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Daily Record
Daily Record
Lifestyle
Angela Patrone & Nicola Roy

Garden expert reveals 15-minute hack for removing 'stubborn' moss from paving

If you have any kind of paving in your garden, you might have noticed moss growing in between the stones.

Not only can this be an eyesore, but it could also potentially be dangerous as it becomes much more slippery when it's wet. Using a chemical plant killer might seem like a quick solution but this could also spread to your other plants and ruin your garden.

But according to one gardening expert, there's a simple fix that uses a common household ingredient and no chemicals at all, making it perfectly safe to use in the garden.

The Express reports that Angela Slater from Hayes Garden World recommends natural remedies to deal with the problem rather than resorting to harmful chemicals.

She said: "Moss on paving must be removed as it can become slippery and dangerous and using chemicals can runoff and damage plants, so an environmental solution would be preferable.

"Moss grows where no sunlight reaches the surface so if possible, either re-site the patio into a sunny spot or remove any overhanging branches which are causing the moss growth.

"If you have a gazebo or garden parasol permanently erected, remember to take it down occasionally on a sunny day to allow some sunlight to reach the patio surface."

The expert said the "most environmentally friendly way" to remove moss is just by scrubbing it away.

She said: "Just scrub it off with a really stiff brush or a dedicated moss remover available from most garden centres.

"The moss remover usually comprises of a wire bush to remove the moss from the paving and a steel point on one end to remove it from between the setts."

But for a slightly simpler solution, you can use white vinegar instead.

Angela suggested: "Mix equal parts water and white vinegar then spray onto the stubborn moss to effectively remove it. Leave for 15 minutes, then sweep off."

If the moss growth is more severe, you can leave the white vinegar mixture on for slightly longer before scrubbing it away.

Or if it's not too bad, boiling water or baking powder applied over it should do the trick.

Angela said: "If the moss coverage is only light, sprinkle with baking soda, leave for 24 hours, then brush off.

"Pouring boiling water onto the moss and then giving it a good scrub with a yard brush is another free moss removal solution."

To prevent more moss from growing in your garden, Angela recommends keeping your patio area as free from water as possible. But if you have noticed it coming up again, you can let the sunlight naturally do its trick by waiting until it's dried out and brushing it off.

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