How2Day: Moss Plants for Gardens

Hair cap moss can serve as ground cover in gardens. Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
Many types of moss can serve as a ground cover in your garden. Moss grows all year round and requires little effort to maintain. It requires no mowing, no fertilizing and little water. They are not susceptible to diseases and pests. Even after turning brown during droughts, they come back when moisture returns.

A dark green moss also known as hair cap moss, Polytrichum grows slowly and takes two to three years to provide a dense green carpet. It reaches a height of 1 to 8 inches and tolerates pollution well. It requires some water during the first year. If it doesn't get enough moisture, it could shrivel and turn brown. However, if it hasn't totally dried up, it usually comes back when it gets sufficient moisture. A deep-rooted variety, Polytrichum grows best if planted at a depth of 2 to 3 inches.

Brachythecium grows in Japanese moss gardens. It matures quickly and could provide a lush green carpet in one year. The species called Brachythecium salebrosum grows extensively in North America, usually on shaded soil, stones, bases of trees and logs. It likes dry areas and often grows in disturbed areas in lawns. It grows as shiny mats that are green, yellowish or brownish. The stems creep or loosely grow upwards and the leaves stand loosely upright.

According to Ohio State University, sphagnum moss covers about 1 percent of the Earth's surface or an area about half as big as the U.S. Small and stiff, sphagnum moss are pale green to green with a slight red coloration in the lower part of the erect stem. It can retain about 20 times its weight in water, making it useful for keeping the medium where it grows moist and preventing runoff. Hydroponic gardeners often plant the moss to condition the growing medium.

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