Moss

Oysterowl83

Howdy All,

My juniper looked pretty plain with no moss at all around the base of the tree. I've done some reading online about moss leading to decay and bad drainage etc. etc While in Newport, RI this weekend, I saw ALOT of moss and decided to scoop some up..There were some very nice green tones. Take a look at the picture..How does the moss look and what not?

Thanks,
Anthony

Attached Images

DSC00401.JPG (62.8 KB, 67 views)

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DavidN

The moss looks fine. I really only use moss when I display trees at shows. I would change the arrangement of the moss slightly as it looks to uniform. I prefer a more randomly distributed placement of the moss.

TreeBay

Try to keep it away from the base of the tree right where you have deadwood at the soil level.. It will keep moisture in contact with the wood and speed its decay, and it will physically grow into the deadwood and make it even worse.

Looks like some lime sulphur there would help.

Regards,

Matt

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Oysterowl83

Hi Matt,

If I notice that I see some decay at the base of the tree, what do you suggest. I have read in several posts, the use of Mini Wax Wood Hardener. Do you have any tips? Also, would you suggest I use lime sulfur on the entire deadwood base of the tree right above the moss. If thats the case, do I use the mini wax or the lime sulfur first?

Thanks for your help,
Anthony

Pill_Man

Just curious... are there any types of moss which are tolerant to sunlight? Or is that an oxymoron?

TreeBay

It's a good question. They both need to penetrate to work. I would be tempted to use a hairdryer on low to dry out the deadwood (protect the soil surface and don't let it heat up too much). Then I would clean up the worst of the decay with a scraper (dental type tools can be useful for this). Dry it out a bit more and then use the hardener on it, followed by the lime sulfur once it has set up.

I think that hardener is basically epoxy. You might be able to use it over the top of lime sulfur but I would experiment with it before I counted on it sticking to stuff it can't get through.

Regards,

Matt

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Oysterowl83

Thanks Matt,

One other question. After the hardener is applied, should I lime sulfer the entire base or just the areas that are gray. Looking at the following picture, do you think I should lime sulfer the dark areas (aka the decay) as well?

Thanks,
Anthony

Attached Images

DSC00401.JPG (62.8 KB, 12 views)

TreeBay

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by the dark parts, but if it's dead, lime sulfur it. If it's not deadwood, don't lime sulphur it at least not with the same concentrated solution, or it might become dead. Cover the soil to keep lime sulfur off the living roots and moss, which it will kill, or the pot, which it will stain.

Pull back the soil a little around the dead areas at the base so you can do a better job, and ideally, don't run your shari all the way into the soil in the future, if you have the choice.

Regards,

Matt

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