7 Easy Methods For Getting Rid Of Moss On A Patio
How to get rid of moss on your patio? Anyone who has tried to remove moss from a patio knows that it can be a difficult and frustrating task. Moss can take root overnight, and can quickly turn a nice smooth patio surface into an uneven mess.
Although there are a variety of commercial products available, many of them contain harsh chemicals that can damage your patio or harm the environment.
Fortunately, there are also a number of safe and effective moss removal methods that you can use at home which we will talk about in this article.
Why You Have A Moss Problem
Before we go through the methods on how to remove moss from your patio, it is important to understand why moss is growing there in the first place.
By knowing the causes, you can take appropriate measures to prevent it from growing back. So here are some of the reasons why moss is growing on your patio!
- Patio Has No Direct Sunlight: One of the main reasons for moss growth is a lack of sunlight. If your patio is in a shaded area, this will provide the perfect environment for moss to grow.
- Patio Has Lots Of Moisture: Moss thrives in moist environments, so if your patio is constantly wet or humid, or has poor drainage, this will result in the accumulation of moisture that favors moss growth.
- Moss Spores From Nearby Trees: It’s tough to prevent the spread of moss spores because they are very resilient, and if just one moss spore was to break off it can easily spread to an area on your patio.
Although moss isn’t harmful to human beings and pets, it should be eliminated on your patio before it can cause damage to the slabs.
7 Easy Methods For Getting Rid Of Moss On A Patio
1. Moss Killer Solution
If you want to take a more aggressive approach to get rid of moss on your patio use moss killer. There are many moss killer solutions on the market today that homeowners can use to eliminate moss.
When choosing a moss killer solution, it’s essential to consider its chemical components since some contain ingredients that can be harmful.
Some moss killers come in powder form, which requires mixing with water, whereas others are ready for use and don’t require any mixing.
These solutions will kill moss in a few hours and won’t stain your patio’s surfaces.
How To Apply
- Mix or dilute the moss killer solution with water as per the user instructions
- Use a sprayer to spray the solution on the affected parts on your patio
- Then leave the solution for 2 hours to do its work
- Once the moss has turned yellowish wash away using a hose
2. Bleach
This is a strong chemical that helps eliminate moss on your patio quickly. However, when handling bleach, you need eye and hand protection.
It’s also recommended that one should ensure the area of use is properly ventilated to prevent suffocation or shortness of breath.
Kids and pets should also be kept away from an area where bleach is being used to get rid of moss.
How to apply
- Dilute the bleach with the necessary amount of water
- Using a spray bottle, directly spray the affected areas on your patio
- Wait for at least half an hour for the solution to kill moss before brushing
- Brush the area and rinse with clean water
3. Sea Salt
Using sea salt to get rid of moss on the patio is among the most eco-friendly and cheapest solutions. Salt is a natural home remedy that doesn’t contain chemicals that pose a health risk or require any specialized handling.
However, the amount of salt you use will depend on the size of the area.
How To Apply
- Add a considerable amount of salt to the water
- Pour the saltwater on the moss-affected areas
- Leave it for an hour so it works into the moss
- Use a brush/broom to scrub away the dead moss
- Rinse the area with clean water
4. Vinegar
Another way to get rid of moss on your patio is with vinegar. It’s a natural solution that doesn’t contain harmful chemicals which can cause damage to your patio surfaces or cause discoloration.
How To Apply
- Mix it with water in equal parts
- Spray the affected surfaces of your patio
- Leave it for 15 minutes to break down the moss
- Rinse the area with a hosepipe
5. Baking soda
Baking soda is another excellent solution for getting rid of moss on a patio. It’s a natural product that can be used to kill moss quickly and effectively!
How to apply
- Sprinkle some baking soda on the affected parts of your patio
- Leave the baking soda overnight to ensure it destroys moss
- Thoroughly scrub the area the following day
- Wash down the residue and rinse using clean water
6. Metal brush
If you want to get rid of moss on your patio without using any chemicals, you should consider using a metal brush. This method is fairly straightforward.
However, it will take some elbow grease and time compared to the other methods above.
How to apply
- First, remove any long pieces of moss by hand
- Pour water over the patio so it’s wet
- Using the metal brush scrub the surface
- Collect all the loose moss from the patio
- To finish wash with soap and water
7. Pressure washer
If you have a pressure washer, this can be a quick and easy way to remove moss from your patio. However, there is a high risk of spreading moss spores due to the high pressure of the water.
That is why we recommended this after you have used a solution like moss killer.
How to apply
- Clear the area of any loose moss
- Turn the pressure washer on (half power)
- Add soap if needed (optional)
- Then use it on your patio (be careful of any moss spore)
When Should You Remove It?
Moss can be very difficult to get rid of and if you don’t remove it properly, then it can quickly grow back. That’s why it’s important to know the best time to remove moss.
Springtime is generally considered to be the best time to remove moss. This is because the moss is the most active, absorbing nutrients from rainwater and moisture in the air.
For example, if you were to use a moss killer and the moss is dormant (like in the summer) it’s less likely to absorb the solution which means it won’t be very effective and could end up growing back weeks later.
Although the moss is less active in the summer and the conditions are drier! Chances are the moss spores will break off as your try to remove it causing the moss to spread to other areas.
Moss spores are very small and can go unnoticed until you see it growing again. So it’s important to be vigilant when removing it in the summer.
How To Prevent It From Growing Back?
So now you know how to remove moss from your patio, however, the most common challenge facing most people is the recurrence of moss. Mosses can easily grow back even after applying the methods mentioned above.
So to help you with this, below are some tips for preventing moss from growing back on your patio once you’ve cleaned it.
Use Sealers So It Cant Grow Back
One thing we do recommend after cleaning your patio is applying a sealant! This will help prevent the moss from growing back and form a barrier on the surface of your pavers. This should stop any water and moisture from accumulating and promote moss growth.
Ensure There’s Adequate Sunlight
Sunlight naturally destroys moss by suppressing its growth and making its spores inactive such that they can grow. Therefore, if your patio has had an excessive shade that doesn’t allow the passage of sunlight, you should find means to add some sunlight to your patio.
Keep The Patio Clean
It’s essential to maintain cleanliness on your patio always. If you don’t wash your patio regularly, you’ll create a conducive environment for moss to keep on regrowing. According to experts, patios should be cleaned at least once a week.
Proper Drainage On Your Patio
If water is not draining away quickly from your patio, it will be more susceptible to moss growth. To fix this problem you need to ensure that there is proper drainage so that rainwater doesn’t accumulate and build up on your patio.
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What Happens If You Leave It To Grow?
If you notice moss growth on your patio, you should think about how to get rid of it. Leaving moss on your patio can do the following:
- Cause Tough Stains: Leaving moss on your patio for too long will cause tough stains that can be difficult to clean. In this case, you’ll require to hire a professional cleaning company to help you get rid of these tough stains at a fee.
- Increase The Risk Of Slipping And Tripping: If you leave moss on your patio, you’ll have an increased risk of slipping and tripping accidents. Normally, moss isn’t slippery. However, it holds moisture, making it slippery and dangerous to walk on.
- Trap Moisture That Results In Damaging The Surface: Excessive growth of moss traps a lot of moisture, leading to damage to surfaces on your patio. If your patio is made of soft materials such as wood, there’s a higher risk of softening and rotting, resulting in damage to the structure.
Final Thoughts
These are easy ways to get rid of moss on the patio. You can also use boiling water or chlorine solutions. Heavy moss infestation on your patio increases fire hazards, causes allergies and can lead to respiratory issues.
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