Moss - as green as it gets

Moss, beloved by gardeners, landscapers, hikers and other geniuses for the visual and tactile pleasure it provides, gives us yet another reason to hold it in such high esteem.

As the movement continues to rid the environment — and especially suburban yards — of pesticides, herbicides and non-organic fertilizers and to conserve water, moss moves up several notches on the green scale as one of the most environmentally friendly plants on earth.  In addition to requiring no chemicals, it requires little to no watering and never requires mowing.

Low maintenance without spraying
One rarely spies a moss gardener with a hose or sprayer.  However, lawn care and some garden or bed care typically involves the (professional!)application of deadly (in the broadest sense 
of the word) pesticides, the spraying or sprinkling of herbicides, and the watering in of fertilizers.  All of this is accompanied by a periodic and thorough soaking with some type of chlorinated water. 

Moss, conversely, does not need any of this because it does not attract pests, rarely has any type of actual weed growing in it, and will grow and spread readily without encouragement from fertilizers.  And, because moss has no roots and takes its nutrients and moisture from its surroundings, it does not require watering or soaking, as does a lawn or garden with vascular plants.  Granted, most moss will not grow in full sun, but because it is so adaptable, it is common to find it at the edges of lawns in partly-shady areas, ready to spread as the shade tree above it grows.

Sequestering pollutants and other suspended particulates

Behind the scenes, moss acts as a bio-filter, and can sequester CO₂ and trap suspended particulates, especially in urban and suburban areas.
 

How green is moss? 

And that’s not all. As global warming  encroaches, and potable water becomes scarcer and more expensive, moss will survive as it has since emerging from the primordial swamp because it can dry out and go dormant for years. Alternatively, it can hold multiples of its weight in water.

Spread the word, not the chemicals!

Five reasons to keep moss in your yard

Do you know or live with someone intent on eradicating moss from the lawn, garden or patio? Here are five good reasons to let it be:

1. Moss does not compete with grass or other plants: it grows where most other plants will not.
2. Moss is not mildew, mold or algae, nor is it related to them: it merely likes similar conditions.
3. Moss does not invade bricks, shingles, stucco or concrete. It has no roots, only hairlike rhizomes that tether it to a substrate.
4. Moss is a valuable home gardening asset. Live moss plants sell for $5 - $18 per square foot.
5. Save money and time on lawn care.  Moss requires no mowing (or gas), water, fertilizer, lime, herbicide or pesticide.

If you can think of more reasons, please post them!