You Can Keep Pincushion Moss

Q: I have an old, tall, pine that has moss circling around its base. Should I try to remove it or leave it alone?

A: I’m not a moss expert, but your moss looks like pincushion moss. It’s a common, attractive, clump-forming moss. It feeds on sunlight, moisture and minerals it absorbs from whatever it is growing on. It does not harm anything I can find. I think it’s growing at the base of the pine because the environment is highly organic, with plenty of dissolved chemicals that wash down the bark. I have even seen soap suds at the bottom of pine trees, because some of the things that come down are saponins that behave like soap. I don’t think you need to remove the moss.