Japanese style Moss gardens

The Jaoanese have long been known for creating gardens of acres in size, covered with a thick coat of soft moss, ranging in colour from red to green

With the emphasis on calm and minimalisn, rather than showwy, blooming plants, Japanese gardening easily accomodates moss plants, as do the "wild" or "natural" landscapes that are growing in popularity among Westerners.

Some domestic uses for moss plants are suggested by nature. In the woods, "rock cap" mosses are just that, serving as tight-fitting caps for boulders. Not surprisingly, the idea is carried over into rock gardening. Shady spots in the woods are often home to moss plants, suggesting their use on the landscape in shade gardens. Moss plants, in general, require not only a shady spot, but also moisture, making them a natural choice for the perimeter of a water feature on the landscape.

In almost every garden, there is a shady spot that defies both grass and the will of the landscaper. This can often be the ideal spot to place a carpet of moss. Although we see moss growing wild in woodlands and on the coast, they are extremely picky about where they grow.

Many gardeners find that moss competes with the grass growth on their lawn and feed the lawn vigorously to try to promote grass growth, but find that the moss just takes over. This is because moss thrives on phosphates and will soon take over the garden completely. The only way to get RID of moss is to rake the lawn thoroughly and remove it, then add lime to raise the soil PH

If, on the other hand, you want to encourage moss growth, you need compacted, acidic soil, shady areas, frequent watering with rain water, or at least tap water which has been left to stand for a day or two.

Guide to a sucessful moss garden
• Keep your garden as natural as possible. Use a variety of soils and rocks, such as limestone and granite as well as rotting wood. Use shrubs to keep the garden shaded
• When transplanting mosses, use an ungalvanised mesh to keep animals from playing with loose moss.
• Try to duplicate the natural environment of each moss as accurately as possible in the garden. A moss that likes an alkaline soil won't live on an acidic one and vice versa. Unfotrunately, until you get to know your mosses pretty well, it's a case of trial and error.

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  by STEPHEN REDBURN - 18:11:44 11th May 2008

  I'D LOVE TO TRY A MOSS GARDEN BUT GETTING HOLD OF THE RIGHT MOSS IS QUITE HARD. ALL THE SHOPS SELL MOSS KILLER.