From Green to Clean: Moss Removal Hacks You Need to Know
Unwanted green moss growth is unsightly and can cause damage to your roof over time. This non-flowering plant spreads like wildfire on patios, paving stones, driveways, gardens, and around home siding and roofs. If raking or power washing with a high-pressure nozzle doesn’t work, use these cleaning hacks to remove moss.
Boiling Water
Few things improve the look of a home more than pavers, but moss can ruin them. The good news is there are a few ways to deal with it. If you don’t want to use chemicals, boiling water will clear it up. Carefully pour some over the moss and scrub it with a brush.
It will kill the moss and also remove some stains from concrete. Another natural option is to pour vinegar over the moss. It will kill it but won’t hurt desirable plants nearby. It would help if you did extra work by scrubbing the area with a deck brush or stiff broom.
One other chemical that works well is sodium pentachlorophenate. It will kill the moss quickly but is a carcinogen and should be used cautiously. This method can be applied with a spray bottle, but you must be on the roof and take safety precautions.
You must engage a moss removal Victoria specialist to avoid dangers and hassle. By doing this, you may shield your property from the damaging effects of moss, which inevitably lead to fungus and mold.
Baking Soda
The easiest and most accessible way to kill moss is with baking soda. One spoonful of baking soda and one quart of water will work. Then, apply the solution to the moss using gloves. The moss should die within a few days.
You can then rake it up and dispose of it appropriately. This hack benefits those with poor lawn drainage, as excess moss often indicates the soil is too acidic. Dried baking soda can also be sprinkled on hard surfaces like decks, sidewalks, and roads. It’s important to note that this hack can dry out grass and surrounding plants, so using it with other solutions is best.
Also, repeated applications may be needed to kill the moss. A flexible leaf rake can also remove dead moss. Just be careful not to over-penetrate the surface of your trees. It could lead to the tree becoming weakened and potentially falling over.
Bleach
Moss isn’t just a nuisance on the roof; it can grow in places like the tarmac driveway. Spray a mixture of water and bleach on the area to remove it. It will kill off the moss and make scrubbing easier with a broom.
Bleach can discolor pavement and kill nearby plants, so diluting the solution before spraying is best. Fill a bucket with five gallons of water and mix in 20 ounces of bleach. Pour the solution into a backpack or garden sprayer and distribute it over the moss clumps on your roof.
Before washing it with warm water, let the mixture stay for 15 minutes. If you prefer not to risk using straight bleach on your home’s surfaces, many pre-mixed moss killers are available in dry powder and liquid form. Follow the product’s instructions for mixing and application, and protect surrounding grass, bushes, and flowers with plastic sheeting.
Compost
The moss that washes down from your roof and settles into your garden bed is the perfect material for compost. It can be thrown in with organic garbage, like leaves or grass clippings. It will help keep the soil healthy and return nutrients that would otherwise be discarded.
It is recommended that moss be added to the compost bin in small amounts. It is because it will decompose slowly due to its lignin content. It can be overcome by mixing it with plenty of other materials and regularly adding it to the compost bin as it becomes available.
It is also suggested that you chop or shred the moss before it is added to the compost, as this will increase its surface area and help speed up the decomposition process. It is important to remember that a compost pile needs the correct ratio of Nitrogen and Carbon to succeed and should always be kept moist.
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