We talk a lot about how conifers prefer less frequent watering and deciduous more frequent. And that is a good guide for day-to-day watering.
But is there a clue we’ve been doing well over the long term?
There is, but it is an odd one. It’s in the moss and the soil lichen growth. It won’t tell you that there was a mis-watering last week, but it can suggest that your watering has been in the ballpark, garden-wide.
First off, not every backyard can grow moss well. Even soil lichen can be a challenge in arid areas. But if you’re able to grow them well where you live, moss and lichen can offer us a clue of our watering skill.
In short, moss will grow well when it’s been watered frequently—the deciduous range. Soil lichen grows better when less frequently watered—the conifer range.
A pine with a healthy growth of soil lichen and a bit of moss.
Another pine. Mostly lichen, some moss. Over a few years, given less moisture, the lichen will outcompete the moss. Which is odd as the lichen grows slower. It’s a rabbit / turtle thing.
Here is a trick example—it is a conifer, a Yellow Cedar, but it enjoys more water than a pine. The strong moss growth suggests we’ve done ok with it.
A beech with luxuriant moss growth, and no lichen.
A wisteria—a true water loving plant—with a lot of happy moss and no lichen.
If a pine with lichen might be happy, a pine with too much moss might be overwatered. A maple with too much lichen may be under-watered.
It’s just one more thing to look out for. Long needles and dead branches will jump out at you far more quickly than what is growing on the soil. But moss and lichen can be another of the litmus tests that we are on the right track with watering.