Moss for mulch?

[yummersetter]

We had our moss-covered roof tiles scraped last week as the lumps were falling off in huge clods and bouncing on the postman's hoodie.

I now have two large barrowloads of moss to use up. Not the spagnum type but little cushiony mounds. I can't decide whether to tip it to weigh down the cardboard mulch around the fruit trees, use it in layers in the compost heap or drop it onto the horse manure pile.

Do you think it would do any harm used as it is, still live? Our trees are thick with lichens and thinner, feathery mosses after the wet year we've had but I don't think this will grow on the wood.

[FB.]

I don't see a problem. The moss will probably die and rot away just like other compostable material.

Mosses and lichens tend only to be on the outer part of the tree - clinging on in the same way as they do to zero-nutrient roof tiles.
In my observations, mosses/lichens on tiles (and trees, and headstones) tend to form where a bird has pooped.
If anything, I suspect that mosses and lichens offer a layer of protection to the underlying bark of the tree, since although the mosses may be damp, they form a barrier. Apple canker will not be pathogenic to the moss, and canker spores will not be able to penetrate through a layer of moss. In other words: the mosses and lichens will form a canker-resistant layer over the tree bark.

[Thelma Sanders]

I found that it doesn't rot if you put it in the compost heap. When you spread it it start growig again on the soil wherever you put it

[yummersetter]

That's what I was worrying about. I wonder if mossy grass from a mulch layer is any detriment/advantage to the tree roots underneath. Plenty of moss in natural woodlands so I guess no harm will come of it and it may even retain water, should such a thing ever become useful again.

[FB.]

Hi Thelma

That's interesting because I have tried to encourage moss to grow on the ground in certain areas - but it won't grow no matter how hard I try.
Maybe growth of moss depends on the soil type and climate.

[Aberdeenplotter]

It certainly has the knack of growing where you don't want it . Moss will compost down if in a suitable mix in the compost bin.