Want to grow moss in your yard? Here’s how my dad grew a full moss lawn & path!

I was recently in North Carolina visiting my parents and I was reminded that they have a full moss lawn.

It actually used to be grass, but over a decade ago my dad gave up trying to grow grass where it doesn’t want to be and instead decided to focus on growing a mossy lawn.

I thought that this was a really unique solution for a common problem (I know that a lot of y’all have trouble growing grass!) and thought that it would be fun to share some details about this low-maintenance ground cover.

If you have alkaline soil (like clay), full shade, and poor drainage, a moss lawn could be the perfect choice for low-maintenance lawn alternatives.

If you don’t want a full moss lawn, moss gardens can be perfect for particularly shady or wet areas of the yard.

How to grow moss in your yard

Moss lawn pros and cons

Moss lawn pros

There are a lot of benefits to a green mossy yard! Here are some of my favorites:

• If moss naturally wants to grow in your area, it can be a maintenance-free lawn covering
• If grass won’t grow in your yard because it is too wet or has shady areas, moss might be a solution
• No fertilizer or annual grass seed needed
• Don’t need to water regularly – great if your area has water shortages
• Lush green color looks like short grass ground cover (from afar) year round
• No mowing – low maintenance
• No weeds!
• Feels like walking on a velvet carpet
• Unique look – pairs really well with rock gardens

Moss lawn cons

There are some aspects of a moss lawn that might be a problem for you. They include:

• It’s not a grassy lawn
• It can get kind of muddy, especially during rainy times
• It can be a lot of work to get it to grow if it doesn’t grow naturally
• Won’t grow in an area with too much sun
• Your HOA may not allow it
• Can get torn up by pets and takes a couple of weeks to recover
• Moss is not the “normal” lawn covering and therefore might be seen as weird or strange by some people

The cons of moss may or may not be deal breakers for you!

How to grow a moss lawn

The most important thing for growing moss in your yard is having the right conditions.

Moss likes:

• Shade
• Moisture
• Acidic soil

These are the ideal conditions for a moss lawn to grow in.

If you don’t have all of these conditions, you can still grow moss, but you are going to have to work harder at it.

The reason that my dad went for a moss lawn is because it is what naturally wanted to grow in his yard. Grass just wasn’t working!

How do you transplant moss?

Transplanting moss is very easy and actually very similar to transplanting grass.

1. Find moss that you want to relocate.
2. Gently pick the moss off the surface it is attached to. You might want to use a shovel.
3. Prepare the surface where you want the moss to go. It should be moist and clear of debris.
4. Place the moss on the new surface. Gently press it into the surface.
5. Keep moist and clear of debris.

You can also purchase sheet moss, but expect it to be twice as expensive as sod!

What is a “moss milkshake”?

If you can’t get transplanted moss to take as a ground cover, you can try making a moss milkshake or a moss slurry.

To make a moss milkshake, simply blend in a blender:

• a handful of moss
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup buttermilk

You can spread this mixture on a tree, rock, statue, pot, path, any surface, really. Keep moist to promote growth while your moss spreads.

How to grow a moss path

My dad has grown an epic moss path throughout their backyard.

To grow the moss path, he started by creating a stone border outlining the path shape.

Then, he cleared inside the boarder so the whole path was free of debris. Piling leaves or debris on either side of the path keeps moss from growing there.

Then, he just followed the above steps of keeping the path moist and clear of debris to encourage moss growth. It didn’t take a long time to take over!

You have to be consistent in clearing off any leaves, especially in a wooded area like his yard.

You will need at least partial shade for this method to work – full sun will kill moss.

Can you walk on a moss lawn?

The moss is actually very soft and comfortable to walk on. It feels velvety. It can get a bit soggy after rain, but so can any ground covering.

How fast does moss grow?

A moss bed should start growing about 6 weeks after transplant.

I would allow several months to get good coverage.

After that, you don’t need to do typical lawn care like mowing, but you will want to keep it clear of leaves and debris that could smoother the moss.

Is moss better than grass?

If your conditions are suited to moss, meaning that you have the right light, moisture, and soil, having a moss lawn will save you lots of time.

Moss does not require maintenance like grass does!

It also does not needed to be mowed, seeded, or aerated each year.

Once you have your moss lawn going, it is virtually maintenance free!

Is moss slippery?

No, moss itself is not slippery.

However, moss often grows in damp environments. These areas might also have algae or mud that is slippery.

So while moss is not slippery, it might be indicative that the area around it IS slippery!

How do I kill moss?

Decide that you no longer want a moss lawn?

Mix 4 cups of vinegar, a 1/4 cup of salt and 2 tsp. dish soap in a spray bottle. Apply to the moss. It should die and dead moss can be raked away!

The best type of soil for moss

Moss prefers tightly packed alkaline soil. My dad’s yard is almost completely orange North Carolina clay. Clay has an alkaline soil PH. It retains moisture really well, creating a lot of moist areas.

Do you have any questions for my dad about his moss lawn?