Instructions for removing moss: lawn, paving stones & Co

Moss is a nuisance when it is not used as an egg bed in the Easter basket. Where it is shady and damp, it particularly likes to settle: preferably on pavement slabs, between paving stones and on lawns. From the flame-flame device to the joint cleaner, there are numerous means of removing moss and are usually selected depending on the effort involved and the infested area. Although mosses do not take root deeply, it often takes a great deal of work to remove them without leaving any residue.

mosses

The best way to get rid of a troublemaker is to know his habits and preferences. Knowing this, you can try to make him as uncomfortable as possible. These moss species belong to the deciduous mosses (

Bryophyta). The common short cane moss, crutch-shaped short cane moss, cone moss and sparred wreath moss are most common here. These species are particularly resistant to environmental toxins. They can also survive longer periods of drought. Other species react much more sensitively and are therefore also under nature protection.

Nevertheless, mosses love damp and shady locations with slightly acidic soil. They prefer mild winters. Mosses only have root-like threads (rhizoids). They can also absorb and store water through their aerial parts. Therefore, you can even find them on stones and wood. Mosses reproduce through airborne spores. This makes them very flexible in their choice of location.

lawns

prevention

A professional new lawn can save you a lot of trouble with moss and weeds in the years to come.

• Lawn needs a sunny to partially shaded location
• loosen the soil well beforehand, mix with compost
• if the soil tends to become waterlogged, adding sand can help
• Improve heavily compacted soils by installing drainage
• do without peat as an admixture
• if a soil sample reveals a pH value that is too acidic, mix in some lime
• when buying seeds: do not buy cheap seeds
• possibly. Buy lawn seeds suitable for the location (e.g. B. shade-tolerant varieties, pH-value tolerant varieties)

Measures

Depending on the size of the lawn and the infested area, there are several ways to remove the moss. Small moss cushions can be removed manually quite effortlessly. The gap should be filled directly with lawn reseeding. In the case of a larger infestation, only scarifying makes sense. After scarifying, it can be seeded again

Another option in the case of a light infestation is to apply appropriate moss killers. However, one should always keep in mind that a moss destroyer, similar to a headache pill, can only combat the symptoms. It is best to use these remedies if, then only together with measures against the causes of the infestation.

As a natural means of combating moss and at the same time fertilizer for the lawn, wood ash (only clean natural ash without paint or similar) is often used. etc.) used. Wood ash is a good fertilizer, neutralizes the soil and thus deprives the moss of its basic nutrients. Again and again iron fertilizer against moss is recommended. But be careful, it puts a strain on the soil and the gardener and only allows superficial parts of the plant to die off. Basically, this makes the soil more acidic and therefore more attractive for mosses

Paving, paving joints, terrace slabs and Co.

Every house and garden owner regularly has to deal with annoying moss formation in the paving joints, sometimes also on the stones. On the other hand, it is then scrubbed, scratched, sprayed and burned.

Chemistry

That sounds like the easiest method. Apply an appropriate agent and wait until the moss and weeds have died. Apart from the fact that chemical toxins should have no place in nature, it is also forbidden. Hardened areas must not be treated with pesticides. They do not seep into the ground there, but are flushed into the sewage system, where they cause major problems for the waterworks in the treatment of drinking water.

home remedies

The use of harmless-sounding substances such as vinegar and salt has recently been banned under penalty of prosecution. The damage to the groundwater is too great.

Cola pure or soft soap with water are two of the permitted means. A mixture of soda, sauce thickener, and water also surface as tips, as does hydrogen peroxide. For better or worse, everyone has to make their own experiences here, because reports on the application successes read quite contradictory.

high pressure cleaner

The processing of the stones with a high-pressure cleaner is also effective. But be careful not to hold the heater vertically or apply too much pressure to the joints. Although this work can be provided with an upright back, all the removed pieces of moss will splatter all over the place. So you not only have to clean yourself thoroughly afterwards, but also the environment.

flaming device

Smaller areas can be processed relatively easily with a gas torch. In any case, test beforehand whether the respective plaster material does not change during this treatment. The models with an open flame and a gas cartridge are very cheap. However, these only remove the moss and weeds very superficially.

grout cleaner

There are electric grout cleaners and lots of more or less practical scraping devices for manual use. The latter should have a back-friendly long handle. The decisive factor here is the quality of the knife.

prevention

Excessive moss infestation can already be prevented when laying out terraces and paths:

• when selecting the stones: smooth surfaces such as granite, marble and ceramics are an unfavorable breeding ground
• Glaze wooden slats or panels with linseed oil or beeswax beforehand
• a slight gradient when laying prevents constantly damp panels
• Use of special joint sand

Editor's conclusion

If you look at the multitude of ways to remove moss, you realize that you are probably not the only one with this problem. New technical refinements against moss and algae infestation, especially for slabs and joints, come onto the market every year. The right measure can be found individually for the respective areas. The chemical club should actually always be taboo, because it definitely works without it.

Worth knowing about moss removal shortly

Before the moss removal with external means is discussed here, the natural way should be described. It involves manual gardening, but is a promising approach for smaller lawns:

• The manual work that is meant is called scarifying. That comes from Latin verticalis – vertical and french outside - Knife.
• Scarifying means a type of vertical cut with a knife.
• The measure is directed against the lawn thatch caused by leftover clippings and dead plant parts.
• This restricts the supply of nutrients, air and water. So your lawn literally can't breathe properly.
• Moss likes this atmosphere and the resulting moisture and develops rich growth.
• When scarifying, this thatch is removed - the lawn can breathe again and grow properly.
• Scarifying should be carried out between March and October, when the soil is dry and the lawn has been mowed beforehand.
• Normally one scarifies once in spring, then across it in autumn.
• In the case of heavily moss-covered lawns, you can scarify crosswise in one operation.
• This care can also be done with a simple rake, but this requires a lot of effort.
• If you now remove the remaining moss pads by hand, you are already very close to a moss-free lawn.

Various means are intended to help us to remove moss from the lawn more quickly. If you want to be on the safe side when using these substances, you should first determine the type of moss. Because the information given here relates to the application to the most common of the mosses that occur in our country, but there are mosses that react differently.

Iron sulphate against moss

• To combat moss, iron sulphate fertilizer is recommended first, since moss does not tolerate iron. It turns black and dies.
• Without changing the basic conditions, however, only a symptomatic measure, the moss will come back.
• Liming the lawn is also recommended. The pH of the soil should be raised from the acidic to a neutral range.
• In the neutral pH range, the lawn is better protected against moss, since moss loves acidic soil. But be careful, there are also lime-loving mosses!

Moss and weed killer

• There are also special moss killers or weed killers that also remove moss.
• However, there is also a plant protection law in Germany that does not always allow the use of these agents.
• If you decide to do this chemical treatment, you should check carefully whether the agent is legally permitted.
• However, these remedies are really extremely useful for large moss-covered areas. So don't be shy!

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