Care of Irish Moss in Patios

Irish moss is a perennial seaweed that looks similar to moss and can be used as a cover plant. It grows well around concrete objects such as stepping stones, without overtaking them, which makes it an ideal choice for a living patio. Irish moss also works well for patios because it is hardy and easy to care for.

Plant Irish moss on your patio during the spring or fall, so that the plant will get enough sunlight to grow but not so much that it dries out. Space the seeds 3 to 4 inches apart from each other, as well as from any pavement or stones on your patio. Sprinkle a small amount of sand over the soil, and add fertilizer to help the plant grow. As the seeds germinate, and the Irish moss begins to grow, keep the soil moist by watering the ground regularly. Don't overwater though, or the plant can attract fungus and die. Planting in an area with well-drained soil will help you avoid overwatering. After the moss has grown, continue watering it once each week for at least 1 year. In addition to watering the plant, provide fertilizer once each season. Irish moss grows best with a mixture of sunlight and shade. If your patio is completely covered, the Irish moss may have trouble surviving, but without any shade the plant may get dried out by the sun. In warm climates with long days, providing some form of shade is necessary. You can plant a few small trees on your patio, or construct a pergola to provide the partial shade necessary. Irish moss often attracts aphids, a small insect that eats the plant and can destroy it. Rather than using chemicals to kill aphids, you can plant flowers and vegetables on or around the patio to attract ladybugs. Ladybugs will eat the aphids and leave your plants alone. If you are using Irish moss to cover the majority of your patio, you will inevitably walk on it often. Irish moss will survive being walked on, but if you walk on the same area too regularly, you may cause damage. If there is a path on your patio that you typically walk, you should add stepping stones along it. The Irish moss will grow to the edges of the stepping stones, but not over them. You can also consider paving the sections of your patio that you walk on the most and using Irish moss to cover the remainder.