IF you’ve spent ages cleaning your patio, only for weeds and moss to take over, then fear not, you’ve come to the right place.
There’s nothing more unsightly than unwanted greenery growing all over your patio - but thanks to gardening enthusiasts, there’s a super simple way to get rid of the stuff in no time at all.
And if you’re on a budget, don’t worry, you won’t have to break the bank on posh cleaning products or gardening tools.
Thanks to this simple hack, you’ll only have to spend £3 - yes, you heard that correctly.
When it comes to removing moss, the most effective way to tackle it is to be proactive and remove it early on.
One gardener, keen to get rid of moss and weeds from her home, took to the Gardening UK Facebook page to seek advice.
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The gardening enthusiast posted two photos of her patio, overrun with moss and weeds, and asked: “What’s the best way to revive this block paving?”
She then added: “We have it around the edge and at the bottom of our garden and it’s been neglected since we moved in (a lot of work to do in and out of the garden).
“There are loads of moss and weeds and a few hefty ant colonies. There’s a path down one side of the garden (north-facing side) then this nice bit at the bottom (which faces west).
“I’d like to clean it up and use it for evening/afternoon seating but not sure what's the best way to try and sort it?”
Whilst some suggested using a pressure washer, not only will this make a dent in your purse, but it can also damage paving if not used correctly.
Alternatively, many recommended a household item to remove moss and weeds from patios - and there’s no scrubbing involved.
Many social media users swore by the effectiveness of washing powder, claiming that it ‘kills moss fast’.
One user suggested: “Washing powder. You would be amazed at the transformation.
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"You can sweep new sand back into the seams afterwards.”
A second advised: “Honestly sounds strange, but cover it in cheap washing machine powder and brush it around.
I use Aldi biological washing powder to kill moss and algae. Works a dream
Facebook user
"It kills moss and everything fast, and then the rain will rinse it off.”
A third recommended: “Biological washing powder works well.
Cheap gardening tips
- Keep weeds away with straw
According to horticulturists and plant professionals, all-natural straw is one of the most effective tools to bring into your garden.
You don’t need to buy a whole bale – you can typically buy smaller bundles at your local farm store for upwards of £1.50.
Some stores even sell pre-portioned bags made for gardens, which can cost closer to £10 but can be found on the shelves or online. - Call your local garden centre
If you are unsure of how to care for your plants, hop on the phone or online and get in touch with your local garden center, rather than resorting to the internet.
Nursery employees will have an up-to-the-minute understanding of your area’s conditions, and any plant care tips that are unique to your climate and soil.
Calling them with a question or stopping in is totally fine – they want your plants to thrive, too. - Wood to keep slugs out
Use a piece of wood to keep the slugs out of your garden.
Experts say that they’ll crawl under it for shade.
Then you can gather them up and get rid of them. - Save your toilet paper tubes.
You can use paper towel tubes and toilet paper tubes in your garden, according to a tip from Family Handyman.
Save the tubes and cut them into two-inch lengths before placing them in a waterproof tray.
Then simply fill the tubes with potting soil and start planting your seeds.
According to the site, when you’re ready to move them into the garden, they can be planted right in the tubes and, because it’s cardboard, they’ll decompose organically.
"Sprinkle it on and either let it rain or spray some water on and it goes in 15 minutes.”
Whilst someone else chimed in: “Washing powder and water, leave for a bit and rinse with the hose, brings it up great.”
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Meanwhile, another user claimed: “I use Aldi biological washing powder to kill moss and algae. Works a dream.”
If you fancy giving this trick a try, and are running low on washing powder, you can nab a 1.25kg box of the non-bio stuff from Sainsbury’s for only £3, making this trick not only incredibly effective, but affordable too.