Gardening tips: How to remove moss on drives and patios

Most patios will harbour moss at some point. It will grow wherever there’s an opportunity for it to root, often between pavers or on the surface of slabs where a little soil has been blown, and where it is damp, humid and shady. 

Compared to moss on lawns, a different approach needs to be used to remove moss on paving.

Gardeners will find themes on hard surfaces like patios and paving will be easier to spot and kill.

It’s important to remove moss on paving immediately as it is a slip hazard that only gets worse over time.

Rian Habergham, a gardening expert from Leisure Bench, has shared two household remedies to fight moss on paving that is “cheap and effective”.

READ MORE: Remove ‘stubborn’ patio oil stains with 55p household item and ‘no jet washer’

The expert explained that while a pressure washer can be used to remove moss, it can actually prove worse in the long run as gardeners could result in having “more moss”.

Rian said: “Using a pressure washer to remove moss is a great, quick way of removing it, but spreading the moss spores around can actually just mean that you end up with more moss than before.

“As well as this, using a pressure washer can be expensive if you don’t already have one, and there’s no point in wasting money on something you will rarely use.”

For the first natural method to remove paving moss, the expert suggested using white vinegar.

Don’t miss…
‘Cheap’ remedy to ‘eradicate’ an ‘entire ant infestation’ in gardens ‘instantly’[EXPERT]
‘Game-changing’ method to paint your garden fence in ‘seconds’ without a brush[COMMENT]
‘Instant’ method to ‘kill’ patio weeds naturally – ‘you can see them die’[TIPS]

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info

Rian explained that as white vinegar is an acid, it’s a “cheap and highly effective way to kill patio moss”, and households will find that it “works like shop-bought remover”.

To carry out this method, gardeners can use any amount of vinegar, but it has to be paired with one quarter of that amount with water.

Apply the mixture to the moss, making sure to scrub it and fully saturate the moss and affected paving.

Leave the mixture on for 30 minutes. If the moss has not yet turned yellow, then leave it on for longer until it does so. The expert pointed out that stubborn moss might take longer.

Once the moss has turned yellow, wash down the area with warm water, and scrub again to remove any debris.

Make sure that pets and children don’t use the pavement while this method is working, as it can be dangerous if ingested or if it comes into contact with the eyes.

Rian claimed that baking soda is also a “great way” to get rid of moss from paving. However, this method should only be carried out on a “dry day”.

Start by combining some baking soda with a healthy splash of water to create a well-stirred mixture. Apply this mixture to the moss and paving and give it a scrub.

Leave for 20 minutes, or less if the moss has already turned yellow, and give it another scrub. Finish off by giving the paving a wash with warm water.

Source: Read Full Article