April 6th, 2023 by Sarah Miles

Is your patio looking dirty, green, weed-ridden, and just generally neglected? Don’t feel too bad; it’s the outdoor conditions that cause hard areas in the garden to deteriorate over time but there are things you can do to resolve these issues and revive the area.

Why bother cleaning up the patio?

You may think that there’s little point in spending time and effort cleaning the patio when it’s just going to get dirty again but there are several reasons for giving it some TLC:

·        A lovely, cleaned-up patio will lift the look of the whole garden

·        It’s easier to tackle even the stubborn stains and marks than you think

·        You can do things that will protect it and help keep it clean longer

·        A great patio area offers opportunities to create a lovely social space, and this can enhance how you use your garden

We can explain more by going through the most common blights on patio surfaces:

Green mould and algae

If your patio is covered in patches of green, this is likely to be green mould and algae. It loves cold, damp conditions so outdoor stone, concrete, and wood can provide the perfect conditions for these organisms to take hold and multiply. They not only look unsightly, but they can also become quite slippery when wet. To remove it thoroughly you need a green mould and algae remover which breaks the growths down. It’s safe to use around children and pets and it actually creates an invisible barrier that prevents re-growth for up to 6 months. Apply in the spring to see you through the summer and then again in the autumn to prevent growth in the winter when it can really take hold due to the wetter weather.

Cleenly Green Mould and Algae Remover for Hard Surfaces 5L

Price: £17.99

Buy Now

Weeds

Weeds are the nemesis of any patio area that has broken, such as paving stones or bricks. They will find their way into the smallest gaps, are extremely hardy, and can seem to grow right before your eyes! Don’t waste your time (or bruise your knees) by trying to pull them up. Within days of getting rid of them, they’ll start growing again. If you really want to break the cycle, you need to kill them at the root and the best way to do this is by using a weed killer. While weeds are harder to eradicate in borders and containers (because you don’t want to kill your nice plants), the job is fairly easy on a patio. Choose a patio weed killer that won’t damage the stones and apply it along the gaps where the weeds grow. They will start to die within a few days, and you may have to reapply a few times to get them all, but it will help you stay on top of the issue without too much work.

Black lichen

You may not even know what black lichen is but if you have black spots on the patio that look like ink splashes or drops of oil, it’s probably black lichen. This is another organism (a colony of organisms actually) that feeds on the mineral in the stone. It’s really tricky to remove by means of general cleaning because it sends tiny tendrils into the fabric of the stone and forms a hard crust over the surface to protect itself. You can’t remove it with bleach or other general cleaners (and you’re more likely to just damage the patio this way) and even patio cleaners such as the one mentioned above won’t affect it. What you need is a black spot remover. This has an active ingredient that breaks the lichen down and can penetrate into the surface, forcing it to release its grip. It’s easy to use too (as is the patio cleaner). Just apply, leave to work for a few hours and then rinse away. No scrubbing is required.

Cleenly Ultimate Extreme Black Spot Eliminator 5L

Price: £24.95

Buy Now

Once clean, protect against future blights

One thing that can be off-putting about doing work in the garden is the thought that you will have to do it all again in a few weeks. We’ve already talked about how some products will offer some protection against future problems but if you really want to give it added longevity, you might want to consider re-sealing it once it’s clean. This weatherproofs it and helps to prevent organic growth from taking hold. Not only will it save you future effort, but it will also keep it looking really nice for longer.