Reducing Algae/Moss on Concrete...?

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

That's a tried and tested method and you've not experienced any algae since?

Used on drives in the past. Not my own.

Once it's clear and treated the seal should help stop it getting a hold as quickly.

 

[The Z'eer]

Used on drives in the past. Not my own.

Once it's clear and treated the seal should help stop it getting a hold as quickly.

Cheers for the info

 

[The Z'eer]

I did, here it is.


This weed killer is very easy to make, inexpensive, and can block weed growth for up to 6 months!

The measurements are easily to follow, if you want more, just scale up keeping the scales the same.

Dish washer or pool Salt (1/2 pint)

Water (1/4 pint)

Distilled White Vinegar (5%, 3/4pint)

Washing up soap (1/4 pint)

Measurement cups.

Dispensing bottle.

Mix the ingredients together. If the salt has not dissolved add more water or vinegar.

This works well on Ivy and other waxed leaves plants as well as grass.


Plus it is harmless to pets, it will also discourage neighbourhood cats doing their business.

Why Vinegar?

The acidity of Vinegar kills the weeds and its roots, and is also used as a "liquid vessel", where it carries the pool salt and dish soap when sprayed onto plants.

Why Water?

Although water dilutes the solution, it helps save your precious vinegar and does not drastically reduce the effectiveness of the weed killer.

Why Pool Salt?

Salt is notorious for its use in the olden days, where if there was a dispute, men would salt their victim's land, making it barren and unable to grow crops. This would effectively destroy their source of food and income. Pool salt is a very cheap alternative to regular table salt, and still gets the job done.

Why Dish Soap?

Dish soap helps the salt and vinegar cling onto the stem and leaves, making the weed killer much more effective.

As for it's usage as a weedkiller, are several applications necessary at this strength? How long before it's effects are seen?

 

[The Z'eer]

Patio cleaner from a pool supplies shop does the job. The stuff that is labelled as 15% hypochlorite. For use, it needs to be quite dilute. Start with 1 part patio cleaner in 50 parts water (0.3% working concentration), and apply with a watering can, sufficient to wet the surface rather than drench it. Apply when rain is due, and just leave it on and let the rain rinse it off. If the algae grows back sooner than you'd like, increase the concentration to 1 part in 20 of water (0.75%), and for even greater effect, go up to 1 part in 10 (1.5%), but consider that as a maximum.

I'll bear that one in mind, thanks

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

In summer on Dandy lions. You see wilting in an hour.

On ivy, 2 or 3 hard hits.

Moss it is best to try and get the surface dry and then apply.
In 24 hours, if it remains dry the moss should be browning.
If in doubt apply again.

It is also animal safe.

 

[Gragson]

You're right about the abrasion caused from jet washing.

How long have you been using the above product? Does it keep the concrete completely moss/algae free? I do have a sprayer though.

Have a fair area of stone slab patio and concrete slab pathways and I treat it once and sometimes two times a year. Never had to do it more than 2 times in 12 months.
I've used other brands of the same thing which worked well but I can get this locally or on the web cheap and it goes a fair way, you can adjust dilution down to go further but I go for the 1-4 which seems to clear pretty much the nastiest aggregations. It's pretty benign as well, keep pets off til its dry and that's it, even use it near the grass and the pond with care and no issues.

Been using it for 4 years now, did it 5 weeks ago, back nice and clean after a few weeks of the stuff doing its job and you don't have to spray it off after, just leave it. I only have a cheapo hand pump sprayer which is a bit of a chore for a big area, but if using a watering can it would use up a lot more juice and overrun.

When I was using the power washer even with the rotating Karcher brush sprayer head, the amount of water and mess would make the patio into a swamp, let alone damage to mortar and taking longer.

 

[Shedendman]

This was my old game
As mentioned above bleach,but get proper industrial stuff,if i remember i use to use a APT brand
Trick is little and often,let it soak into the concrete(depending how porous it is) spray it on if you can,or evenly with a rose watering can,then wash off.
But,and here the thing,you might stop it for a while,but it'll come back,why,few factors,have you any trees above? Does it get more sun or more shade? All adds to regrowth
You sure its moss/algae,it might be lichen,different bugger that is,you think you have it sussed,but no way it still lives even if you nuked it.
So,treat it as i said,wash it,the way you like,and to give you some time,SEAL IT,stop it from having something to grow/attach itself back onto.
Like to give you this hint,if you've got moss algae lichen growth,its shows you have clean unpolluted air around you,very rarely you see all this is polluted towns/cities
Just like to add one last thing,flushing industrial bleach down water ways is a big no no so dont follow my above advice

 

[Arc Tourist]

bottle of cheapo bleach does it ...push it around with some water and a broom , leave 20 mins and rinse off , doesnt seemto hurt the lawn either

We've used bleach in water every once in awhile and it works just fine.
When zooming down from space on Google Earth, we can quickly spot the sidewalk in front of our house as it is much brighter than in front of other nearby houses.

 

[jsf55]

Domesto's 50/50 2-3 hours before heavy rain is forecast

 

[Johnnybravo]

I have used a product called Wet and forget. Worked a treat.
A quick search shows they have really hiked the price up since I bought 5l of the stuff

 

[eddie49]

Sodium Percarbonate, about one handful of the crystals per square metre, then spray with water or wait for rain:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1KG-Sodi...Coated-Oxygen-Oxi-Cleaner-Bleach/362744409022

 

[steveo3002]

We've used bleach in water every once in awhile and it works just fine.
When zooming down from space on Google Earth, we can quickly spot the sidewalk in front of our house as it is much brighter than in front of other nearby houses.

yeah i started out using swimming pool bleach which is stronger , but the 50p stuff works as well unless its terrible

 

[jimbo84]

No messing, get the cheap supermarket bleach on it, throw a couple of bottles on it, neat, quick brush with a yard brush, leave it on either till it dries or for 30mins to an hour. Hose it off, jobs a good un

Or...you could do what a neighbour does and get the petrol pressure washer out, run it for a good 2 hours spraying it all driving the neighbours crazy with the noise, you can hear the thing on the other side of the estate.

 

[Appyasme 3]

I`ve got Indian Stone as a patio. This has green patches in several places. Any ideas on how to get rid of the green marks without damaging the stone?

 

[steveo3002]

I`ve got Indian Stone as a patio. This has green patches in several places. Any ideas on how to get rid of the green marks without damaging the stone?

bleach ..

 

[angellonewolf]

bleach ..

is stone not pourus could damgae the stone

 

[steveo3002]

is stone not pourus could damgae the stone

try a bit on a corner somewhere

 

[Appyasme 3]

Good point. Will try on a corner.

 

[Morrisman]

I had been jet brushing mine for a fair few years, does quite a bit of damage to the mortar over time.
Can't recommend this stuff more, takes less time to do, lasts longer and does no damage - you will need a sprayer tho.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Patio-Cl...318655?hash=item48e17703bf:g:KzQAAOSwdNleYn40

Just ordered myself a couple of bottles of that. I tried the Domestos route this morning, made very slow progress, these slabs haven't been cleaned for years.

 

[wyn]

Agricultural hypochlorite should do it.

You can get 20 litres for £25'ish. That should make lots of bleach.