Gardening Advice

Judi
by Judi
Most of my flower gardens are in some variation of shade. I have an on-going struggle with moss filling in every nook and cranny. Then the moss eventually turns into ferns. How can I get rid of the moss without harming the plants? I'm getting a bit desperate!
Judi, Ohio

  7 answers
  • Debbie Methvin Debbie Methvin on Mar 23, 2018

    First, I don't know of anything that would get rid of one without harming the other. I, on the other hand accept what I can't change 🙃 I use it as filler and plant in between using larger plants such as azaleas, etc. I have bulbs (Amarillys, iris...), and many volunteer flowers that grow wild around here. I'm in Louisiana. Google shade tolerant plants and it will give you some more options as to what else you can plant. And just keep in mind, a lot of people would love to have that natural fern and moss. One other tip, put your clay pots in that area for a year or so to give them that natural patina. I love it 😉

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Mar 23, 2018

    Unless you can change the conditions in your garden, you might as well not bother, because what ever you do,they will return. Some folks would love those ferns and moss...........

  • Joy30150932 Joy30150932 on Mar 23, 2018

    You can try spraying some baking soda and water on the moss to kill it.

  • Connie Quine Connie Quine on Mar 24, 2018

    If you mulch between your plants, at least 3" worth, it is likely to kill the moss, or keep it under control.

  • Wendy Wendy on Mar 24, 2018

    Good luck, let us know how it goes!

  • JudyH JudyH on Mar 24, 2018

    Have you tried putting down landscape fabric and covering it with landscape bark or mulch? That might help in areas with shade loving shrubs, of course, if you have bulbs, etc. that wouldn't work. Do you have lots of trees on your property? If you do, then you might want to consider having them topped or the canapy raised but it is really expensive to do that. I had moss growing in a side yard and had to get the canopy raised on a tree for other reasons and after it was pruned and more light could get to the area, the moss problem was eradicated.