From Martha's Garden
Discover the Magic of Moss Gardens With Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart introduces viewers to moss gardens, which is the most beautiful style of landscaping you never knew you needed for your home! Not only are moss gardens pleasing to the eye, but they are also environmentally friendly!
Have you been wanting to start your own garden, but don’t want to grow the mainstream flowers and vegetables? Starting your own moss garden is a unique way to break the mold of traditional gardening! In order to show how magical and beautiful moss gardens can be, Gardening Expert Martha Stewart pays a visit to the half-acre moss garden at the The Bloedel Reserve in Washington. On this episode of “From Martha’s Garden,” Martha interviews Richard Brown, the director of the reserve, to learn the secrets of the mysterious moss garden.
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During her visit, Martha learns that the reserve’s job is to preserve the moss garden, which the Bloedel family worked hard to grow and perfect from 1952 to 1970. Moss gardens thrive in the Pacific Northwest, but can do well in any location with the proper care and attention. But once the Moss Garden is established, you won’t need to put in too much effort into landscaping and maintenance. According to Richard Brown, their main method for caring for the famous moss garden is to “let nature do its own thing.”
Starting your own moss garden would be beneficial for both the environment and your landscaping goals. For example, you don’t need to use any poisonous pesticides, fertilizers, or pollutants to bring your garden to life. Mosses naturally repel insects and critters, and using fertilizers or herbicides will hurt the moss much more than it would help. In addition, planting moss helps reduce air pollution, and provides much-needed erosion protection and flood mitigation around your home.
If you simply enjoy looking at moss gardens but don’t want a full garden, you could grow it indoors or make a moss garden jar! Moss gardens can be as big or as small as you’d like. If you’re lucky, you might even grow a moss garden that becomes famous like The Bloedel Reserve, which would leave behind history and beauty for future generations of your family to visit and enjoy.
Are you ready to start your own moss garden? Here are some mosses that look great as part of any garden!
Carpet Moss
Carpet Moss is lush and green, and is named for the way it resembles carpet. Carpet Moss grows best on decaying wood in moist environments, and is usually found in the eastern parts of the United States and Europe. However, this moss often thrives when placed in rich, well-drained, loamy soils, and is a low maintenance addition to any garden!
Sphagnum Moss
Sphagnum moss, which is also known as peat moss, is a great addition to your garden because it naturally increases acidity and improves the drainage of the soil. It is especially useful in fledgling gardens, as this moss will encourage new seeds to grow and help your plants get just the right amount of nutrients.
Garden Moss
Garden Moss is perfect for growing mini indoor gardens, or for large outdoor landscaping endeavors. They can thrive in sun, shade, or even on trees! This moss does need a moist environment, but is hardy and can withstand accidental overwatering and more severe weather conditions than other plants and flowers.
Ground Fern Moss
Ground Fern Moss, or Thuidium Delicatulum as it is formally known in the science community, derives its visible name from its fern-like appearance. Ground Fern Moss is found naturally on every continent except Antarctica, which means it is designed to thrive wherever your home is located. This moss just needs a little extra water than some of its other moss counterparts, but is overall a low maintenance addition to any garden.
Topiary Moss
Did you know moss can be used to create works of art? Topiary moss can be molded into any design, animal, or creation you can imagine! Most people use chicken wire to create the mold, and then use topiary moss to beautifully fill in the design. Although topiary moss can be used for complex designs, it is low maintenance and easy to take care of.
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