Green slime can build up on stone making tending your garden more tricky. It also means visitors could face a precarious pathway
It’s a precarious time of year for those who have slabs in their gardens. And expert Monty Don has warned they can be hazardous because they are slippery.
The aficionado has said paths and can be dangerous underfoot after the growth of moss and algae which can make them treacherous. He recommends taking the a pressure hose to the affected area. These, he says can be hired by the day if you do not own one.
Making your path safe is vital as green slime builds up on the stone of pathways. They can then be given more grip using grit and this will make them much safer as the months become colder and damper and temperatures drop.
In his November blog, he recommends brushing paths with sharpsand to ensure you have more grip after jet washing your path. He says this is the best way to combat slippery paths during autumn.
Monty said: “At this time of year brick and stone paths can be very slippery and dangerous. This is due to algae that grows on the surface, especially if wet and shaded and at this time of year they may stay wet and slippery for months. The best way to reduce the slipperiness is to wash off the algae with a pressure hose (which can be hired by the day). When this is done brush in sharpsand.”
The gardening expert says the path will suck in some of the grit. But he suggests using a stiff brush which means you can skip thee washing and make your path safe without the need for any other substances which may be harmful to your garden.
He added: “If the path is brick or stone the porous surface will absorb some of the sand. A quicker -but still quite laborious – alternative is simply to work sand in with a stiff brush without the washing. Either way you have a very effective way of making a path safe without resorting to chemicals.”
The Mirror reported that earlier that there’s an easy solution to get rid of it that doesn’t require much effort or any harsh chemicals. Moss can add a certain charm to our surroundings, whether it’s on rooftops, garden walls, or pavement cracks. But during winter, it can cause problems by making surfaces slippery, leading to slips and falls.
Joe, founder of Joe’s Lawn Care and a lawncare expert, has revealed in a blog post that washing up liquid is a fantastic weapon against moss, dubbing it “an epic moss killer”. He said: “I know this may sound even more baffling…but you can eradicate your moss problem with a two-ingredient cocktail of water and dish soap,” he explains. To try Joe’s method, all you need is 60ml of washing up liquid, four and a half litres of water, and an empty spray bottle.
He added: “Simply take your mixture outside and spray on any patches of moss you come across, holding your bottle just a couple of inches away as you drench the moss with your epic creation.”
