pots, power washing walkways). We typically think of a plant as having growth of moss, the best way is to pre- Although you might not want moss roots growing in soil with stems, or a vent the conditions that are favorable to in all areas of your yard, there are many trunk like a ower, shrub or tree that its growth by reducing moisture and in- positive bene ts to adding mosses to grow from seeds. Moss is a Bryophyte, a PHOTO COURTESY OF OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY creasing exposure to sunlight. Options the landscape. Mosses can be attractive non-vascular plant, in which the leaves Unlike most plants that are grown from to consider: additions to rock gardens, stone walls are mostly one cell thick; they have no seeds, moss produces spores that are ■ Trim tree and shrub limbs to allow and other bare surfaces. true roots, stems, owers or fruit. And released as they ripen. more sunlight into the area; complete In the garden, they can help as ero- instead of seeds, they produce spores, But how is it growing on walls, trees, removal of trees or shrubs may be need- sion control, as well as increase mois- which are similar to a owering plant’s walkways, rooftops? Mosses do not ed in areas that receive less than 3 to 4 ture; moss will help store moisture seeds, but are single celled and more need soil to grow, as they are able to hours of direct sunlight, or 6 to 8 hours and improve the soil’s nutrient holding primitive than a seed. take up nutrients just from the atmo- of ltered sunlight. This is the amount capacity. And moss is a self-planting, Moss grows in a form that looks like a sphere and water owing over them. of sunlight that is required for most low maintenance, easy to grow, green thick green carpet with very thin stems So they can easily grow in the cracks lawn grasses to grow well. groundcover! (seta) supporting a brown capsule; the of sidewalks, the nooks of tree bark, ■ Add sand or soil to low-lying areas; spores are housed in the capsula and between roof shingles and stone walls; this will increase the elevation and al- Do you have a gardening question? are released as they ripen. If the spores you can nd them on both vertical and low the area to dry out. Please e-mail, call or visit the Douglas land in an area with enough moisture, horizontal surfaces. ■ Contour or trenching in the wet County Master Gardeners Plant Clinic they will grow, thus our area has the Mosses are at their best in the win- area will allow excess water to drain o. at [email protected], 541- perfect conditions for moss. In addi- ter when there is plenty of water, more ■ Install French drains or surface 236-3052, or 1134 S.E. Douglas Ave., tion to spores spreading through the shade and cooler temperatures. In the drainage tiles where water builds up. Roseburg. Douglas Country Master air, mosses will also spread simply by summer, they will dry out and become ■ Increase the aeration of the soil; Gardeners are trained volunteers who pieces breaking o and getting moved dormant; they can tolerate a complete heavy or compacted soil encourage the help the OSU Extension Service serve the by wind or water. loss of water, and then rehydrate when growth of moss. In a lawn core, aeration people of Douglas County.