Bryophytes are the smallest of all the plants you will ever come across in your garden. With a maximum growth of 1-2cm, these flowerless species are sometimes overlooked. Mosses, hornworts and liverworts are the three main types that bryophytes are made up of. Now, whilst you won’t come across every type in your garden it’s worth knowing what to prune and when – just in case.
So, let’s get into the do’s and don’ts of pruning each bryophyte type.
Pruning Mosses
Moss has to be the easiest plant to prune. You literally don’t even need any tools to get rid of the parts you don’t want. All you have to do is pull of the sections you want to remove. There’s definitely a right way and a wrong way of doing this though, so keep that in mind.
A great recommendation is to use two hands throughout this process. One hand to keep the sections of moss down that you want to keep and the other hand to pull off the parts you want gone. It really is that simple.
In regards to when to prune, think of it this way. If you moss begins to get too big, then you need to prune it. It’s as simple as that. Moss tends to smother other surrounding plants if you let it, so it’s wise to prune it before it gets to this stage. The more regularly you prune it, the less work you’ll have to do in the long run.
Pruning Hornworts
Hornwort is another plant that you’ll have absolutely no problems pruning. It’s another super-easy one to take care of and it’s almost impossible to get wrong. So with that said let’s get into the do’s and don’ts.
Okay, so all you have to do – and this is key – is not prune from the top. This is the most common way of pruning any for many other plants it works so well but for this it really ends up ruining the plant’s growth and overall look.
So , what you should actually do is trim the bottom and then replant the hornwort again. It really is that easy. This will help the hornwort to grow thick and bushy, making it look amazing and be healthy too.
Pruning Liverworts
Liverworts are the most uncommon of all the bryophytes, for sure. They are so small that you probably haven’t noticed them sneakily growing throughout your garden. If you have noticed them and want to curb their growth so they don’t end up taking over your whole garden, here’s a few tips for you.
Because they’re so small you could most definitely trim these with your hands. Just like pruning moss, all you have to do is use one hand to hold the plant in place and use the other to pull off the sections you want removed. See, now isn’t that easy?
Bryophytes are the easiest plant type you will ever prune, and it’s nearly impossible to get wrong. So, what have you got to lose? Seasons don’t affect these plant types that much so the right time to prune them really is up to you. Happy pruning!