How to Get Rid of Moss on Pavers
There are several methods to kill moss growing on concrete driveways, sidewalks, paths, bricks, and pavers. The best methods are:
- Use a moss killer spray that won't harm surrounding grass and plants.
- Treat moss with bleach.
- Spray moss with a vinegar and water mixture.
- Remove moss with water and a scrub brush, or by power washing.
- Pour boiling water on moss.
- Expose mossy areas to increased sunlight.
- Reduce moisture in areas where moss grows, to prevent it from returning.
Each of these methods will kill moss quickly. Additionally, some will prevent moss from returning. Best of all, each solution is cheap, easy, and can be performed quickly.
7 Methods for Killing Moss on Concrete
When treating moss in paved areas, it's important to ask yourself these questions before choosing a method:
- Will runoff from moss treatment affect grass or other desirable plants?
- Do children or pets use the area?
- Can you take measures to prevent moss from returning, like increased sunlight or reduced moisture?
Below, we'll walk through all the best methods for killing moss, highlighting their pros and cons. Then, you'll be able to choose the solution that's right for you.
Moss Killer Spray
A moss killer spray, like BioAdvanced Moss & Algae Killer, can be used to kill moss on concrete, bricks, and pavers. It's hassle-free because it requires no mixing, and it kills moss without staining concrete, harming nearby plants, or discoloring wood or paint it comes in contact with.
Perfect Moss and Algae Killer
BioAdvanced Moss and Algae Killer | Ready-To-Spray | Non-Bleach Formula
- Kills moss, algae, lichen, mold, and mildew wherever it grows.
- The perfect 2-in-1 killer and cleaner for lawns, patios, roofs, buildings, decks, mulch, and more.
- Kills within hours over a large coverage area.
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- Kills moss within hours.
- Won't stain concrete, decks, paint, or siding.
- Will not harm grass or garden plants.
- Safe around children and animals once dry.
To use, simply attach the bottle to the end of a garden hose and spray the moss. Typically, the moss will turn brown and die within 3–5 hours. From there, dead moss can be easily removed with some water and a broom or stiff brush.
Bleach
Combine 0.5 cups (125 ml) of household bleach with 1 gallon of warm water to create a mixture that will kill moss. At this rate, the bleach is diluted enough that it is relatively safe for use around plants and paved surfaces. Pour or spray the mixture on the moss to kill it within a few hours.
- Bleach may discolor concrete, wood, or painted surfaces.
- Bleach runoff can harm grass or other plants.
- Safe around humans and animals once dry.
At this dilution rate, there is a low chance of the bleach mixture harming your grass, but it is still possible. If you are worried about runoff damaging your yard, don't use this option.
Vinegar
Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water in a spray bottle, along with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of dish soap. Spray moss with the vinegar mixture and let sit for 4–6 hours. The moss will die, making it easy to remove.
- Non-moss plants exposed to vinegar may also be killed.
- Vinegar can discolor wood or painted surfaces.
- Non-toxic to humans and animals.
This vinegar mixture is relatively harmless and, if you can target the moss without impacting other plants, is a quick solution made from household items.
Detergent and Scrub or Power Washing
You can remove moss by hand by applying dish soap and water to moss and scrubbing. Live moss can be stubborn, so this is more difficult than removing dead moss. However, it's totally chemical-free. If you don't want to scrub by hand, a power washer can blast the moss off concrete or brick easily.
- Apply dish soap and water to moss, then scrub with a stiff broom or brush.
- Use a pressure washer to blast moss out of seams, cracks, and hard to reach areas.
- Harmless to surrounding plants.
- Pressure washing is a great way to clean and revitalize concrete.
In addition to solving your moss problems, pressure washing your concrete can bring it back to a like-new appearance. You can use this opportunity to kill unsightly, slippery moss on your concrete and restore the look of your outdoor space.
Boiling Water
Like weeds, you can kill moss with plain boiling water. All you have to do is bring the water to a boil in a regular tea kettle and pour it onto the moss growing on your concrete. It will kill moss within hours. Even better, as long as the boiling water isn't poured on any other plants, the runoff will cause no harm.
- Kills moss quickly.
- Non-toxic.
- Runoff won't harm grass or plants.
This is probably the cheapest and quickest way to attack moss. Plus, there are no chemicals or mixing formulas involved.
Increase Sunlight
Moss loves shade. It simply won't grow in sunny areas. Although it isn't always possible to eliminate shade on your concrete or patio areas, if you can it will work wonders. Trim back any plants that shade your concrete. Also, move outdoor furniture or other fixtures that cast shade, as they can encourage moss growth. After a few days of sun exposure, the moss will die.
- Trim plants and trees that cast shade on concrete.
- Move furniture, outdoor grills, or other items that cast shade.
- Increased sunlight on concrete will kill moss and prevent its return.
If you're able to increase the amount of sunlight that reaches concrete areas overgrown with moss, not only will the moss die, it also won't grow back. This is not only a moss-killer, but a moss-preventer as well.
Reduce Moisture
In addition to shade, moss thrives in moist areas. If you can reduce the moisture that collects on your concrete, brick, or pavers, you will kill existing moss and keep it from growing back.
- Evaluate moist areas and regions where standing water collects on concrete.
- If a leaking sprinkler head or line is causing excess moisture to collect on paved surfaces, correct the issue.
- Moss that doesn't receive adequate moisture will die within days.
In humid regions, it may not be possible to eliminate the moisture that causes moss to grow on your concrete, but in many cases fixing issues with standing water or drying up your yard can go a long way to combat the growth of moss.
How to Get Rid of Moss Growing on Concrete
Moss thrives in shady, moist areas. If you can increase sunlight on your concrete surfaces and reduce the amount of water that is trapped there, you can naturally kill moss and prevent its return. If this isn't possible, spray the moss with a lawn-safe moss killer, or use boiling water, bleach, vinegar, or a pressure washer to kill and remove moss.
Moss treated with a spray will brown and die, but won't disappear. Dead moss is a lot easier to remove than living moss, however. Once the moss has died, use water and a broom to clean your concrete and remove all traces of moss.
How to Get Rid of Moss on Pavers
Source: https://peppershomeandgarden.com/kill-moss-concrete/