I wouldn't. If used where the conditions are right, the moss could grow on the surface of your beds. If the conditions are not conducive the moss will just die and add little of value to the soil. I'd put it in the compost heap.

@floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK put it quite thickly around fruit bushes?( not too close, of course)

It grows quite thick in places .( I have to prise out largish pebbles .)

I would not put it around fruit bushes. What would be the rationale for that?

I use moss from my forest. I gather it, dry it, then shred it. Then add it to soil mix as a conditioner. My flowers and tomatoes and peppers like it.

@floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK just to lighten the soil not to feed it. I have already mulched them with leaf mould. This would be "more of the same "

If you want to use it if do as avgusta suggested, if you can be bothered If you just add lumps of moss it will either grow or simply sit there and die.

@floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK Won't it be incorporated into the soil it dies?

Sure it's just as easy to put it in the compost.

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You referred to 'largish pebbles'. Is that referring to pieces of moss? If so I think it would take ages to break down. Or is this a more tufty species? Maybe you could provide a picture of the kind of moss you have.

Anyway I've given my opinion. I don't think it's going to contribute much to your soil for the effort. Worst case it'll grow, in which case it's showing that soil conditions aren't great for shrubs. You seem determined to do it so how about giving it a go and reporting back?

If the moss is growing on gravel, it might not do as well on dirt. While a lot of mosses can grow on stone, wood, or neutral substrates, many prefer one or the other. If your moss is growing well on stone- the gravel- that might be its preferred substrate. Moving it to dirt or mulch might be OK, but if the moss don''t like it it will die off. Depending on the environment the moss is put into, it could dry out and crumble, turn to molding, or even slime out if it's particularly wet.

This is how I use moss in the garden. This was once a recycled brick path that I let moss take over. I like it and the grandkids love to walk on it bare footed. It does spread into the perennial beds and I have to constantly scrape it off and throw it into the compost pile. Some years the birds (robins) play havoc with it to find the worms and bugs beneath it.

I would use caution with it unless you are diligent about keeping it under control.

@floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK By pebbles I mean pebbles from the beach as that is where the "gravel "largely came from. When I scrape off the moss I have to separate the pebbles and put them back.

Everything here is wet.It is a bit like the garden's natural condition..

I have loads of leaf mould anyway so that is the better ,option, I'm sure.

I will just dispose of the moss somewhere it will do no harm

@old_dirt 6a looks great