How To Get Rid Of Moss Between Pavers

How to Easily Get Rid of Moss Between Pavers

Getting rid of moss that grows between pavers can be a daunting task. However, there are multiple ways of getting the job done, which we will discuss about in this article.

If you are concerned about contaminating the area with chemicals, there are also natural methods. And what’s more, we will also tell you where you can get the equipment to get rid of that pesky moss for good.

In addition to looking terrible, moss between your pavers can be slippery and downright dangerous, and could result in a bad fall.

In this article, we’ll also touch on why moss grows, and what you can do to prevent it from growing. Then we’ll provide easy to follow step-by-step methods of getting rid of it. So, read on to learn more!

Items You’ll Need

Since you will be venturing into the garden and dealing with a considerable amount of dirt, you’ll want to wear appropriate clothing. Accessories like gloves and shoes will help with the job at hand. Apart from what you wear, you will also need to keep some accessories and equipment ready. There are some common items, and then, there is a list of things that you need, depending on the particular method you are adopting.

Here is a general list of items you will need, followed by individual lists, according to the method you use:

• Gardening clothes (clothes you don’t mind getting a little mud on)
• Gardening gloves
• Sturdy, closed toe shoes or boots
• Ample water supply
• A stiff yard broom
• Dustpan

Methods of Getting Rid of Moss

Simple Brushing for Moss

This method is one of the most effective, however, it is quite labor-intensive, so be prepared for a bit of hard, physical work. The upside is that you won’t need fancy equipment, and the results are instant. You will need a broom with a metallic blade or scraper attached.

• Hold the broom handle at such an angle that you can scrape the joints between the pavers with the metallic blade of your broom;
• Scrape all the moss from the cracks between pavers;
• Using the stiff brush of your broom, brush the surface of the pavers;
• Sweep up debris into a dustpan and bag it
• Give the entire area a thorough wash with the hose
• If your pavers are in a location where sunlight does not reach, ensure that the area is dryed so moss doesn’t grow back

Equipment Needed for Brushing Pavers

• Stiff broom with a metal blade attachment
• General purpose yard broom
• Dustpan

Pressure Washing for Moss

Cleaning pavers with a power washer obviously requires additional equipment. If you’d prefer not to buy a pressure washer, you can find a local company that offers power washing services at a reasonable price. If you’d like to hire help, try a Google search and find several companies with favorable reviews. Then call and get quotes. If you own a power washer, or plan on renting one, take these steps to solve your moss problem:

• Locate the nearest power outlet to the work site
• Place your pressure washer on the pavers and check whether your hose and power cable are long enough for you to reach all of the mossy areas
• If not long enough, utilize an extension cord (make sure to not get electric lines wet)
• Start your machine
• At an angle, aim the nozzle of the spray tip at the cracks between the pavers
• Move the spray tip between the pavers in a back and forth motion
• Once you have cleared the area of moss, switch off the power washer and sweep up the debris with a stiff yard broom

Equipment Needed for Power Washing Pavers

• Power washer with suitable attachments
• Power outlet
• Waterproof clothing, gloves, and closed toe shoes

Boiling Water for Moss

Removing moss from your pavers by using boiling water is the easiest and least physically taxing method. However, it’s not very practical if the area to be cleaned is too large.

• Boil the water as close as possible to the area to be cleaned so that your water doesn’t cool down in transit
• It’s not a bad idea to wear gloves to prevent your skin from getting scalded
• Pour the boiling water between the cracks and joints between the pavers
• Wait until the area cools then brush off the loose moss using a stiff yard brush

Equipment Needed to Use Boiling Water

• Protective gloves
• Stove or fire near area to be cleaned
• A kettle or pot to carry the boiling water

Chemicals or Detergents for Moss

If you use chemicals or detergents, you need to be careful about contaminating the surrounding areas. You can minimize this risk by flushing the area with water after removing the dead moss.

Depending on the extent of your moss growth, you can use either detergents or chemicals. Either way, it is also a good idea to protect the surrounding areas with tarpaulin.

Equipment Needed to Use Detergent or Chemicals

• Mouth filter mask
• Protective goggles
• Chemical resistant gloves
• Spray bottle
• Tarpaulin to protect surrounding area

Using Detergents

Detergents work great for situations where the moss growth is not overly abundant. In this case, it’s good to go cheap as cheaper detergents are harsher and more effective for killing moss.

If you have a power washer, you can add your detergent for an even greater effect.

If you don’t have a power washer, you can simply pour the detergent over the moss.

Then, wait a few days for the moss to die and turn brown. All you have to do then is sweep up the dead moss with a stiff brush.

Using Chemicals

There are many chemicals that you can use for getting rid of moss from pavers. However, the safest and most effective method is to use bleach. You can buy bleach commercially in liquid form or as a powder.

First, make sure that you are wearing your filter mask, gloves, and goggles. Also, ensure that you open the liquid bleach container in a well ventilated area.

Mix 4 parts water to 1 part bleach.

Pour the mixture over the moss, careful not to get any on the grass, flowers, or plants that you don’t want to kill.

Wait a few days for the moss to turn brown and then sweep up all of the dead moss.

Make sure to rinse off the entire area to get rid of any bleach residue.

How to Prevent Moss Between Pavers

They say prevention is better than a cure. Hence, the best way of getting rid of moss in your backyard or garden is to not allow it to grow in the first place. However, there is a caveat – sometimes atmospheric conditions and other natural circumstances make moss inevitable.

For example, if you are in a location where it rains heavily, sunlight is rare and relative humidity is high, moss accumulation on stony surfaces and concrete is inevitable. However, if you are able to get a bit of sunlight into your yard, then here are some tips of how to prevent moss between pavers:

1. Ensure your garden or backyard gets adequate sunlight
2. Avoid placement of structure and objects that block out sunlight
3. Trim tree branches regularly to let sunlight in
4. Keep the surfaces of your backyard or garden as dry as possible
5. Try to avoid consistently running sprinklers over pavers
6. Intermittently pressure wash the cracks between pavers; ideally with detergent or chemicals
7. Sweep the area regularly with a stiff yard brush

Handy Tip: You can brush in some dry sand, once you have gotten rid of the moss between your pavers. This makes the joints look smart and uniform, and prevents moss from growing back.

You Can Keep Your Garden Surfaces Safe and Moss Free!

We hope that you have enjoyed reading this simple guide. Now, you know how to easily get rid of moss between pavers.

It is important to be aware of the hazards of having slippery, mossy surfaces in your garden or backyard. You need to not only know how to get rid of moss, but how to prevent moss from growing between pavers in the first place.

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