If you’re ready to retire your lawn mower, you might want to explore Irish moss—especially if your yard is smaller and shaded.
“Irish moss” is not a true moss, but a low-growing perennial that behaves more like a ground cover or a low-growing plant that spreads across the soil and covers bare spots. It stays short on its own so you don’t have to mow to keep it neat.
At first, it might seem like a no-brainer if you’re tired of routine lawn maintenance.
However, Irish moss does come with a few major downsides to consider, such as regular weeding and limited foot traffic tolerance.
So before you get rid of the grass outside your home for good, weigh the pros and cons of moss for your unique property and goals.
Why choose Irish moss?
“Replacing grass with moss or moss-like ground covers is eco-friendly and offers a calming, nature-inspired environment,” says Shane Pliska, president and CEO of Planterra in Detroit.
With Irish moss, you eliminate mowing, reduce noise, and avoid most chemical fertilizers and herbicides that usually dominate suburban lawn care.
It can also add a lot of whimsical charm to your garden, especially once it blooms with small, white flowers in the spring and summer.
Additionally, if you have a smaller, shaded lawn where grass typically struggles, you can expect it to thrive and give your property a lush, carpet-like look.
Downsides to consider
Contrary to popular belief, Irish moss isn’t low-maintenance.
In fact, Bryan Clayton, founder and CEO of GreenPal in Nashville, warns that moss will actually require more TLC than your average lawn.
While you may lose the mower, you will pick up the weeding. Keeping moss clean means staying ahead of saplings all the time.
“Unless you’ve got a goat handy, which, let’s be honest, most people don’t, you’ll want a good set of kneepads,” explains Pliska.
You’ll also need to be mindful of foot traffic as Irish moss doesn’t tolerate trampling the way alternative options like Kentucky bluegrass do.
Additionally, the moss is not drought tolerant and will need watering every few days to keep it moist at all times. If you don’t water it enough, brown patches will likely pop up and hinder its appearance.
“Irish moss can reduce irrigation needs in shaded, naturally moist environments, but in sunny or drought-prone areas, it requires just as much water, if not more than turf,” adds Pliska.
How to install and care for it
If you live in a densely shaded property and no longer want to worry about mowing, Irish moss might be a good alternative to grass.
However, keep in mind it’s not like something you can just go buy off the shelf. Landscaping supply yards don’t sell moss by the pallet like they do turf grass.
“It’s something that you have to naturally create the conditions for,” says Clayton.
Consider buying plugs (pre-grown patches of moss) or starting your own transplants indoors. Whatever you do, be patient as moss can take a while to grow.
“Once you notice growth, create your little mini moss sod farm in your backyard. Transplant it in a checkerboard fashion, and before you know it, after a couple of years, it’ll take over,” Clayton explains.
You’ll want to water the moss regularly and keep foot traffic to a minimum by installing steppingstones if your outdoor space gets used frequently.
When it comes to weeding, Clayton recommends doing it by hand as Irish moss is very delicate and easy to grab.