Re: Moss as indication of acidity?
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] Moss as indication of acidity?
- From: M* T*
- Date: Wed, 9 Aug 2000 23:49:07 -0400
I'm not sure moss is simply an indication of acid soil. Can also
indicate damp and/or compacted soil. Most moss prefers acid soil,
but there are species that grow on alkaline soil, too. There are so
many species of moss with differing requirements.
Think, too, it can simply be an indication of moisture being present.
I've got a section of gravel driveway where an underground drain
pipe daylights - and which stays pretty moist - that is covered in
moss. Have removed it a couple of times in a vain effort to relocate
it to where I'd like it to grow and it returns, so have given up.
It's growing on gravel over stonedust that, over time, has had
organic material decompose in it and in a couple of spots some clay
has gotten spread on it...but it grows just as well on the gravel,
which is probably not very acid in itself, but stays moist and, oddly
enough, gets a couple hours of direct full sun each day. This moss
does not like to live in the shady places where I have tried to move
it.
Have a lot of moss in our so-called lawn and this is due, I think, to
compaction, shade and probably soil acidity, since that "lawn" hasn't
been limed in 20 years. It seems to remain even when the soil gets
dry, at least in some of the spots.
Also have some absolutely magnificent patches of moss growing on some
piles of exposed clay subsoil in shade....I even weed these with the
idea of someday moving the lumps they are growing on to a place I'd
rather have them:-) Now, am sure that soil is on the acid side, but
am not sure that is why these particular clumps exist there. Also
have moss growing nicely on bark from felled trees, which is likely
not very acidic in nature.
The trees you name are also in my woods, which is basically acid
soil, so your soil is likely not really alkaline, but it's best to
get a test done if you want to cater to true acid lovers and you're
not sure.
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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> From: Bobbi Diehl <diehlr@INDIANA.EDU>
> Date: Wednesday, August 02, 2000 12:04 PM
>
> Thanks, Judy. I will have the soil tested to be sure. There is
already a
> bit of moss growing back there in the lawn where we want the acid
garden;
> is that an indication of acid soil? And yes, we do have a large pin
oak,
> but it is on the east side of the yard. Of course, I can rake the
fallen
> leaves over to the acid garden.
>
> You asked what trees are there now. A silver maple (yuck) to the
west of
> the spot where we want this garden, a large beech and a large
redbud tree
> to the east. In the vicinity of the garden there were two diseased
tulip
> poplars, which we had taken out.
>
> Bobbi Diehl
> Bloomington, IN
> zone 5/6
>
> On Tue, 1 Aug 2000, Judy Cosler wrote:
> > you should probably wait a year for the pH to adjust (if it is
> > seriously alkaline). What trees are there now. Oaks leaves are,
I
> > believe, acidic -- for ex. If it's not seriously alkaline, I
> > poisanlly (!) think that plants have a pretty high tolerance for
a
> > range of pH.
> >
> >
