Moss is one of those opportunity-seeking plants that can grow practically anywhere they receive ample shade. They also tend to grow in moist areas, so if your garden is moist, you have a higher proclivity of having moss under the larger trees.
The worst thing about having moss is that it is extremely difficult to get it out of your property. Why you can always try methods for physical removal or try spraying chemicals on it, the moss will soon find its way back as long as it gets its ideal condition.
The ideal way to get rid of moss for good is by implementing natural strategies. So, where does boiling water stand here? Is it any good when it comes to getting rid of moss? The answer is luckily yes. But along with boiling water, you need to follow some added strategies to keep the moss away from your property for good.
Can Moss Survive Boiling Water?
No, moss will not survive boiling water. But to completely get rid of it, you need to put in some physical labor. If we’re talking about the lawn, you would want to first rake it off and then clean it with some boiling water.
If, however, the moss is growing indoors like in concrete or your bathroom tiles or any other hard area, it is best to put piping hot water on the area. Next, get a sturdy brush, dip it in a mixture of vinegar and water and wash the entire thing way. Make sure your concoction has vinegar and water in 3:1 proportion.
The boiling water is a savior in this case because it will directly and almost immediately clean the moss. Similarly, the vinegar will operate by getting rid of the dirt, debris, and every other organic element that the moss generally prefers clinging around.
So, the answer to this popular question is No. Moss will never survive boiling water and you can use it as one of the simplest and most effective strategies to keep it off your property for the longest time.
Once you are done using boiling water as a solution, make sure the growing conditions of the moss are completely eradicated.
To prevent moss from growing inside or outside your property, you may need to follow the below guidelines:
- Always make sure your hard surfaces are warm and clean
- Avoid moisture seeping in because it is often the breeding ground for moss
Does Round up Kill Moss on the Roof?
No, a Roundup may not be the best option when it comes to getting rid of moss from your roof or any other concrete surface like the walls. This is primarily the case because Roundup was not originally created to get rid of moss. It is more popular as a weed killer that is known for affecting plants and directly poisoning their leaves and stem.
Because moss doesn’t come with roots, the roundup spreads through its spores and eventually destroys it to some extent.
On roofs, the impact is fairly less because it stands on concrete or any other hard surface unlike soil, that moss usually grows on. That is why, if you are looking to remove moss from your roof, you might need to try something else.
Getting rid of moss from your roofs
Probably the best option here would be to get a metal strip installed on your roof. This can be any type of strip crafted from copper or any metal that has been previously galvanized. Over some time, the strip will gradually oxidize washing your entire roof, the moment you add water, or it rains.
This way, the plane of your roof will stop being a breeding ground for moss and lichen. The same applies to concrete roofs. Just add a large piece of the galvanized metal strip on your roof and after a point wash it off with water for best results.
In case you want to go the extra mile, you can also buy specific products that are tailored to kill moss on roofs. Just spray the solution a couple of times like you would use roundup, and you will soon witness the moss yellowing up and eventually dying over the next couple of days.
Does Bleach Kill Moss on Concrete?
When it comes to getting rid of pesky moss from concrete surfaces, bleach might just be one of the best solutions. The same solution works on mildew and effectively helps you get rid of tough stains. To use bleach the right way for targeting moss and preventing regrowth you need to follow the below steps:
- Create a concoction of chlorine bleach and warm water in a 1:4 ratio
- Next, transfer the solution to a spray bottle
- Wear your rubber gloves while the solution sets for a while
- Next, spray the concoction on the mossy area of your concrete. Make sure the liquid is evenly spread on the affected surface.
- You now need to leave this solution as is over the next one week. After this point, you will slowly witness the moss drying out and subsequently, it will also die.
If the solution doesn’t seem to work on the first go, reapply it and wait over the next few weeks to get rid of it. You might also want to use a scrub brush to get rid of the dead moss properly. Once you are finally done, make sure the area is properly rinsed with ample water. Use a garden hose if needed.
While applying the solution to your moss, make sure it doesn’t touch plants as it may cause the plants to desiccate.
Does Vinegar Kill Moss on Concrete?
Yes. Vinegar is known to impact moss on concrete. So, if you are looking to get rid of that pesky green layer, you might want to use a Vinegar solution on the hard concrete surface.
The process is the same as the bleach solution, though the amount of vinegar you’ll need is slightly higher. For effective results, add half a cup of vinegar to half a cup of warm water and transfer your mix to a proper spray bottle.
Now spray the entire thing on the affected area and you will soon find that it works to remove the strong stains as well as the moss and lichen. The method is cost-effective, and it barely takes much time.
Ideally, you should use white vinegar for the task. However, in case it is unavailable, you can use any other variant of vinegar to do the task
As with the previous step, if the moss doesn’t seem to go away after the first application, continue applying your vinegar mix over the next few weeks until they start assuming a yellowish hue and finally die out.
What Kills Moss on Concrete?
You probably know at this point that roundup doesn’t have a major impact on moss, especially when it is on a concrete surface like your roof or patio. That is why you might need to try out other solutions for a quick fix.
While vinegar and bleach mixes are excellent homemade solutions, here are some additional ways to get rid of the pesky moss from your concrete surfaces.
If you’d rather not use a homemade cement driveway cleaner to remove moss from a driveway, use a pressure washer to spray the moss away from the surface of the concrete with ease.
Power Washer
This is yet another effective way to get rid of moss from your concrete surface. To do this trick, you would need a power washer moss removing product, a quality power washer, a pair of glasses to protect your eyes, gloves, and a plastic sheet.
Even before you start using the power washer, make sure the plants and other necessary items on your roof are well covered and protected. You don’t want to damage them with the intense water pressure. Once you’re fully done taking care of prerequisites, here’s how you can dive into the entire process:
- Check the instructions of the power washer and make sure your nozzle tip is set at 25-degrees
- Wear your glasses, stand three feet away from the mossy area, and spray the power washer in a sideways motion to sweep moss along the way
- Finally, when you are done with the task, you might want to give it another thorough wash and scrub the trace amounts of moss with a quality scrubber
Remember, even though moss helps the environment and doesn’t pose major health risks, it is not a good idea to let it grow on concrete.
Boiling water will clear up moss. However, you also need to make sure the place where the moss was growing is dry and warm. If the soil gets moist or the area receives ample shade, you will soon find the moss cleaving into your property again.
To avoid this, follow our suggested guidelines and use boiling water as the most surefire method to keep it away. Additionally, you can use a power hose, vinegar, bleach, or any other over the counter moss-cleaning product
