How to Grow Moss

By
Marie Iannotti
Garden Writer Marie Iannotti
Marie Iannotti
Marie Iannotti is a life-long gardener and a veteran Master Gardener with nearly three decades of experience. She's also an author of three gardening books, a plant photographer, public speaker, and a former Cornell Cooperative Extension Horticulture Educator. Marie's garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles.
Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process
Updated on 07/17/24
Reviewed by
Barbara Gillette
Barbara Gillette
Reviewed by Barbara Gillette
Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.
Learn more about The Spruce's Review Board
Bright green moss with tin leaves on top closeup

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

In This Article
Project Overview
  • Working Time: 30 mins - 1 hr
  • Total Time: 1 - 2 days
  • Skill Level: Intermediate
  • Estimated Cost: $10 to $50

Learning how to grow moss can give your backyard an aged, "secret garden" look. In certain climates, you'll notice moss popping up on its own, usually on pavers, trees, and bare spots in the lawn. If you love the look of moss, you can intentionally grow it in your garden as a bed, edging, or on rock walls.

Moss prefers moisture, shade, and generally acidic soil. Though it's not traditionally hard to care for, the hot afternoon sun will quickly destroy it, leaving it crunchy and brown. Instead of roots, moss has shallow filaments that take up nutrients (it also propagates through spore production). These filaments dry up faster than the deep roots of other plants, so keeping your moss bed moist and weed-free is important to eliminate competition for nutrients.

When to Plant Moss

The best time to transplant or propagate moss is in early spring when the sun sits lower in the sky and the ground conditions are still wet from winter rain or snow. Moss beds started early enough in the season will be able to establish themselves well before the summer heat and other challenging growing conditions set in. However, ensure the threat of frost has passed before selecting a shady area for your plantings.

Before Getting Started

If you're transplanting moss from one area to another (instead of buying it from a nursery), check if the conditions in the new planting area are similar to the original to minimize potential transplant problems.

Strengthen transplants by placing a small piece of moss on a scrap of landscape fabric. Then, put it in a shallow plate filled with water so the moss is not submerged but stays moist. Once the moss filaments attach to the landscape fabric, move the whole piece onto the soil patch you've prepared for transplanting.

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Transplant Method

  • Pitchfork or trowel
  • Rake
  • Garden hose and sprinkler
  • Spray bottle

Surry Method

  • Blender
  • Paintbrush or spatula
  • Spray bottle
  • Garden hose and sprinkler

Materials

Transplanting Method

  • pH test strips
  • Moss pieces
  • Landscaping pins
  • Soil amendments (if needed)

Slurry Method

  • Buttermilk or yogurt
  • Chopped moss

Instructions

Materials and tools to grow moss on dirt ground

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

How to Grow Moss by Transplanting (For Soil)

The easiest way to start moss is to take an established piece from somewhere else and move it to your desired location. You can also purchase several varieties of moss from your local garden store to use as transplants. This method works best for growing moss directly in the soil as an edging to your garden or a way to cover up bare patches in your lawn where grass won't grow.

  1. Upturn and Weed the Area

    Using a pitchfork or other garden tool, upturn and weed the soil where you want to plant your moss. Rake the surface so it's flat but textured; this way the moss filaments can make good contact with the ground.

    Handheld pitchfork upturning soil for area to plant moss

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  2. Test Your Soil's Acidity

    Use pH test strips to conduct a soil test and gauge the pH level. If the results read more than 5.5, add compost, manure, or another soil amendment to make it slightly more acidic and appealing to moss.

    Soil being tested for acidity with pH strips in glass jar of water

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  3. Wet the Planting Area

    Use a nearby hose or sprinkler system to water the planting area well, allowing the water to soak in for around 30 minutes until the soil is visibly moist but without puddles or standing water.

    Water being poured over soil area for planting moss

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  4. Lay the Moss

    Place the sheets of transplanted moss onto the soil and press them down firmly, pinning them in place with landscaping pins. You can also temporarily anchor the moss with light rocks.

    Moss pieces being laid over moist soil with gloves

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

  5. Keep the Moss Moist

    Keep your newly-transplanted moss moist for at least the first few weeks, until it has been established. You can do this by misting it with a spray bottle or hose attachment with a mist setting. You can tell the moss has taken root when it doesn’t lift from the soil with a gentle tug.

    Transplanted moss being sprayed with water bottle to be kept moist

    The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

How to Grow Moss With Slurry (For Rocks and Bricks)

It’s difficult to start moss as a transplant on a rock or brick surface, so that's where a slurry comes in. A slurry is a mixture of chopped moss and a food medium (typically buttermilk or yogurt) that helps it propagate. The slurry can then be painted onto the rock of your choice to help add moss to that surface.

  1. Make the Slurry

    Use a blender to mix 2 cups of buttermilk or plain yogurt with 1 to 1 1/2 cups of chopped moss, fresh or dried. Add a small amount of water if the mixture is too thick and won't spread easily. Add more moss if it’s too thin. Allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for a day or two to create spores.

    Blender filled with mixture of buttermilk and moss to make slurry

    The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

  2. Paint Slurry Onto the Surface

    Use a paintbrush to coat the moss slurry onto the desired surface. If the slurry is thick enough to stay in place, pour it on instead.

    White slurry spread on rock surface with paint brush

    The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

  3. Mist the Slurry

    Use a spray bottle to mist the surface with the added slurry to dampen it slightly. Do not use too much water or soak the slurry completely, which can wash away the moss spores and undo all your hard work.

    Slurry misted with water from spray bottle

    The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

  4. Keep the Mixture Wet

    Periodically check on your moss application, routinely spraying the area to maintain a moist surface. You'll want to repeat this process until you notice visible moss forming—once spread, the slurry first might grow mold, but in about six weeks you should see signs of moss. At that point, it's fine to regularly moisten the area with a sprinkler or garden hose as you would traditional grass.

    Growing slurry moss misted with water from spray bottle

    The Spruce / Colleen & Shannon Graham

FAQ
  • Is moss low or high maintenance to grow?

    Moss is low maintenance to grow and care for as it does not need to be fertilized, mowed, or raked. It requires consistent moisture but once it is established, it withstands less watering.

  • Can you grow moss inside?

    Moss can easily be grown indoors. Create a damp, humid environment away from direct sunlight to grow moss indoors. A closed terrarium is an ideal container to grow moss.

  • How long does it take for moss to grow and cover a yard?

    Growing moss to cover a yard takes 12 to 18 months or longer. It also depends on the yard's size and how much you are covering.