Moss grows in shady, moist conditions.
Paving stones can be an important part of the home garden. Providing access through lawns and gardens, they lead the way with a clean surface and enable sure footing. Called hardscaping for obvious reasons, many gardeners wish to soften the hard edges of their stones with soft vegetation. If you have flagstone or other pavers, consider growing moss between them.
Benefits
Using moss between pavers softens the hard appearance of stones and pavers. It gives new gardens and patios an instant air of antiquity that many homeowners try so hard to achieve. When established, moss crowds out weeds in the garden and between pavers, reducing the burden of weed control. Last, but not least, moss is beautiful and brightens up a shady area.
Application
You could transplant moss piece by piece, but a more effective way to cover a large area is to make a slurry of moss. In spring or fall, collect moss from shady areas of your yard that have the same shade and moisture conditions as the area you're planting. Mix 2 parts water, 2 parts moss and 1 part buttermilk in an old blender. Pour the mix between the stones. Keep it moist by misting with water until it grows and becomes self-sufficient in two to four weeks.
Sunny Sites
Moss grows poorly in sun, so you'll need another plant to do the job. Try Sagina subulata -- Irish moss. A dense, fine carpet of bright green foliage that forms mounds a few inches tall, it looks just like true moss. The tiny flowers are insignificant. Irish moss can be planted in full or part sun, but must have perfect drainage. Keep watered until established. Irish moss takes moderate foot traffic and feels wonderfully cool and tickly under bare feet.
Alternatives
Many plants are suited to growing between stones. For sun or part sun, try Arabis var. Mountain Rockcress, a small mounding tuft with tiny pink globular flowers. It grows in dry areas. Creeping thyme also prefers sun and stays tight and compact at just 1 to 3 inches tall. The tiny, low-growing, bright gold leaves of Sunshine Veronica make a splash between stones in the shade.
