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Encouraging moss

(16 Posts)
Luckygirl3 Fri 01-Dec-23 09:27:21

There is a thread from someone wanting to get rid of moss. I want to find out how I can encourage it!!
I live in a new build in a very rural village. There are red brick walls around it about 3 - 4 feet high. I hate them as they are totally out of keeping with the situation. They would look much better covered in moss .... anyone know how to encourage this?

keepcalmandcavachon Fri 01-Dec-23 09:31:07

I have tried painting live yoghurt on stone garden ornaments and pots with mixed results, but think you probably wont have much success without deep dark shade!

Luckygirl3 Fri 01-Dec-23 09:40:27

Ah ... the walls are definitely in sunshine!
I cannot grow anything up them as there is a drive underneath the walls and no earth and no room for pots there.
There is a raised grass area above the walls and I have managed to get one ivy planted there to grow sufficiently large to defy the urge to grow upwards and it trails down over part of the wall.
Any other ideas for coveting these walls?

nanna8 Fri 01-Dec-23 09:42:14

It grows easily here on concrete, bricks etc. I think once it gets going it seems to spread. I pull it up on our brick paving because it can be slippery. It tends to grow more in the shady areas with overhanging branches.

keepcalmandcavachon Fri 01-Dec-23 10:17:48

Sunny position should work with prostrate Rosemary, despite her tipsy name she likes to be dry!

Luckygirl3 Fri 01-Dec-23 10:44:28

Would that grow down the wall do you think?

keepcalmandcavachon Fri 01-Dec-23 11:55:51

Yes, she would 'reach' downwards, pretty pale flowers and mostly look after herself!

Luckygirl3 Fri 01-Dec-23 11:56:47

Sounding good!

Cherrytree59 Fri 01-Dec-23 14:36:25

Passion flower in pots or in widow hanging type pots from top of wall.
In my experience, it will grow anywhere and spread up or down and across quickly .
Mine has leaves on all year round and orange fruit at the moment.

Bella23 Fri 01-Dec-23 15:38:55

Where I live it is a nuisance, especially on drives that slope towards the house.It grows on walls that do not get much sun but plenty of rain.
We also have very pretty delicate plants with tiny pink flowers, sorry I don't know its name but I know it is rampant in Galaway. How about House leeks or small ferns pushed into cracks with some soil we covered a wall that way.

Luckygirl3 Fri 01-Dec-23 17:48:59

Cherrytree59 - would that work planted into the ground above the wall - there is not enough space for anything like a basket sticking out from the wall.

Bella - thanks for the ideas.

Gwyllt Fri 01-Dec-23 20:24:26

Mexican fleabane will grow in any wall and the seedlings can spread once established
Buy a plant and collect seeds
Five years down the line my one plant has softened two paved areas and is at edge of paths and out of old walls. Can’t say if it likes new walls

Katie59 Fri 01-Dec-23 21:25:04

Ivy is a good climber, gather some berries from any convenient ivy plant or hedge sprinkle them along the foot of the wall that should solve the problem, ivy needs very little soil to take root and it appears from nowhere!.

Cherrytree59 Fri 01-Dec-23 23:09:30

I think it would work (Passion flower) Provided your wall is in sun otherwise it my grow down the other side of wall .
Our passion flower grows on our side of fence and I trails onto on neighbours side which they are happy with , flowering on both sides.
Very easy to grow and easy to root.

ElaineI Fri 01-Dec-23 23:23:55

Why do any of you want things to grow on the walls? Don't they damage walls and cause damp?

Gwyllt Sat 02-Dec-23 08:17:40

Elaine1. The effect of growing things on walls depends on the wall if it is an old wall or drystone wall the plants can hold it together. Plants can protect the wall from the elements. A friend removed plants from a wall on edge of stream. Looked great one year on wall collapsed and cost a fortune to rebuild A new wall not part of house who knows. Sounds as if nothing might grow on it anyway