| I have a Japanese garden in which I'm trying to grow Irish and Scotch moss in the spaces between boulders (which have been filled with soil). I fertilize sparingly in the spring with 5-5-5 or diluted fish oil. The soil is kept reasonably moist and the location receives filtered sun in the morning and near full sun in the afternoon. I have 3 questions. 1. How do I get it to self-sow? 2. In some locations the moss picks up a subtle browning and then dies about 2 months later. What could cause this and is there a remedy? 3. How do I determine by looking at the moss if I'm over or under feeding? |
The browning of your plants might indicate overly moist soil conditions and the development of a fungal disease. Dig out the affected plant parts and adjust your watering practices. Instead of keeping the soil constantly moist, allow it to dry out a bit between waterings. The plants are not heavy feeders and too much nitrogen will cause the foliage to grow into mounds rather than to create a low carpet. One fertilizer application in the spring and another in the late summer should keep your plants growing at just the right rate. In my garden I propagate Scotch Moss by cutting 1"-2" strips from established plantings and replanting them. The empty spaces fill in rapidly and I think it helps to prevent overcrowding of the existing plants. Hope this information helps! |
