When it comes to moss on trees, many hobby gardeners ask themselves whether the green carpet will damage the tree. But are the green plants really harmful and must be removed?

In a nutshell

  • Removal of moss not mandatory
  • Mosses do not affect the supply of nutrients to the trees
  • Moss plants do not damage trees
  • Removal mostly for optical reasons
  • Moss plants can be removed with a wire brush and little pressure

Moss plants take care of themselves

Many garden owners worry about their trees because they fear a lack of nutrients. The moss plants do not use the nutrients of the trees at all. The moss clings to the bark of the trees with small rhizoids. However, these cell threads have no line function. This means that the moss plants cannot access the tree's water and nutrients. On the contrary, moss photosynthesizes to feed itself without harming other plants in the area.

Notice: The moss takes care of the nutrients and water itself. Consequently, moss on trees is not harmful to trees.

Benefits of Moss

If you want to remove moss from the trees, you should think about the advantages. It is no coincidence that moss has been around for over 300 million years. Moss offers you the following advantages if you do not remove it and leave it on the tree:

  • Food source for numerous insects
  • suitable for nest building of birds
  • good habitat for small insects
  • possibly function as a pointer plant
Stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) on moss on a tree

Notice: Moss plants can act as pointers. This indicates acidic conditions, a musty environment or too much moisture.

remove moss

Despite all the advantages, it often happens that garden owners want to remove moss from the trees. Mostly this is on optical reasons attributed. Then you should hard wire brush to use. Run this lightly over the moss, so that this drops.

Notice: Be sure to use the wire brush without pressure. Otherwise you will damage the valuable bark of the trees.

Moss or lichen?

When the tree trunk is covered with a green film, many gardeners suspect moss. But moss is not necessarily the culprit. The so-called lichens can be green, yellow or even orange. These are not plants. Rather, lichens are a community of fungi and algae. You can also brush them with a soft brush.

Tree lichens are easy to recognize by their different shades of colour.

Notice: Lichens and moss plants are not the same. Nevertheless, both have in common that they do not harm trees.

frequently asked Questions

Can moss act as a signpost?

Moss regularly grows on a tree on the north or north-west side. However, this may vary in a different microclimate. Especially in dense forests, the moss plants grow in all imaginable directions.

What are the causes of moss on the tree?

The moss on the tree can be due to different causes. Rainy years and a humid environment favor the growth of moss plants. At the same time, densely grown trees are particularly susceptible. In some cases, the mosses can indicate that the tree is not doing well. However, moss plants themselves are not harmful and are therefore never the cause of damage.

Are Moss Plants Toxic to Humans?

Nothing is known about human poisoning by mosses or lichens. However, tree moss can cause allergies in humans. Sensitive people are particularly at risk. However, some lichen species are poisonous to wildlife.

Category:

Garden plants