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scotch moss between flagstones of a path

19 years ago

I would like to grow scotch moss between the flagstones of my path. Some spaces between the stones are only an eight of an inch. Path is on North side of house and parts of the path get 4-6hrs sun at different times of day. Some of the stones are in crushed gravel/soil mixture.

I want to start the scotch moss from seed. Can anyone provide information on how to start this project - what do I need to do to prepare the soil, do I just sprinkle the seeds, do I cover up the seeds, water daily?

Thank you very much.

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Comments (7)

Belle_Eire
19 years ago
Hi! New to this forum. This is going to sound nuts, but I heard that you can mix the seed in w/some buttermilk and pour it on the area in which you want the moss to grow. I have moss growing naturally between my bricks (old c.1811, c.1907, and new bricks) laid out in a courtyard over sand. The fact that there are different ages and a slightly variant size means that there's room for stuff to grow, and this year the moss has taken hold, and I'm happy about that. I also have some wild violet seed I'm going to try out here and there to see if I can get that to grow, as it has sentimental value (my late Nana's violets). Well, that's all I know, but I know the folks that used the buttermilk mixture had good luck w/it. You might Google it and see if there are any results on the web.
Happy gardening!
pankhi
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank you Belle Eire for your response. Your suggestion is excellent for regular moss but scotch moss is not a moss, just looks like it so its called a moss. I just bought 2 cartons of buttermilk for my regular moss.
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Steve, one thing rubs me the wrong way and that is the use of impervious material below the path. You're asking for all the water to drain off sideways via the path edge. How much difference that will make I don't think anyone can confirm, but it seems in opposition to conventional thinking about draining path bases. Usually, one wants them to drain as much and as quickly as possible. But you have an objective that is probably not in any book so who's really out there to guide you with authority? It seems like you're experimenting in uncharted territory and would be the one to share, later, how the project turns out. Just remember that if you change your mind later at some later point, it (150' path) would be a lot of stuff to undo. (Or for the next owner of the property.)
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I know that moss doesn't do well in dry areas or areas with too much sun.
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Lizflowers-Sorry to hijack your thread!!! Thanks greenlarry! Gots lots more to add: a selaginella that may be scopulorum but ?? a page on helvetica ditto on rupestris other stachygynandrous selags: plana, wildenovii, others AND mosses mostly unid, lycopodiums, other plants, plus other stuff will be adding a thread here: a list of mosses of Utah with links to efloras and USDA images-this I am working on currently-Lots of Pottiaceous species Glad you find the site of interest.
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'Georgia Blue' Veronica ped... is lovely in all seasons of the year here & for me grows about 8" tall flopping a bit. It doesn't like to dry out, but it does like good drainage, so not sure if it would work for your area. Thymes are excellent, but need to be carefully weeded until established into a carpet. Takes precision fingers to do it, but it can be done. The dense top holds a bit of moisture & I find weeds germinating right inside it, but they're easy to pull. The bird seed might be the source of those weeds...
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
19 years ago
First, Scotch moss is not a true moss although it certainly bears a strong resemblance to it, so the buttermilk/yogurt routine will not work with this plant. Second, groundcover seed is not the easiest thing to find. If you already have located seed, you only need to add a layer of good soil between the pavers, sprinkle the seed on evenly, lightly cover and keep moist until it germinates and gets established. Rope or screen off the area so that no one or no critters can walk on it until it gets established. This is probably the most difficult part - are you able to do without the pathway for a good month to 6 weeks until the sagina is established well enough to take foot traffic?
pankhi
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank you gardengal48. I have found some sources for the scotch moss on the web. The information you have given me is precisely what I was looking for. Just one more question- does scotch moss need to be watered regularly once established or can it be left alone? I live in MD zone 6 outside Washington, D.C.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
19 years ago
Sagina prefers moist but well drained soil, so I would think watering during dry periods is the way to go. Our summers here are very dry and this is a groundcover that typically gets regular irrigation.
pankhi
Original Author
19 years ago
Thank you again gardengal48.
gugs_shaw_ca
12 years ago
What would cause browning of Scotch Moss. Especially in the middle?

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