Back in 2020, the uncertainty brought on by the coronavirus pandemic drew many to a kind of back-to-nature escapism that became known as cottagecore. That’s an interest of aesthetically pleasing images and principles, made popular on social media. Cottagecore celebrates simple living – think rustic cottages, open meadows, fern-lined pathways, quiet retreats like sewing and baking. And at the beginning of the pandemic with so much unknown, looking at endless images online of these idyllic pastimes, lush green landscapes and open flower fields probably did go a fair way to quiet worried minds.
For many in a more rural state like Vermont, practices embraced by cottagecore, like growing your own flowers and produce, keeping chickens in the back yard for fresh eggs and baking homemade bread, are not just a viral sensation but part of daily life. Still, if you’re looking to add another layer of this idyllic aesthetic to your own yards and landscape this spring, one way to achieve the look: moss.
Where the temperatures are cool and the weather moist and humid – think England, Ireland, Scotland and northern New England – moss grows fairly easily on rocks, outcroppings, bricks and pathways. And if you’ve got the key conditions in your backyard, moss can, indeed, add lots of woodsy charm. For moss to grow well though, it needs deeply shaded areas that still get some dappled light and sandy soil plus lots of moisture. If your yard has wooded areas or shady parts that still get some indirect sunlight and your soil is very thin with low pH, there are hundreds of different types of mosses that you can grow. If your patience is shorter than it takes moss to grow on a stone, a good method to jump-start the process is to purchase it from a garden center.
Some types that you can buy include sheet moss, tree moss, cushion moss and fern moss. Sheet moss grows low to the ground and creates a kind of carpet on rocks and soil. It’s fast-growing while tree moss, grows a bit taller. Because either of these mosses won’t grow too tall, you’ll never need to mow them. Cushion moss grows better in sandier soils while fern moss grows well on slopes and wet areas.
One method that might encourage more moss growth involves making a “moss milkshake!” The moss milkshake recipe calls for a handful of native moss that is already growing in your landscape, then adding a cup of buttermilk and a bit of water. Blend all of the ingredients in a blender, then use the liquified moss mixture to “paint” it with a brush onto clay pots, bricks, and any wooded, shady and wet areas that you want to encourage more moss to grow. Water the moss-painted areas regularly to keep the humidity high and you should see some moss growing. This isn’t a proven method but worth a try!
