Growing Irish Moss and Weed Problems

by Ellen

Thank you so much for your newsletter...it is very informative.

I have a problem with landscaping that I have done on my yard. I planted Irish Moss on a slope because it would have been too hard to mow if I had planted grass in this particular area. Just below the slope is a stone
pathway, so I need to do something that would keep the dirt from flowing down onto the pathway whenever it rained.

The problem I am having with the Irish Moss is that weeds and grass have been growing up through the Moss. Any suggestions as to how I can prevent this from happening? I
have been pulling up the weeds and grass, but this is a never ending job.

I can't use anything to kill the weeds because it would also kill the Irish Moss. I am thinking of just removing all the Moss and starting over with something else.....any suggestions as to what I could use?
Thank you so much.

ANSWER
First, thanks for subscribing to my newsletter and I'm glad you found it helpful.

Moss tends to grow in extremely damp and shady conditions. So your slope should be very shady to begin with. A slope has to be particularly shady
for Moss due to water not usually collecting there but running down the slope, which often leads to dry conditions.

If you could let me know your conditions (sunny, shady or anything else you could provide), I'd be happy to make some suggestions.

Susan