Gardeners and landscapers find many uses for moss. It is an attractive and soft ground cover. Furthermore, it thrives in shady areas where grass may not grow easily.
About Moss
There are around 15,000 species of wild-growing moss. However, out of these species, approximately four are commonly sold commercially and suitable for use as ground cover.
Haircap Moss
Haircap moss is a tall-growing variety that is suitable for areas that will not see heavy foot traffic. Because it grows to height of a few inches tall, haircap can be used to fill in bare spots in pebble and rock gardens.
Cushion Moss
Another popular ground covering moss is cushion moss. Cushion moss feels soft and springy underfoot and is a versatile moss that can tolerate partial sun to full shade quite well.
Fun Fact
If your landscape contains many large stones or boulders, try growing rock moss. In nature, rock moss can be found growing on boulders and will make the boulders or large stones in the home landscape look more natural.
Considerations
Those new to growing moss might want to consider fern moss. Fern mosses are easy to grow and quite versatile regarding growing conditions. Fern moss is also easy to transplant from one area to another.
Function
Some popular uses of moss as ground cover are lining walkways, around flag poles and under trees. In tree-dense areas where a lawnmower is impractical, use moss as a ground cover instead.
