If you're tired of your grass front lawn, but not quite ready to replace it with a productive vegetable garden, you might consider moss instead. We used moss in our own front yard, and it is growing in slowly but surely...
Green Idea: A Moss Yard
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The key, according to this article in The New York Times, is crappy soil, acidity, a bit of moisture, and moss spores.
But in our opinion, the best thing about planting large areas of moss is that you get to use a blender. If you can't find or afford to buy large amounts of moss, you can take a smaller amount and chop it up with a bit of water and beer or buttermilk. This adds the acidity moss likes. Then, spread the green slime over some bare soil or rocks, mist with water now and then (or just locate your garden, like ours, in Portland, Oregon), and wait a while.
Check out the detailed instructions at Moss Acres. You'll end up with a beautifully varied carpet of green that you don't have to mow.
Moss image via Moss Acres
Originally published 2008-05-01 - CB
Comments (10)
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i've been thinking of doing something like this in my small paved patio but it's been so hot lately, the idea flew out of my mind. does it need to be really shady? i've got almost constant sun in places. but moss would soften the hard edges of the paving stones.
view Joan in SB's profile
I've been reading posts about mold in the home on Apartment Therapy. Moss is a fungi like mold with spores that can spread. Does anyone know if a moss lawn can spread mold growth to your home? That is my only concern. Moss lawns look cool, but there is enough mold scare out there and prevtion tips on getting rid of mold. There are other green alternatives to lawns besides moss, I just want to choose a healthy one.
view weezerad79's profile
I hate to mow lawns this could work well.
view LaDonnaNichole's profile
I'm trying to do this in my small backyard. I bought a plat (probably wrong terminology) of irish moss from a local nursery for $12. I was looking for something that looked like grass, but that I didn't have to mow. The salesperson said Irish moss would be perfect because its tough - you can walk on it and its really green. Plus, its non-toxic to animals. I cut it into sections and planted them a few inches apart, hoping it would spread. It hasn't spread yet, but I am hopeful. I am going to try the suggestions above about grinding it up and adding beer/ buttermilk.
view 4ddh's profile
jonathan--I'm also in portland and trying to add mainly native, non-invasive things to my little yard. Does this fall in that category? Do I need a specific variety of moss? Also, I assume it does ok in shade?
view brittanykate's profile
This article made me smile, my father has been doing this for years. He hated maintaining a lawn and our sandy soil is far more suited for moss the a plush Kentucky blue grass.
view sarahbellum66's profile
Moss may reproduce by spores, but it is not a fungus / mold. It is a plant, and it will not contribute to mold problems in a home.
view plantbio's profile
Mosses are from the bryophyte family. They are not fungi. Common mistake but a completely different Kingdom. Any biology textbook with a section on taxonomy should cover it.
view weremonkey's profile
Is a moss lawn OK for children to crawl and play on? Is it OK if they get some in their mouths, as children are known to do?
view InMadison's profile
@weezerad79 You're thinking of lichens, which are a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an algea, I think. Moss is a plant, though.
view Tiamat_the_Red's profile