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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 7, 2006 Moss is running rampant � even in Vogel Plaza in downtown Medford � thanks to a long period of cool, wet weather. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Creeping moss With all the rain we’ve had in the Rogue Valley, this has become a winter for lots of it By PAUL FATTIG Mail Tribune While you were sleeping last night, it crept silently along a neighbor’s roof. As you dreamt of the dry days of summer, it edged stealthily forward on the sidewalk, unnoticed by a passing police cruiser. A green monster — mosster? — is prowling a neighborhood near you. But there is no need to alert Homeland Security: The moss now invading our sidewalks, patios, lawns and roofs is the normal result of lots of rains and cool temperatures, experts say. "Mosses and algae are rampant," Master Gardener Marsha Waite said Monday. Waite is the plant clinic coordinator for the Jackson County Master Gardener Association. Advertisement "Mosses grow like this when you have a lot of continual moisture and we’ve only seen the sun two or three days since Christmas," she said. Indeed, well above normal rainfall has deluged Southern Oregon — more than 20 inches have come down in the past five months in Medford, which normally records about 18 inches in a year. January’s rainfall total of 5.12 inches was more than double the month’s average. That combined with the cool temperatures gave moss the green light. Mosses thrive anytime it’s wet and cool for a long period, said Bob Reynolds, director of the Master Gardener program for the Oregon State University Extension Service in Jackson County. "All this moss we’re getting is really tied to the weather we’ve been having," he agreed. "They’ll thrive where conditions are right." On the north side of his home, which gets precious little sun in the winter, the moss is going gangbusters, he said. "It’s a very primitive plant which predates ‘higher’ plants like trees, shrubs and grasses," he said. The low-growing plants that form dense mats are often used for ground cover in shaded areas, including rock gardens or near ornamental pools, he noted. But moss is more often considered a weed, especially when found in the lawn or flower garden. "A lot of people are fearful of moss growing on trees, thinking it will kill them," Waite said. "But it really just anchors on trees." Experts say that moss plants don’t have true roots. Instead, the short plants pull their moisture and nutrients from the air. That doesn’t mean moss isn’t a problem in some cases, Waite said. "It can be a problem on your roof since moss retain moisture for a long period of time," she said. The moisture from the moss or from a pool formed behind a moss mat can wreak havoc with a roof, particularly a wooden one. Moss also can take over a shaded lawn — and it even can pose a danger to some folks, Waite said. "When there is moss on the sidewalks, people can slip very easily," she said. "It’s also bad on wooden porches, particularly for elderly people who can easily slip." Reynolds offered hope for folks who don't think everything green is good: The moss is somewhat self-regulating and will go dormant when it dehydrates. "Generally speaking, mosses will take care of themselves when it dries up," he said. If it dries up, he might have added. Reach reporter Paul Fattig at 776-4496 or e-mail him at Creeping moss ">[email protected] . What to do about it There are plenty of folk remedies, as well as commercial cures, for ridding your premises of moss. Master Gardener Marsha Waite said folk remedies include soaps or vinegar. "Some people even use bleach, but that can damage plants and woods and some metals," she warned. Effective commercial chemicals that fight moss usually contain iron, copper or zinc, she said. If the moss is making its home on a lawn, the homeowner should remove the conditions that moss loves, including poor drainage and acidic, compacted soil. Moss-plagued lawns can also be dethatched with a flail-type dethatcher that can usually be found at tool rental businesses. After the thatch is removed, the lawn should be fertilized, Waite said. For more information on mosses, call the local Oregon State University Extension Service at 772-5165. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s Advertisement