Moss Control

[scott]

One side of my house (which doesn't get a lot of sunlight) has lots of
moss growing on the ground and against the side wall. Given there are
so much moss growing, does this indicate there is a moisture problem?

I have had problem with rising damp with the house a few years ago, so
should I completely remove all the moss growing on the side wall? Will
it reduce the chance of having rising damp problem again?

Will there be any problems if I don't do anything and allow the moss to
grow rampantly?

[Basil Chupin]

scott wrote:
> One side of my house (which doesn't get a lot of sunlight) has lots of
> moss growing on the ground and against the side wall. Given there are
> so much moss growing, does this indicate there is a moisture problem?
>
> I have had problem with rising damp with the house a few years ago, so
> should I completely remove all the moss growing on the side wall? Will
> it reduce the chance of having rising damp problem again?
>
> Will there be any problems if I don't do anything and allow the moss to
> grow rampantly?

If the soil is too acidic moss will proliferate. Lime the soil and the
moss should disappear.

Re the moisture - perhaps some drainage works are required?

Cheers.


--
Sound that shatters silence is called noise. Sound that enhances silence
is called music.

[Andrew G]

"scott" > wrote in message
...
> One side of my house (which doesn't get a lot of sunlight) has lots of
> moss growing on the ground and against the side wall. Given there are
> so much moss growing, does this indicate there is a moisture problem?

It is slightly moist to grow the moss, but also by having moss there
previously there will be many spore ready to thrive in the right condition.
I know of a spot at work where moss thrives in a spot, on concrete where it
doesn't get much moisture, but it gets no direct light at all, but refection
from nearby concrete which is very white. I think the morning dew is enough
to keep it thriving all day.

> I have had problem with rising damp with the house a few years ago, so
> should I completely remove all the moss growing on the side wall? Will
> it reduce the chance of having rising damp problem again?

I would remove it considering the problem you had with the house, and it
will definitely only help as it will allow airflow to the wall.
>
> Will there be any problems if I don't do anything and allow the moss to
> grow rampantly?

Considering you have had a rising damp problem, then I'd get rid of the
moss. I think copper sulfate gets rid of it, either sprinkled on or made
into a spray.

Good luck
>

[Chookie]

In article >,
scott > wrote:

> One side of my house (which doesn't get a lot of sunlight) has lots of
> moss growing on the ground and against the side wall. Given there are
> so much moss growing, does this indicate there is a moisture problem?
>
> I have had problem with rising damp with the house a few years ago, so
> should I completely remove all the moss growing on the side wall? Will
> it reduce the chance of having rising damp problem again?

I doubt it. The moss is growing there *because* it's damp, cool and doesn't
get much sun. If you make the area dryer, you won't get so much moss.

If you've had a problem with rising damp, did the people explain why the
ground was wet? Is there a spring on that side of the house, for example? Or
does the block drain that way and channel the water there?

My suggestions are:
1. If the problem is serious, you could trench and put in ag pipe to drain
the water somewhere more useful.
2. If it's not an extreme problem, you could just turn your side passageway
into a fern garden or similar to make use of the damp conditions. The
water-lovers will suck some of the moisture away from your foundations.

--
Chookie -- Sydney, Australia
(Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply)

"Life is like a cigarette -- smoke it to the butt." -- Harvie Krumpet