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How to Grow Moss as a Grass Alternative

Caylin Harris

By Caylin Harris
Published May 11, 2023

If you have a shady backyard and acidic soil, a moss lawn might be a smart alternative to your patchy, sun-starved grass. Moss is self-sufficient and requires little upkeep once it’s established. Plus, it adds vibrant green colors and lush textures to shady outdoor spaces. Here’s how to grow moss.

A green mossy lawn with a small brook running through it.

Moss as an Alternative for Grass

Close up of moss meeting with a pebble driveway.

Growing and maintaining grass is a lot of work. If you want to explore alternatives, moss is a beautiful option that feels fantastic underfoot. There are pros and cons to a moss lawn.

Moss Lawn Pros: Moss is self-sufficient. It doesn’t need irrigation, fertilizer, or mowing. It doesn’t attract pests and its root systems can help stabilize soil and combat erosion. Moss lawns also look lush and can be combined with other types of grass alternatives to create a textured and multidimensional landscape design.

Moss Lawn Cons: Moss is not as durable as grass and won’t be able to handle heavy traffic from kids or pets playing. It needs specific conditions to thrive: acidic soil, shade and moisture. Moss transplants also cost more than grass seed.

If you’re interested in growing moss in your yard, ask a Lowe’s associate which variety of moss works best for your growing region. With preparation and patience, you can grow a moss garden.

Choose Your Moss Growing Method

A staircase bordered by moss.

Before you grow moss, it’s important to understand the conditions it needs to thrive. Moss prefers acidic soil and shaded, moist areas. Too much exposure to sun will force it into a dormant phase or could kill it completely.

There are two easy ways to grow moss. Transplant plugs of moss or create a moss slurry that can be applied to surfaces. If you’re looking to cover larger patches of dirt, transplanting moss works well. A moss slurry is the best option for getting moss to grow on hard surfaces like rock walls or the space in between patio pavers.

How to Transplant Moss

Start by testing your soil with an at-home soil test. Moss prefers a soil pH of 5.0-6.0. Choose your location then gently loosen the soil with a cultivator and moisten the dirt. Place the plugs of moss on top of the soil. Use medium-sized rocks on top of the moss to keep the moss's roots in contact with the soil. Water the new moss once a day in the morning, depending on the weather and temperature, to keep it moist while it acclimates to its new environment. After a week or two, it should start to take root and not need additional water.

A soil testing kit.

Soil Test Kit

A soil cultivator.

Soil Cultivators

A garden hose nozzle.

Garden Hose Nozzle

Try a Moss Slurry

Moss being pulled up and held in a man's hand.

Add moss in between stone pavers or on your favorite stone wall with a moss slurry. It’s almost like making a moss milkshake.

Combine equal parts buttermilk and water in a blender, fill the remaining space with moss and blend until it reaches a smoothie-like consistency. Use a paintbrush to apply a coating of this mixture over rocks or wherever you want to see moss grow.

How does the slurry work? Moss can grow from the fragments of leaf and plant suspended in the solution. The buttermilk mixture adds acidity while acting as a paste that holds the plant pieces in place till they start growing rhizoids (roots) that will hold them in place on their own.

This is a messy but fun process, and the results are amazing. There’s something ethereal about a garden with touches of moss. It feels like a wild forest instead of a man-made garden.

Make a Ball of Moss or a Moss Garden

Moss growing on a stone wall.

You can get creative with where you grow moss—creating a ball of moss, moss letters or just an interesting geometric design between paving stones. After you’ve applied the moss mixture, keep the surface moist using the fine mist setting on your garden hose nozzle. A stronger spray stream can wash away the moss slurry.

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