MOSS

[Mr Grinch]

Hi all,

Can anyone tell me why my East facing border get loads of moss ?? Does it do damage and why does it grow there ?? Ive had a look today and the South West facing border also has some growing aswell.
How did get rid of it ?

Regards
James

[carolann]

Sorry I cant help James all the chucks eat the moss growing in my gardens i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd161/GWDAdmin1/Smilies/Default/grin.gif

[Dr Bill]

Isn't it usually a sign of poor drainage? Certainly in lawns they say aerating helps.

I shouldn't think it does any harm apart from competing for nutrients, but I'm no expert.

[Ladygardener]

could you dig it up and put it in your pots/hanging baskets is'nt it a bit like a sponge. Don't folks use moss in hanging baskets or am I on the wrong track.

[Tig]

I have a couple of mossy borders which are shady over winter - I rake it out each spring. The only problem it causes me are that the slugs snuggle up in it! The blackbirds often pinch quite a bit for nesting material.

x Tig

[Barbara]

Same here Tig. re blackbirds. I just scrape it off, but you shouldn't do it on a windy day as that spreads the spores, I think the wet summers are making it worse as well. I notice in the local park it's the shady parts that seem to get more, so maybe letting lots of light in helps James.

[Mr Grinch]

Yep, i get more on the shadier side. Next door had there tree taken away late last summer so hopfully will give me some more light.

James

[Ruthie]

I agree with Barbara re the wet summers. I have loads more moss in my garden in recent times. What puzzles me is that in the light sandy soil of a very highly raised bed at the front I get loads of moss. Admittedly it faces N/E but it does get sunlight virtually all day in summer and there's loads of the stuff. Is it possible for light soil which turns to dust in a "normal" summer to be badly drained? I don't know

[Chuckles]

I've noticed a lot of my pots have moss growing on the surface this year and it doesn't matter whether they have been shaded or not. I too agree may be due to the wet we had last summer and through the winter months too.

When I remove mine (on job list) I'm going to put it all in a couple of hanging baskets and leave it for the birds to collect for nesting material.