Can I Kill Moss in the Winter on My Driveway?
Winter's damp, cool weather and lower levels of sunlight provide perfect growing conditions for moss. This tough plant thrives in moist shade, and water, soil and bits of plant debris supply nutrition. Moss spores carried by the wind can settle into cracks and crevices on the surface of your driveway. Wet patches of moss are slippery. And in cold weather, moss makes walking on icy driveways even more dangerous. Try removing moss with mechanical methods, such as scrubbing and washing, before resorting to chemical solutions. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Paving scrubber
- Pressure washer
- Garden hose
- Plastic spray bottle
- White vinegar
- Nylon scrub brush
- Plastic bucket
- Measuring cup
- Household bleach
Instructions
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Scrub off small areas of moss with a stiff-bristle brush. Moss lacks roots and is easy to remove from surfaces, cracks and crevices. Paving scrubbers with long handles and brass bristles are designed to clean asphalt, concrete and stone without damaging the surface. Use a scrubber with a pointed head to clean the joints between pavers and along the edges of your driveway.
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Remove large areas of moss with a pressure washer. Use plain water without herbicides or other chemicals. If your driveway is made of stone pavers, do not spray water directly down into the joints. Spray across the pavers at a low angle to avoid damaging the surface. Experiment on a small area before cleaning the entire driveway.
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Kill moss with vinegar. Scientists at the United States Department of Agriculture demonstrated that household vinegar kills actively growing weeds. Fill a plastic spray bottle with undiluted white vinegar, and then spray the mossy area. Allow the vinegar to remain on the surface for 10 minutes, and then scrub off the moss with a nylon scrub brush. Rinse the treated area with water from a garden hose.
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Clean moss-covered areas with bleach. Fill a plastic bucket with a gallon of water, and add 1 cup of household bleach. Wet a nylon scrub brush with the bleach mixture, scrub the stained area and then allow it to set for 10 minutes. Rinse with water. Apply bleach on a cloudy day so that sunlight doesn't dry the surface before the bleach has time to work. If your driveway is made of colored stone or concrete, test a small area first to determine whether bleach will lighten the color.
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Eliminate sources of moisture and shade, which promote moss growth. Adjust your lawn and garden sprinklers to prevent water from splashing on your driveway. Remove piles of organic debris -- such as leaves, evergreen needles, branches and mulch. Prune nearby trees and shrubs to allow more sunlight to reach the surface.
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Tips & Warnings
Vinegar and bleach can damage grass, leaves and flowers. Protect plants near your driveway from accidental spills by drenching them with water before and after each cleaning session.
Brush your driveway regularly with a stiff broom to prevent moss spores from growing.
Use vinegar or bleach to remove moss from a gravel driveway.
Wear gloves and eye protection while working with bleach. Do not spill bleach on your clothing.
References
Resources
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