Moss can grow on your patio for many reasons, but the most common one is moisture. It’s best to remove it before it becomes uncontrollable and tries to take over your patio, driveway, or porch. Here is some advice on preventing and eliminating moss from your patio!
The Best Way To Remove Moss From A Patio
The key to moss removal is to be thorough and persistent. Moss thrives in moist, shady areas, which means you must get the moss on the patio completely dry and remove any overhanging shrubs blocking sunlight.
A power washer can damage your surface, so unless you have one with a pressure setting of at most 1000 psi, it’s best not to use one. Otherwise, scrubbing or power-washing might worsen by loosening the moss and paving stones.
Once you’ve cleared away any vegetation around the patio, scrub it with a stiff broom or brush. This will help loosen up anything that’s still alive under there before we go after it with some bleach.
Make sure all loose dirt and debris have been swept up. We don’t want that to cloud the water when trying to kill off our pesky moss! If your patio needs a suitable deep clean before applying bleach, try using vinegar diluted at a ratio of 1:1 with water instead.
- Pour 4 cups of household bleach into 2 gallons (8 liters) of warm water (you’ll need a bucket).
- Stir until dissolved and pour onto an area where you see noticeable green growth.
- Let sit for 10 minutes, then scrub vigorously with a stiff brush or sponge until all plant matter is dead and gone.
You should notice how much lighter the surface looks now – it’s time for sealing!
There are several options out there, but my personal favorite is beeswax. For a natural option, rub on mineral oil; both products will nourish your pavers as well as keep them looking great for years to come.
How To Prevent Moss From Growing On Your Patio?
If you want to prevent moss from growing on your patio, you can do a few things. First, ensure the area is well-drained and doesn’t get too much water. Moss thrives in moist environments, so if the ground is dry and free of dirt, moss won’t grow.
Keep plants away from the edges of your patio because they often drip water when watered, and this creates a moist environment for moss to grow in. If you already have a lot of moss on your patio, don’t worry – it’s not impossible to get rid of it!
Mix an equal amount of bleach with an equal amount of dishwashing detergent and scrub at the moss with a stiff brush or sponge until all traces are gone. Make sure to cover all surfaces of the patio, as sometimes moss will grow in tiny crevices that might be hard to see.
Rinse the surface off afterward with clean water, then apply a sealant to protect it from getting dirty again. The best way to avoid having a problem with moss on your patio is by taking steps before any grows.
Why Should You Remove The Moss From Your Patio?
Perhaps the worst possible thing that can happen to your patio is moss. Moss can take over and make your outdoor space look dirty and unkempt.
Moss thrives in moist environments, so it can be challenging to get rid of when it decides to grow on the surface you want to keep moss-free. The most important reason why you need it removed is that it is dangerous for children or pets to touch.
If they walk on wet moss, their shoes or paws will pick up tiny spores from the moss, which may lead to a fungal infection called dermatophytosis or ringworm. It will start with a red patch that resembles a circle with a bulls-eye pattern that begins as just one spot but quickly spreads if not treated by a doctor.
Another reason you should remove the moss from your patio is that it blocks light coming into the area where it’s growing, which stops grasses from growing there, which means more dirt will build up instead of fertile soil.
It also needs to be removed because the moisture present helps it grow and thrive, even more, creating an unhealthy environment for people and plants to live in. To avoid potential health risks or problems with sunlight exposure, remove the moss from your patio.
What Causes Moss To Grow On Patios?
Moss is a well-known houseplant but can also grow as a weed on your patio. It typically starts as a green patch of moss but eventually spreads and turns into brown or yellow moss patches.
Moss usually grows in shaded areas, so it’s essential to identify the cause before you try to get rid of it. If the moss is growing in a place where water gathers, you need to fix the problem with leaks or water run-off that could be seeping down onto your patio from above.
In most cases, though, it’s some type of fertilizer that causes moss to grow on patios. The best way to stop fertilizer from driving moss growth is by using more natural fertilizers less often than chemical ones when possible.
Conclusion
The most effective method for removing moss on a patio is to use time and the sun. Moss cannot grow in direct sunlight, so all you have to do is let the sun work its magic. It may take a little while for moss to die, but it will eventually happen if you are persistent.
One thing that can help speed up this process is using an electric sander or chemical spray to remove any areas where there might be moisture or food sources for the moss. You should also always make sure your patio furniture stays outside when not in use because even one rainy day could cause mold growth.
Now that you know how to eliminate moss on the patio, it should not be too hard to prevent moss from growing back. Be sure to inspect your patio for any areas where moisture can accumulate, or dirt can build up, and remove these.