How to Remove Moss Between Pavers
If you don’t wash and protect your patio on a regular basis, there might be some moss growing in between the pavers. Some people like this natural look, while others prefer their patio stones to be bright and clean. If you’re in the latter group and want to learn how to remove moss between pavers, you’ve come to the right place.
The good news there are a few different methods you can try for removing moss on your patio pavers. Some of the tools needed might already be in your house. The entire process doesn’t take that much time, as long as your patio is in decent shape. Neglected surface areas will require more work.
Why Does Moss Grow?
Moss can really grow anywhere as long as the conditions are right to activate growth. Unless the exterior of your home is always in the sun, there’s a change moss will appear. Shade and damp areas create the perfect recipe for mold to start growing.
This is most common in outdoor patio areas under trees. Once you notice moss on a surface it’s important to deal with it as soon as possible. If not, the organic growth will spread rapidly. It can really take over an entire patio surface and be much harder to remove.
If there’s moss on your patio you probably live in a humid climate, or there is a high amount of moisture in your outdoor living area. You can’t always control these conditions, which is why it’s so important to clean and remove moss on a regular basis.
How to Remove Moss Between Pavers
There’s a few different options you have when it comes to removing moss from pavers. You can either try one of the methods listed below, or all of them. If your patio isn’t that dirty, using a stiff bristle broom should be enough. But neglected surfaces might require a little more work and time.
1. Try a Stiff Bristle Broom
One of the easiest methods to remove moss stuck between pavers is to use a stiff bristle broom. This tool looks like a regular broom. The only difference is the bristle is very aggressive, which makes them perfect for outdoor use. You wouldn’t be able to use something like this inside, because the bristles wood scratch the floors.
Test out the stiff bristle broom on your patio first to see how much pressure you will need to apply. Moss that is really overgrown might require a little more elbow grease. Work in small sections at a time and use back-and-forth motions so you don’t miss any areas. When you’re done you will need to blow off all of the moss with a leaf blower.
2. Spray the Moss with Vinegar
Another way to remove moss between pavers is to use undiluted vinegar. This product is effective at removing moss, because of its antifungal and antibacterial properties. It can be a cheap alternative to other cleaning products as most people will have a bottle of vinegar in their home. Before you begin, make sure to pour the vinegar into a spray bottle.
This will make the application process much easier and you won’t have to worry about any spills that might occur with a regular bottle. Allow the vinegar to dwell for around 10 minutes, so it has enough time to soak into the moss. After this time has passed, use a brush or broom to agitate the pavers and the moss should come up easily.
3. Use Moss Remover
If you tried the methods above and still have moss on the pavers, you can use a moss remover. Scotts MossEx 3-in-1 is specifically made to kill moss, algae, and lichens. You can safely use moss remover on decks, lawns and patios, without staining the surface. The best thing about this product is that you can quickly attach it to a garden hose.
That means you won’t have to worry about bottles or buckets. You can apply it whenever moss is growing on your pavers throughout the year, but you will get the best results in the spring or fall. This is when the moss is most active, which makes it easier to kill. If you want to make this product last for a long time, try running the hose on a low setting.
Does Sunlight Kill Moss?
As you may have guessed by now, the powerful UV rays from sunlight can kill moss. That’s why you won’t see this organic growth appearing on driveways, sidewalks, or other areas of your home that are always in the sun.
Moss requires shade and moisture to grow, which is why it’s nearly impossible for it to grow in sunlight. One way to prevent moss from growing is to expose it to sunlight. But moving your patio to a new location in your yard isn’t exactly realistic.
But some homeowners find that umbrellas and awnings are causing an excessive amount of shade on their pavers. If this is the case, only use these when you are outside. Make sure to take down your umbrella and awnings in order to expose the patio to sunlight.
What NOT to Do:
Use a pressure washer: You should never use a pressure washer when trying to remove moss between pavers. Sure, high amounts of water pressure will easily be able to rip up any moss on the surface. But it will cause more harm than good. Pavers have special interlocking sand in between each block, that allows them to stay in place. If you remove this sand, the pavers won’t be as secure and they will shift when you walk on them.
Use bleach: There’s no need to use harsh chemicals if you want to remove moss from a surface. You might be able to remove the moss for a short period of time, but it will almost always come back. Bleach is mostly made up of water – which is one ingredient moss thrives on for growth. But bleach can also be harmful to humans and pets, so you might as well avoid it altogether. Use vinegar for a safer and more effective cleaning option.
Use abrasive tools: You should always do plenty of research before taking on any project. Winging it can be dangerous to yourself and produce sloppy results. That’s why it’s critical to stay away from using abrasive tools on your pavers. Don’t use knives, screwdrivers, or anything else to try and scrap the moss off of the surface. These tools will scratch the brittle edges of your pavers and end up causing damage. You shouldn’t use anything more aggressive than a brush.
Conclusion
Hopefully this article has given you some valuable information on how to remove moss between pavers. It’s so important to deal with mold right when you see it, or it will spread very quickly. Even if you think moss gives your patio some character, it should be controlled on a regular basis.
This can be accomplished by following the methods listed above and getting on a routine cleaning schedule. You should evaluate your pavers once a year to stay ahead of the moss. Take a look at the surface in the spring and fall to make sure that moss isn’t spreading.
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