I suppose this is the right group to ask about plants; if not please
direct me elsewhere.

I have green moss growing on my sidewalk, front wall, steps, and the
house wall behind some plants.

A 50% dilution of regular household bleach kills the stuff on the
sidewalk, steps, and front wall. Spray it on, wait half an hour, hose
it off. The part that doesn't disappear (in the cracks) turns a shade
of yellow which I presume means that it's dead and some sweeping and
scratching will remove it.

I'm loathe to use such a powerful mixture on the house wall because
the run-off will go all over the plants and even if I cover them it'll
end up in the soil possibly killing them (I think). I've tried
(gingerly) a 10% solution but that didn't do anything. The wall is
porous limestone and is painted so it doesn't matter if the mode of
killing causes a stain. I'll repaint it anyway. Does moss require
oxygen to live? If so would painting it with shellac do the trick? Is
there some other appropriate chemical that will kill the moss but not
the plants? BTW the plants are a yew tree and an azalea if that makes
a difference.

TIA

I just de-mossed my fence with a power washer. It worked great, took little
time and effort, didn't hurt the fence, and best of all didn't hurt the
plants. I used nothing other than the force of the water.

wrote in message
...
I suppose this is the right group to ask about plants; if not please
direct me elsewhere.

I have green moss growing on my sidewalk, front wall, steps, and the
house wall behind some plants.

A 50% dilution of regular household bleach kills the stuff on the
sidewalk, steps, and front wall. Spray it on, wait half an hour, hose
it off. The part that doesn't disappear (in the cracks) turns a shade
of yellow which I presume means that it's dead and some sweeping and
scratching will remove it.

I'm loathe to use such a powerful mixture on the house wall because
the run-off will go all over the plants and even if I cover them it'll
end up in the soil possibly killing them (I think). I've tried
(gingerly) a 10% solution but that didn't do anything. The wall is
porous limestone and is painted so it doesn't matter if the mode of
killing causes a stain. I'll repaint it anyway. Does moss require
oxygen to live? If so would painting it with shellac do the trick? Is
there some other appropriate chemical that will kill the moss but not
the plants? BTW the plants are a yew tree and an azalea if that makes
a difference.

TIA

wrote in message
appropriate chemical that will kill the moss but not the plants?
Moss likes an acidic enviroment. Increasing the PH might be the way
to go. I might suggest:

http://www.google.com/search?q=bordeaux+mix

help get rid of any black spot on your roses too.


BTW the plants are a yew tree and an azalea if that makes
Azaleas are acid lovers as well.. so a basic solution might be
detrimental to their health. Perhaps treating the soil in the
immediate vicinity with an acidifier (magnesium sulfate?) will help to
counteract the mixture.... of course, then you are playing with making
salts which may or may not be detrimental.

whee... isn't chemistry fun!?

--
be safe.
flip
Ich habe keine Ahnung was das bedeutet, oder vielleicht doch?
Remove origin of the word spam from address to reply (leave "+")

Subject: Moss--How do I get rid of it?
From:
Date: 10/11/2004 10:36 AM Central Daylight Time
Message-id:

I suppose this is the right group to ask about plants; if not please
direct me elsewhere.

I have green moss growing on my sidewalk, front wall, steps, and the
house wall behind some plants.

A 50% dilution of regular household bleach kills the stuff on the
sidewalk, steps, and front wall. Spray it on, wait half an hour, hose
it off. The part that doesn't disappear (in the cracks) turns a shade
of yellow which I presume means that it's dead and some sweeping and
scratching will remove it.

I'm loathe to use such a powerful mixture on the house wall because
the run-off will go all over the plants and even if I cover them it'll
end up in the soil possibly killing them (I think). I've tried
(gingerly) a 10% solution but that didn't do anything. The wall is
porous limestone and is painted so it doesn't matter if the mode of
killing causes a stain. I'll repaint it anyway. Does moss require
oxygen to live? If so would painting it with shellac do the trick? Is
there some other appropriate chemical that will kill the moss but not
the plants? BTW the plants are a yew tree and an azalea if that makes
a difference.



The post about a power washer probably had the best idea.

Oddly enough, fertilizer will kill some types of moss. But not neccesarily all
types, and the kind you have sounds pretty invasive.

drying it out might also kill it, if you've been watering the area alot.

-


theoneflasehaddock

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 15:36:24 GMT, wrote:

I suppose this is the right group to ask about plants; if not please
direct me elsewhere.

I have green moss growing on my sidewalk, front wall, steps, and the
house wall behind some plants.

A 50% dilution of regular household bleach kills the stuff on the
sidewalk, steps, and front wall. Spray it on, wait half an hour, hose
it off. The part that doesn't disappear (in the cracks) turns a shade
of yellow which I presume means that it's dead and some sweeping and
scratching will remove it.

I'm loathe to use such a powerful mixture on the house wall because
the run-off will go all over the plants and even if I cover them it'll
end up in the soil possibly killing them (I think). I've tried
(gingerly) a 10% solution but that didn't do anything. The wall is
porous limestone and is painted so it doesn't matter if the mode of
killing causes a stain. I'll repaint it anyway. Does moss require
oxygen to live? If so would painting it with shellac do the trick? Is
there some other appropriate chemical that will kill the moss but not
the plants? BTW the plants are a yew tree and an azalea if that makes
a difference.

TIA


There are anti-moss sprays you can try. Moss is a plant and requires
CO2, light and moisture to survive. But, moss prefers shady, moist,
and acidic conditions. I have heavily limed an area and this had the
effect of less moss growing. Are you sure it is moss and not algae?

Phisherman wrote:

On Mon, 11 Oct 2004 15:36:24 GMT, wrote:

I have green moss growing on my sidewalk, front wall, steps, and the
house wall behind some plants.

There are anti-moss sprays you can try.

Any names to suggest?

Moss is a plant and requires
CO2, light and moisture to survive.

So shellac should seal out the CO2 and kill it????????

But, moss prefers shady, moist,
and acidic conditions.

Except at around 4pm there's almost no direct sunlight in the area but
I would have thought that limestone (on which it's growing) was
alkaline. Maybe the paint (latex and peeling) is acidic?

I've been in this house for over 25 years and this "moss" just
appeared out of nowhere last year. I'm not sure exactly where it
started but it covers the sidewalk (more near the front walls) and the
front courtyards of my neighbors for about three houses on either side
of me. It even grows on the steel (black painted) coal hole cover in
the front of the house. The only thing I can recall that's different
is that prior to last year I used to hose down the front and the
sidewalk about three times a week. Due to other commitments, I've had
to stop doing that except for maybe once a month. In any case that
wouldn't explain the neighbors.

I have heavily limed an area and this had the
effect of less moss growing. Are you sure it is moss and not algae?

I thought algae was a fancy name for seaweed. It certainly doesn't
look like any seaweed I know. It's bright green and resembles velvet
such as you'd use to line a jewelry box. Except on the steel and the
smooth portions of the concrete it seems to be slightly spongy.

Thanks to the other posters but I can't really use a power washer on
the difficult part (the front of the house) because of the porous
limestone. I have a small electric power washer that I use to wash the
car (occasionally g) and the last time I painted the steps (also
limestone) I thought I'd be smart and wash away any peeling paint. Bad
idea! Even on low pressure the power washer gouges holes in the
limestone and blasts the mortar out of the joints. I could use it on
the sidewalk and the other concrete areas but the bleach solution
works just fine there and the residue won't run into the plants.

wrote:

I suppose this is the right group to ask about plants; if not please
direct me elsewhere.

I have green moss growing on my sidewalk, front wall, steps, and the
house wall behind some plants.

A 50% dilution of regular household bleach kills the stuff on the
sidewalk, steps, and front wall. Spray it on, wait half an hour, hose
it off. The part that doesn't disappear (in the cracks) turns a shade
of yellow which I presume means that it's dead and some sweeping and
scratching will remove it.

I'm loathe to use such a powerful mixture on the house wall because
the run-off will go all over the plants and even if I cover them it'll
end up in the soil possibly killing them (I think). I've tried
(gingerly) a 10% solution but that didn't do anything. The wall is
porous limestone and is painted so it doesn't matter if the mode of
killing causes a stain. I'll repaint it anyway. Does moss require
oxygen to live? If so would painting it with shellac do the trick? Is
there some other appropriate chemical that will kill the moss but not
the plants? BTW the plants are a yew tree and an azalea if that makes
a difference.

TIA

Moss does very well in a shady, moist, cool environment. Once you get
rid of the moss let in the light and keep the area dry.

Apply the 50% solution carefully, with a paint brush or roller that
should keep most of it off the soil.

--
Travis in Shoreline Washington

said:

I have green moss growing on my sidewalk, front wall, steps, and the
house wall behind some plants.

A 50% dilution of regular household bleach kills the stuff on the
sidewalk, steps, and front wall. Spray it on, wait half an hour, hose
it off. The part that doesn't disappear (in the cracks) turns a shade
of yellow which I presume means that it's dead and some sweeping and
scratching will remove it.

There are moss killers and preventatives on the market.

One is sold under the Safer brand:
http://www.wormsway.com/detail.asp?sku=MAK705

There's another available he
http://www.bugspray.com/catalog/products/page1623.html
(I've bought other products from bugspray.com and found them
courteous and reliable.)

And these people go into detail about their product (click through
to other pages, including an FAQ):
http://www.anti-growth.com/


I'm loathe to use such a powerful mixture on the house wall because
the run-off will go all over the plants and even if I cover them it'll
end up in the soil possibly killing them (I think). I've tried
(gingerly) a 10% solution but that didn't do anything. The wall is
porous limestone and is painted so it doesn't matter if the mode of
killing causes a stain. I'll repaint it anyway. Does moss require
oxygen to live? If so would painting it with shellac do the trick? Is
there some other appropriate chemical that will kill the moss but not
the plants? BTW the plants are a yew tree and an azalea if that makes
a difference.

The products claim to be safe for use around other plants. The
FAQ for the last cited says:

3. Will Anti-Growth harm plants or shrubs?

A. Anti-Growth will not kill plants or shrubs but can brown the foliage. Plants should
be protected with a ground cloth or sprayed with water to dilute before and after the
Anti-Growth application.


--
Pat in Plymouth MI ('someplace.net' is comcast)

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)

"Philip Lewis" concocted:

| BTW the plants are a yew tree and an azalea if that makes
| Azaleas are acid lovers as well.. so a basic solution might be
| detrimental to their health. Perhaps treating the soil in the
| immediate vicinity with an acidifier (magnesium sulfate?) will help to
| counteract the mixture.... of course, then you are playing with making
| salts which may or may not be detrimental.
|
| whee... isn't chemistry fun!?
|
|


Ouch! My head hurts now!
;¬D
Kate

Are you sure you want to get rid of it?
People are paying big bucks for moss gardens!