Swale Ground Cover

[mes11]

Is there any research out there about using moss as a ground cover for a swale. Generally if you're in a shady, moist location and you have an acidic soil you can establish moss growth. Just wasn't sure if it has the ability to hold up to slow or moderate running water and what kind of root system it has as well.

 

[Akel]

Take a look at HEC-15 from the FHWA.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/engineering/hydraulics/pubs/05114/05114.pdf

 

[Yakman256]

I used to to mine reclamation work in Pennsylvania with USDA. The old way of treating acidic mine discharge (AMD) was to use sphagnum moss to treat the acidic water. The moss worked great when it worked. The problem was that you have to keep water in the moss at a very specific level. Too much or too little water and the moss dies. The idea of using the moss was abandoned in place of using SAPS (Successful, Alkaline Producing System). Hope this helps