Moss is often seen as a pretty harmless plant, but it can actually cause damage to patios, driveways, and paths if left untreated for long periods of time.
Moss on your patio can grow in the spaces between tiles, lifting them up and even cracking them in some cases. When growing on grass, moss can suffocate the grass beneath it, slowly killing your lawn by depriving it of essential sunlight and nutrients.
(If you want to find out a bit more about how moss can damage your patio and other areas of your property, check out our blog post on Why Moss Is Dangerous.)
How to prevent moss growth on drives and patios
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and you can prevent moss from growing on your property by creating unfavourable growing conditions. Keep outdoor spaces free of debris that could create a damp, shady environment - and if you see moss beginning to grow, act as swiftly as you can to prevent it from spreading.
When it comes to moss, it's better to act fast. So, if you're struggling with moss on your property and you're looking to remove it, what's the best way to go about it?
How to Remove Moss
Bleach
Mix bleach in a bucket with hot water, using a roughly 10:1 water-bleach ratio. Pour the hot mixture over the affected areas of your patio, and scrub aggressively with a thick-bristled outdoor broom. This will massage the product in deeper, and loosen the moss from the tiles.
Once you're satisfied, rinse the area with fresh water and wash away the moss and bleach mixture. If you have a pressure washer, we suggest using that to rinse the area; it takes less time, and may help to remove any lingering moss you didn't remove with the brush. We'd recommend doing this on a sunny day, so that the patio has time to dry thoroughly.
Vinegar
If you want to avoid using harsh chemicals like bleach on your patio, vinegar is a good, less aggressive alternative. Mix equal parts vinegar and water, and apply it to the patio as evenly as possible. Vinegar can be a good chemical-free alternative to bleach, but depending on the size of your patio, you may need quite a lot of it!
Once the vinegar-water solution has been applied, wait 15-20 minutes to allow it to soak in and absorb. After that, rinse off any excess solution and wait a few more hours for the vinegar to kill the moss. After a few hours, you should be able to easily remove the moss with a wire brush.
Moss killer
There are a wide range of products available on the market that are specifically designed target moss growth. If you're not inclined to go for home remedies, you might want to invest in a branded moss remover. Every brand has different ingredients and instructions, so before using any moss remover, make sure you read the instructions carefully and do as they say.
Call in the professionals
Moss can be a real menace to patios, path and driveways. If you don't want to leave it to chance, it's best to call in the big guns - here at Taylor Total Weed Control, we offer a moss control service that will make sure your moss problem is dealt with swiftly and effectively.
If you want to find out more about how the Taylor Total Weed Control team can help you to manage the moss on your property, request a free moss control survey today. Our experts will survey your moss problem and give you a no-obligation quote for any work that's required.
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