Ml_work

As I remove the moss from my sick Tansu today I noticed some other trees that have a good bit of moss covering them. I have a Hornbeam that had some moss growing when I purchase it. Now it is covered, I had not really noticed in day to day watering. As I looked close the moss is thick, but allows water to go right through and the pot drains great. My thinking has been that it helps keep the soil cool in the summer heat. I think maybe my big problem is that when I see the super trees in books and on the sites, many have moss covering the soil. I have learned that it is more for show and most of the time used just in a show, then removed. I think this has my inexperienced eye/mind fooled that the moss goes hand in hand with a Nice tree. So when I see it growing on my trees I feel it looks good and I am doing something right. Does anyone leave moss on their soil.....??

??
ML

noissee

it depends on how much soil is covered, and what conditions the tree likes. some trees like to stay a little on the moist side. generally you don't want your pot covered in moss though. something that i've been trying to do is grow little mushrooms in some of my pots

centaura

The only trees that I consciously allow the moss to stay on are my rock plantings, where its helping hold soil in place. Now, I do get moss growth on a lot of my trees, especially this year with the cooler than normal temps. But I do try to scrape it off the trunk when it grows there, as that's really not a great idea. I know we get suckered in with all the pretty pictures of trees with moss on them in books, but that moss has been placed there just for show purposes. I know at places like the Chicago Botanic Garden, where trees are on display for months, no moss is allowed to grow up near the trunks at all.

-Centaura