Moss - Do I dig it in?

As with all other gardeners I have always had to deal with moss.  Possibly more than others because about 60% of my garden does not see any sunlight for about 6 months of the year.  I have chosen to lift it off the stone, brickwork or even the surface of the soil and dump it.  However this this year (obviously) there is even more than normal.  I am tempted to treat it like any other weed and hoe it.  Normally rooted (whatever that means) weeds tend to die when the head and root are separated and hence I just leave them where they finish, on or just under the surface of the soil.  If I do this with moss will I be multiplying the growth.  I am sure I was told this many years ago before I got some experience.  I know I am playing fast and loose with the term gardener by applying it to myself but nobody knows everything.  Any help much appreciated. 

I get a lot of moss too,I use mine for hanging baskets.I dig it out of the lawn and anywhere I don't wish it to grow,on stonewalls or old trunk of tree I leave.

bobloes

Is this moss as in lawns -or a layer of green material on top of uncultivated ground-more like algae??

Hi Geoff

It is 'green material' which I am sure is moss on top of the soil in between any plants that I have.  It is less prevalent in the less shady areas.  It appears the same as the 'moss' that I have on any stonework and in the lawn.  I am not bothered (I shall never be able to use that phrase again - Thanks Catherine Tate) about the moss in the grass.  Cheers

I have a part shade garden too & also have a moss in borders problem. Like you it's between plants & I spend quite a bit of time removing it & dumping it into the council recycling bin, not my compost bin.

If I was you I'd try to 'skim' it off & dispose of in a recycling bin, if possible. I dont do hanging baskets, but somebody locally may be grateful for it?

Unless you can dig a deepish trench on some new ground to well & truely bury it, I would bag it up to dispose of how you will.

BTW like you I allow my lawn to be a moss patch. Am sure though that this doesnt help, as the spores will get onto the cultivated soil & there's our problem.

I have addressed some of the shade problem by having a large tree felled, but the last 'no sun lots of rain summer' summer didnt help. Good luck, no easy way. J.

It is more algaeish-if that is the term- by the sound of it-rather than moss-hoeing shifts it as you know -if it is just that then burying it should be OK

Hoe then mulch with home-made compost/leaf mould - moss usually grows on impoverished and unaerated soil - so mulching will get the worms active and they'll aerate the soil and the mulch will also feed the soil. 

Yes, so try to fork over the soil as much as poss. This will help reduce some of the compaction. Ok fiddly to do between plants but will help.

DONT just mulch on top of the moss without removing it first- same applies to algae- or you'll live to regret it! J.

Thanks very much for all the advice.  Given that it is not a massive garden I shall remove the patches individually and then do the soil improvement bit.  Good luck with your plots.  Cheers