Will moss squeeze out my other shade plants?

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RitaSparkles Ellensburg, WA Mar 22, 2009

I'd like to create a plant island around the base of a maple tree. It would mostly be shady with some filtered sun in the afternoon. I'm thinking bluebells and lily of the valley (maybe some hostas and/or astilbe) Would it be crazy to put some irish moss in too? Would the moss squeeze out the other plantings? I'd love any advice. I'm new at this.

Thanks all!

(zone 6A)


This message was edited Mar 22, 2009 11:57 AM

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physeek New York, NY(Zone 7a) Mar 26, 2009

You could always cut the Irish moss back if it starts to get too close to your other plantings, or maybe use some stepping type flat stones to control its spread.
(I'm not experienced at all though, just some thoughts)

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Smokey_SC Piedmont, SC(Zone 7b) Mar 26, 2009

I don't think the moss should bother anything. I have moss all across the back of my house. It certainly does not stop any and every weed from growing up thru it.

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monkapotamus Winston Salem, NC(Zone 7b) Mar 29, 2009

The moss roots so shallowly, I don't think it would compete too much at all. Good luck! I've been thinking of doing something like this around a tree in our front yard, so I'd love to see a pic if you go ahead with the plan.

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kwanjin (Zone 7a) Mar 29, 2009

I, too, agree that the moss would do no harm to the other plants. I have lots growing along the back of my house and the other plants come through just fine. Hellebore on the left, Astilbe growing through it in the middle and a freshly planted Dicentra on the right. Over the winter, the Dicentra died back but it's coming back THROUGH the moss. The moss and Astilbe have been together for about 5 years.

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