On 5/7/04 9:40 AM, in article , "Franz
Heymann" wrote:


"gary davis" wrote in message
...
big snip

It always helps to have more information about a problem in
order to
offer corrective (hopefully) suggestions. I could have misread your
original
post also.
So, the moss you have is growing on bare soil (and not on the
lawn)
between flowers and such.

Yes.

A question:
Have you tried turning the moss over so that it is buried?

Yes. It gives temporary relief.

I would
think the deeper (within reason) the better.

I cannot go deep at all, since my topsoil is barely 6" above shattered
sandstone bedrock

Moss does like acid soils and
one would think that by adding some lime to the soil after turn in
would
help.

My soil is somewhat acid, but not remarkably so. I have been keeping
a couple of patches thoroughly limed for growing Dianthus. The moss
problem is not significantly better there.

If for some reason you cannot turn the moss over then try
covering it
with sand. The moss must be totally covered. I can almost
guarrantee....guarranttee...that this will work but I can't even
spell
guarrantee...

One "r". {:-))
At my age, covering the garden with an inch or more of sand is not an
option.

I don't think that moss can be eradicated simply by adding
fertilizer.
Except maybe in my case where the grass grows higher. It's a
combination of
things...and each case has it's own corrective solution.

I have now found a chemical which looks as if it is going to be
helpful:
"Algon". Sold as an "organic algae control". The bottle claims it is
good for eradicating algae, moss and lichen. I have ried it on an
algae -infested drive. It worked a dream. I have tried it on a
substantial patch of moss on a stone wall, and it has killed the moss.
I hope the effect will be long lasting!

Unfortunately the bottle carries no information at all about the
nature of the active ingredient.
Does anyone in urg have any experience of it?

I will try giving my moss chicken pellets for lunch. I wonder
whether
an infusion of that stuff, watered on the walls, will help.
Roll on a dry day so that I can try it out.

Franz
Hi Franz
As I said before it is important to know all, or as much information as
possible, in order to provide the proper information to help try to solve a
gardening problem.
Thanks for the clarification of the spelling of guarantee...I do have
trouble with words like that. I won't anymore with guarrantee...I mean
guarantee.
So you are trying to keep up with the Joneses when your soil is only 6"
deep! Wow, now that is a challenge. And you have a moss problem that turning
over gives temporary relief. You can't add 1" inch of sand because of your
age?
Surely, you must be joking! 6" of soil and you are wondering why you
can't keep up to your friends success in growing plants? Can you tell me how
deep their soil is?
Well, I'll take your story at face value and tell you that you need more
soil. I'll send you some...it will contain some bs but not more than you can
handle. Good luck
Gary
Fort Langley BC
Canada