Moss brings an enchanted appearance to forests. Several varieties grow around Flandrum Hill, on the ground, on stones and more than just the north side of tree trunks.
In recent years, some innovative horticulturalists have suggested that it might be ecologically beneficial for homeowners to consider growing lawns of moss instead of grass. Here are some reasons why:
- It grows fast,
- prevents erosion,
- repels weeds,
- doesn’t require fertilizer,
- doesn’t require watering and
- doesn’t require mowing.
That last reason should be enough by itself to convince people to look into the moss option. Imagine all the labour that would be saved in lawn maintenance!
Though mosses thrive in moist, acidic soil, all they really need is a bit of shade. They’re able to absorb enough moisture from rainfall to allow them to survive without extra watering.
The sphagnum moss shown above is a marvel of nature. It can absorb several times its own weight in water or oil. It has many uses in gardening, ie. as a seed starter, and dried, is an excellent insulator, firestarter and dressing for wounds.
Mosses are often used by scientists as bioindicators, species used to monitor the health of an environment, to identify the presence of heavy metals and other pollutants in an ecosystem. Their presence here doesn’t just make the woods seem more magical, they reveal the good health of the environment as well.
For more information on moss lawns, see
Flandrum Hill 
Horray for moss….one of my favoritest things! I probably have more photos of moss than I do of wild flowers. As I told Kathy once, it always looks like a little, teeny, magical world in those small patches of green. I had a friend once a while ago that had a moss lawn – beautimous!
Cindy, the tiny world of mosses certainly spark the imagination don’t they?
I always loved moss. It’s so soft and it’s always a pleasure to lay on it 🙂 And as may be in future landscape designer I will use it in my projects.
Nadezhda, thanks for mentioning its softness. We don’t usually grow plants based on that quality. Maybe we should.
Amy-Lynn, thank you for the reminder about moss. Open any book on Japanese gardens, and you will see the serene beauty of it in a home landscape. On the other hand, one of the most daunting books I ever looked at was MOSSES AND LIVERWORTS OF MICHIGAN! So many varieties, such subtle differences! As with fungi, I have decided to content myself with an aesthetic appreciation and leave the botany of it to those more qualified.
Pamela, it is such a serene plant, you’d think North Americans would have caught on to its beauty by now.
There is so much diversity among these small plants. I’ve already read about Michigan liverworts over at Gerry’s Torch Lake Views. Identification is helpful sometimes, but I agree that you don’t have to know the name of a plant to enjoy it or grow it.
Moss is beautiful. I guess I never realized there were so many different varieties. But it looks so often like a carpet you want to lie down in the woods and dream of faeries. Except its so often wet. So you don’t dare.
Kathy, the moss here does dry out enough for sitting upon at certain times of the year. Then, it provides a perfect spot for picnics and dreaming of faeries.
I agree with everyone that mosses are beautiful on a microscopic and macroscopic level but so difficult to identify. However, they are often the finishing touch, the trimming, on nature – or occupying places too damp for other vegetation, and occur in the most incredible nooks and crannies.
Jessica, it is indeed a trimming, just like lichens are. That finishing touch that makes the wild spaces seem even more inviting.
My friends laugh at me when I start going on about how much I love moss. Nice to see I’m not alone. I love getting down close and looking at lichens too !
Sybil, there are lots of lichens here too. Like moss, they’re best appreciated up close.
Our lawn started out with grass on it, but is now mostly moss, plus a mixture of grasses and weeds (or flowers, depending on how you look on them). We do not mind, and it is easier to keep, except for the first cutting in spring.
The wet moss has a beautiful array of green colours throughout spring, summer and autumn.
Eldrid, your lawn sounds a lot like mine. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
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