Gardening - Q&A: Growing Lichens

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Q&A: Growing Lichens

Question: We have built a stone wall that we want to "age". How can we encourage lichen to grow on it? It gets quite a bit of sun.

Answer: Lichens and moss do look nice on a stone wall, but in the sunshine, you may not be successful in getting it to grow. If there's moss or lichen nearby, you may be able to transplant some pieces to your stone wall. Try mixing regular baking yeast in water to make a runny paste, brush it into the crevices of the rocks, and then plant the moss or lichen pieces in the yeast. Start in the shadiest areas you can find, and maybe the moss will take hold. You might want to consider other plants, such as a small-leafed ivy, that will cling to a stone wall and soften its edges.

Content provided by the National Gardening Association