We often find moss on our roofs. Although they can cause a problem for our homes, these tiny plants are incredible. These mosses thrive in multiple locations around the world, including hot deserts and damp caves, and they play an essential role in biodiverse habitats across the globe.
What is moss?
Mosses are non-flowering plants which produce spores. In addition, they have stems and leaves, but they don't have roots. Mosses date back over 400million years and have survived the dramatic climate change on planet earth. Over 15,000 mosses exist; whilst they don't have roots, they have rhizoids that anchor the plants to roofs.
As previously mentioned, Mosses grow in many different environments; we see them the most on our roofs. Still, they also grow in many different settings, including snowy mountains and hot deserts. Some mosses have survived high temperatures of 100ºC and lows of -272ºC making them very resilient organisms.
What is the purpose of moss?
Mosses function like sponges, drawing in and retaining water. They keep the conditions around them humid, much to the detriment of roofing. However, it does mean they play a vital role in developing new ecosystems. They help stabilise the soil and can help new plants to grow if used in the right areas.
In addition to maintaining moisture, they can also impact the temperature of the soil by both warmings and cooling it. In hot areas, they protect roots by shading the earth, whilst in the arctic, they can prevent the sun's warmth from reaching the ground, keeping it cooler for longer.
Mosses can impact the temperature of the soil, both warming it up and cooling it down, depending on the environment.
They can protect tree roots in hot places by shading and insulating the earth from high temperatures.
However, in the Arctic, they have the opposite effect on temperature. They can prevent the sun's warmth from reaching the ground and reduce the speed at which ice thaws, keeping it more relaxed for longer.
Why moss on your roof is impaired.
In the UK, Moss and algae grow in damp, shaded areas and can therefore cause damage to your roof both directly and indirectly. If you allow large patches to grow, these patches can hold water against the surface of your roof, leading to rot. Furthermore, the water can get in gaps within your roof tiles, leading to issues when the water freezes.
If you are looking for a professional and reliable roof cleaning service, find out more about our work at the Outdoor Maintenance Company.
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