Ballasting

[tramcar trev]

That looks very nice Rik..... How long does it take to attract moss or do you try and grow your own? I'd like moss to grow on the open ballast areas of my tramway and I've tried sour milk and yoghurt etc with nil results.... Even tried dried moss dusted over the surface....

 

[ge_rik]

That looks very nice Rik..... How long does it take to attract moss or do you try and grow your own? I'd like moss to grow on the open ballast areas of my tramway and I've tried sour milk and yoghurt etc with nil results.... Even tried dried moss dusted over the surface....

I don't have any problems attracting moss, Trev - quite the reverse in fact. But my garden faces North and receives very little direct sunlight. I do have one section which gets more sunlight and the moss seldom grows there - so sunlight does seem to be a factor. Is your railway in direct sunlight?

It took a couple of years for the moss to appear on the more shady sections.

Rik

 

[dunnyrail]

Rik,
I think that your ballasting captures the Light Railway feel superbly. Interesting use of Tile Adhesive, must give it a try sometime.

Trev,
Re the Moss, it may be your Warmer Weather that is the problem. However it could also be that you are trying to encourage it with Tap Water. Have you tried with Rain Water. Tap has additives that sometimes can discourage Moss Growth.
JonD

 

[ge_rik]

Rik,
I think that your ballasting captures the Light Railway feel superbly. Interesting use of Tile Adhesive, must give it a try sometime.
JonD

Over the years I've tried PVA, cement, and cement + PVA but all of these have always crumbled away after a few years. I'll have to see how well the tile cement lasts particularly after a few frosts, but it does seem to set harder than any of the other approaches I've used to date.

Rik

 

[trammayo]

It looks neat and provides a weed barrier. My grit virtually encourages seeds to sprout - a case of hydroponics I think. I pulled a small dandelion up the other day - the root had grown horizontally between the concrete and ballast!