The Benefits of Growing a Moss Lawn

Your lawn is the focal point of your entire property, the greener the better. However, the traditional grass lawn is becoming hotly contested, not only for its high-maintenance nature but also for not being the most eco-friendly option for landscaping.

In a bid to go the greener route (literally and figuratively speaking), homeowners are looking for grass alternatives that offer multiple benefits besides just looking good. And that is where moss comes in.

What is a Moss Lawn?

Moss is a dense, low-growing plant that thrives in most regions, except for highly arid environments. They differ from grass in that they don’t have a root system. Instead, they absorb moisture through the leaves and propagate through spore production.

Moss has many benefits, which we will cover in the next section. However, it is difficult and expensive to install compared to grass.

If you aren’t sure if moss is right for your yard, remember that you can install a small area or use it to make a gravel walking path or pebble zen garden with river rocks or large landscaping stones.

What Are the Advantages of Growing a Moss Lawn?

Even though moss is pricier, the value is worth it. The benefits of moss outdo grass by a long shot. Let’s take a look!

Moss is Short

Growing only about 4 inches has its merits. For one, you won’t have to mow your moss lawn. This saves on fossil fuel use and fewer carbon emissions are released since you don’t need a mower. Plus, this is less work for you, making moss delightfully low maintenance.

No Pests

Moss doesn’t attract pests, which means less of a headache for you to deal with. More importantly, it also means you don’t need to invest in chemical pesticides– another score for being environmentally friendly.

Hardy & Easy

Moss grows in almost any environment, including poor soil. You won’t have to rely on fertilizer, which can be costly and contain chemicals that hurt the environment. It even grows in rocky or compacted soil, which makes it a great choice for hillsides. 

Erosion Control

Since moss can be grown on hillsides, this makes it one of the landscaper favorites for erosion control. Turf can also be planted on slopes, but it washes away rather quickly. Moss holds its ground and prevents erosion.

Low Irrigation

Another low-maintenance and eco-friendly perk of moss is that it doesn’t require much water. True, in order to achieve the full, lush green leaves that we typically see with moss growing in damp conditions, it needs to be well hydrated. However, once the moss is established in an area, it doesn’t need much moisture and can store water in its leaves for long periods of time.

Great for Creating Pebble Walkways

You might’ve heard that it’s not good to walk on moss, as heavy foot traffic can hurt it. The truth is, it’s actually helpful to lightly walk on moss to help it attach to the ground after installation. If you’re worried about trampled moss, you can construct pebble walkways in high-traffic areas of your yard.