Moss on Locust Tree

Photographer and Summary Author: Dale L. Hugo

Moss grows on stationary objects like this locust tree in my back yard. Moss wilts and dies in the presence of direct sun and this patch is mostly in the shade. The locust tree is about 48 years old, and five feet (1.5 m) in diameter at the root line. Moss has been used as insulation, packing material, and of course, soil improver in the case of Sphagnum. Should I want to rid my lawn of it, ferrous sulfate is prescribed by some, but at least the moss is green so I leave it alone. It doesn't hurt anything and some gardeners cultivate it for adding green to shady rock gardens and to cover between flagstones in the shade.

Photo details: Camera Maker: Samsung Techwin; Camera Model: <Samsung D70 / D75 / S730 / S750>; Focal Length: 5.8mm (35mm equivalent: 35mm); Aperture: f/2.8; Exposure Time: 0.017 s (1/60); ISO equiv: 80; Exposure Bias: none; Metering Mode: Matrix; Exposure: program (Auto); White Balance: Auto; Flash Fired: No (Auto); Color Space: sRGB; Copyright: COPYRIGHT, 2007