Moss on the north side of trees at Baker Woods, myth or real?

I was at Baker Woods last weekend and noticed something that's been bugging me. Every older tree I checked had way thicker moss on the north side. Like, clearly more growth, not just a little. But my buddy says that's an old wives' tale and it's all about moisture and shade patterns, not direction. I've seen both arguments online. Some say it's real in dense forests, others say it only works in certain climates. We're in the Pacific Northwest so everything is mossy anyway, but the difference was obvious. Is this actually a reliable field trick or did I just get lucky with the trees I picked? Anyone else tested this and kept track?

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mark493d ago

Moss grows where moisture hangs around longest, and in most forests that is the north side because it gets less direct sun. Your buddy is half right that it is about moisture, but direction drives the moisture. The catch is it only works when you have enough tree cover to keep the shade uneven. Out in the open or in a spot where wind and fog hit one side harder, north means nothing. I have tested this on and off for years in western Washington and it held up maybe 7 times out of 10 on big old trunks, but on smaller trees it was a coin flip. Pacific Northwest is actually a decent place for it since we get so much fog, but watch for creeks and low spots because those throw it off. So the trick is real, just not a guarantee, and checking more than one tree is the only way to trust it.

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