Is Moss a Type of Weed?

Have you ever wondered "Is moss a type of weed?" The answer is surprisingly simple and annoying complex—it depends on who you ask. As with most kinds of plants in the world, if a plant is growing somewhere you don't want it then it is a weed. Here are a few guidelines that you can use to help you decide whether that moss in your yard is a weed that needs to be removed, or whether it can be left alone.

• Is it on the lawn? Despite what many people may like to think, moss doesn't only grow on stones and old trees. It can also grow on your lawn. Unfortunately, if the moss is on the lawn you may need to consider either removing it, or encouraging its expansion. The reason for this is that lawn moss tends to have a different look or appearance from the rest of the lawn, and can detract from the look you may want for your landscape design.
• Did you put it there? If you did not put the moss where you found it, you may want to look into why it is there. There are times when moss, particularly lawn moss, can be a sign of a more serious underlying problem. Look into the soil content for both are affected by the moss, as well as the rest of the lawn. Further, make sure that you are providing the proper care for your lawn to ensure that you don't accidentally harm it.
• Do you like the look? Take a good long look at the moss, and make a decision as to whether or not you like how it all looks. Remember, just because you have moss somewhere doesn't mean that you need to get rid of it. Moss, particularly the kinds that grows on stones, masonry, or trees, can add a wonderful touch of age to your landscape design if utilized properly.
• Remove or embrace. If you don't like the moss, then you will need to remove it. It is fairly easy to remove moss from masonry, it just requires a bit of scrubbing (and perhaps a bit of bleach. However, if you are going to be removing moss from lawn, you will need to do a bit of digging, as well as reseeding some grass. Another option is to totally embrace the moss, and create an entire lawn out of it. This second option should only be used if the soil and other environmental conditions will support the decision.

Keep in mind that these are only guidelines. While they are designed to help you out, only you can make the final determination as to whether or not moss is in fact a type of weed. Remember, not everyone will have the same taste when it comes to landscaping design and plants. While you may not want to annoy your neighbors, you should definitely go with what you like in your design.