The Fascinating World of Moss: Nature's Unsung Hero or Just a Nuisance?
- Mary Anne Giangola
- Jun 14
- 3 min read
by Dee Moss and Mary Anne Giangola Hall County Master Gardeners
When you hear the word "moss" many images come to mind. You may think of Danielle Moss in Channel 11 Weather, or supermodel Kate Moss, or Randy Moss, one of the all-time famous Minnesota Vikings football heroes. (Dee couldn't resist this last one, as she is from Minnesota.)
While the above is true, we are gardeners first and this post will discuss live moss, valued and reviled by gardeners in equal measure.
Pros and Cons
Some gardeners encourage the growth of moss in their gardens for its velvety appearance, ability to stabilize difficult ground areas, and low maintenance requirements. Others consider moss an invader to be eradicated in their carefully manicured turf.
No matter the setting, often underappreciated mosses play an important ecological role by preventing soil erosion, securing ground cover, and enriching soil nutrients.
Older than Dinosaurs
The first mosses evolved from green algae between 286 and 245 million years ago in the Permian and Tertiary periods, before the emergence of reptiles, flying insects, and yes, dinosaurs.
Today, over 10,000 species of moss flourish on Earth, and are found in climates as diverse as the Artic and deserts.
Unique Contributor
Mosses are non-vascular plants lacking zylem and phloem -- the interior systems of vessels characteristic of most plants, for transporting water and nutrients. Moss reproduces through spores, not seeds.
Moss provides habitats and food sources for microorganisms, insects, and small creatures. In hot weather moss insulates the soil, creating a cooling effect; in cold climates it acts as an insulator. In the UK, for example, evidence has been found, for those very reasons, that greater crop yields are produced when moss is used as a ground cover in orchards.
Moss acts as a natural filter, removing pollutants and toxins from the air. It has a high humidity tolerance, so in a dry environment moss would absorb and retain moisture. You could almost think of it as a sponge. With no true roots, it doesn't require a lot of watering or fertilizer, Indoors, moss improves the air quality in your home, uses little natural light, and absorbs carbon dioxide, then releasing oxygen, This creates a healthy indoor environment.
What's in Your Backyard?
Given Hall County's generally moist climate, moss crops up in many places. A quick tour through the backyard of one of the bloggers in Gainesville, GA, revealed, with the help of a plant ID app, six distinct types of moss:
Pincushion moss - Leucobryum glaucum
Broom forkmoss - Decranum scoparium
Deliecate fern moss - Thuidium delicatulum
Twisted moss - Syntrichia ruralis
Red-stemmed feather moss - Pleurpzium schreberi
Toothed Plagiomnium Moss - Plagiomnium cuspidatum
Starting your Own Moss Garden
If you are interested in starting a moss garden outdoors, the best conditions are surface shade, moisture, and light.
High humidity makes them thrive and cold and drought forces moss into hibernation. Outdoors, moss is easy to care for and can attach to rocks, walls, driftwood, dead tree stumps, and clay or sandy soil. Its pH requirement means it does well in acidic soil. Fertilizer usually is not needed. If transplanting, the best time to do so is from October to March.
To propagate moss, some gardeners make a slurry with buttermilk or yogurt and moss fragments. The James City County Williamsburg (VA) Master Gardener Association offers helpful tips and a recipe on their website https://jccwmg.org/wordpress/cultivating-moss/
A Place in Your Garden?
Moss can grow in diverse environments, from forests to citiies to your home, Its many species serve endless purposes and provide tremenous versatility. How might it work in your garden?
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Resources used in preparing this article:
Moss, by Ulrica Nortdström, 2019, can be found in many public libraries ISBN-13: 978-0241374474, and online.
Mosses and Liverworts of Britian and Ireland, a Field Guide, 2010, Editors: I. Atherton, S. Bosanquet, M. Lawless.
Another helpful resource in Georgia is https://usinggeorgianativeplants.blogspot.com/2011/12/marvelous-moss.html
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