Scotch Moss Groundcover Heart

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Create a beautiful garden element using Scotch moss groundcover and simple materials. This would work equally well with Irish moss.

Take an unpretentious frame and create a Scotch moss groundcover heart in your garden. Add a bit of rock and gravel to accent it and you have a garden feature that is sure to impress. It is a feel-good design element that creates a place for the eye to rest.

Place it near a garden path for the best effect. This sweet moss heart is easy to make and very budget-friendly!

Scotch Moss ground cover shaped into a heart surrounded by rock and gravel, Flower Patch Farmhouse

Scotch Moss or Irish Moss

The moss groundcover we have available locally is either Scotch Moss (Sagina subulata ‘Aurea’) or Irish Moss (Sagina subulata). Scotch Moss is a chartreuse green while Irish Moss is a darker green. Both are hardy in Zones 4-8 though really that can be extended by your local growing conditions.

For example, I saw Scotch Moss growing quite well in the Mendocino Botanical Gardens and they are a zone 9.

Please note: there is another groundcover called Scotch Moss that is Arenaria Verna and many argue it is the true Scotch Moss but I did not find it in our area. Just be aware if you ask for Scotch Moss at your local garden center you may be directed to Arenaria Verna, which could work for this too, it just has a different texture and look.

Scotch moss in Mendocino Botanical Gardens
Mendocino Botanical Gardens in July

You can see how well it is growing there creeping over the rocks. It is gorgeous even when not in a frame like we are doing in this post. I want to bring in some large stones to place around my garden as I love the structure they bring but that is for another post.

Even though the Mendocino Botanical gardens are zone 9, the moss groundcover grows well here because of the mild, coastal climate. The minimum average temperatures that make up the zoning do not always determine what you can grow well. To help explain this I wrote the article Growing By Zone, as so many are really confused by the zoning topic.

(I recently read another plant grower that listed this plant as growing in zones 4-10 so there is discrepancies between information out there. It is always a good idea to talk to local gardeners about what grows well in their garden)

Shape Frame for Scotch Moss Heart

I used a metal ring from a wine barrel and my strong husband had to bend it to shape as I tried and couldn’t. He did it by hand. If you don’t have a metal ring try making an outline with stones or maybe small tree limbs, anything to outline the area can work.

heart shape frame for moss groundcover

I added a bit of compost to the soil and mixed it in, loosening the soil within the frame. Place your heart shaped ring in an area that gets either dappled sun or morning sun, afternoon shade. Scotch and Irish moss prefer some relief from hot, direct sun. Neither will grow well in complete shade.

Plant Scotch Moss in Frame

As you can see here I had some Scotch moss growing between pavers in my garden. I dug up portions to use in the heart. I made sure to dig deep enough to get plenty of roots. This is a great way to propagate Scotch Moss but I have read that it will reseed as well.

You can purchase groundcover plants at many local nurseries, they usually have a section dedicated to groundcovers. You can buy a full flat or they come in six packs as well. There can be quite a wide variety of low growing plants to choose from. I have an entire post dedicated to groundcovers I grow here in my gardens.

Digging up Scotch moss next to a paver

Plant the sections or pieces about 6 inches apart or so to fill in quickly. If planting a larger area, place the plants or segments 12 inches apart, it takes longer to fill in but if you have only a few plants it works.

Once you have the moss planted it is time to put down a bit of weed blocking material. Here cardboard torn into pieces works well. To prevent weeds from creeping through the cracks, place the different sections of cardboard so they overlap.

placing cardboard around heart shape for moss groundcover

I also used brown craft paper with the cardboard.

Adding stones around Moss Heart

Use stones you have in your garden, if you have them. I had to purchase stones as I don’t have any in my garden and I can only collect locally in small increments. It is much less expensive to buy them at the garden center than to hunt them down. (see my video to hear how I was teased by the check out clerk)

river rock in a bag from garden center

Start with the larger rocks and place them randomly over the cardboard and brown craft paper. Scatter them thickly or use less, it is up to you.

River rock place around Moss heart garden element

Add pea gravel

Fill in between the stones with pea gravel. I used a bag and a half in this area. They come in the same size bags as the larger stones.

Pea gravel placed around Moss heart shape and stones

There may be bits of cardboard or the craft paper I used but that will quickly deteriorate. You can also fold and tuck it under the gravel. Rinse down all the rocks to dust them off well and you can see your new garden element.

As an alternative you can just fill the heart ring with stones for another fun look in the garden.

How to Grow and Care for Scotch Moss groundcover (Irish Moss)

Scotch and Irish moss are not true moss but a low growing perennial. Some claim it is evergreen and others say it is a herbaceous perennial. In my garden it behaves like a herbaceous perennial. Turning brown with the first freezes and greening back up as the weather warms in Spring.

Plant Scotch moss in well draining moist soil. In hot summer areas you will want to plant it where it gets afternoon shade or dappled sunlight. In direct, hot sun it will scorch and turn brown but green back up when the weather cools.

Dig the hole to plant just deep enough for the root ball. Planting too deep can cause the plant to rot.

Water well directly after planting and keep evenly moist for the summer. During high heat spells you may need to water more frequently. Over watering can create brown patches in the Scotch moss.

Dividing Scotch Moss is a great way to get more to plant around the garden and prevents overgrowth of the main plant.

Let me know if you make a moss shape in your garden! Now to find a spot for some groundcover that takes full sun.

Happy Growing!

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