October 11th, 2021 by Sarah Miles

If you’re the kind of person who hates the winter because cold weather conditions make the hard surfaces of your garden treacherous to walk on, you may be interested to know that it may not be the ice and frost that’s really making it slippery. While they won’t help of course, if you find your patio, path, or drive difficult to walk across after just a light shower, the issue may actually be mould and algae.

A common garden problem

Don’t worry, having mould and algae does not indicate that your garden is dirty or hasn’t been maintained properly. It’s actually a very common issue and can develop in any garden. It thrives in damp, shaded areas and the spores are usually carried on the breeze and settle on hard surfaces. Because patios and drives often don’t have great drainage and are shielded by buildings, mould and algae can easily take hold and spread.

Recognising mould and algae

You can easily identify this issue as the mould and algae form a green covering over the surface and it can feel quite slimy to the touch when wet. This is what makes it so slippery.  It’s a safety hazard but it’s also unsightly so it’s really beneficial to deal with it – especially before the winter weather really sets in

How to remove mould and algae

Luckily, removing these unpleasant growths is pretty easy if you use the right product. Forget general cleaners and scrubbing brushes; you just need something that is formulated for the job. A specific mould and algae remover or a patio cleaner that deep cleans and states it is suitable for removing mould and algae is what you need. That is because they contain active ingredients that break the mould and algae down and release their grip on the porous stone surface.

Cleenly Ready to Use Patio Cleaner 5L

Price: £14.95

Buy Now

Here is what you need to do:

1. Clear the area, removing any garden furniture or objects to allow you to access the whole space
2. Ensure the surface is dry and that no rain is forecast within the next few hours
3. Check whether the product you’re using is ready to use or requires diluting. A ready to use one such as this one can literally be used straight from the container. A concentrate, such as this one needs diluting with water. When ready, pour your product into a watering can or garden sprayer
4. Apply the cleaner over the whole area as evenly as possible
5. Leave it to work. Check the label as some can take as little as two hours where some benefit from being left overnight. If the product you’re using is a ‘spray and walk away’ product, your work here is done
6. If the product you’re using requires rinsing, you can do that after the specified time. Just give it a good rinse with clean water from a hosepipe, watering can, or garden sprayer and then leave to dry
7. After a few days, the green colouration will turn brown as it dies off. You can then sweep it away very easily, revealing a beautiful clean surface that looks great and no longer presents a health and safety risk. Plus, as an added bonus, these cleaners also actively protect against regrowth for up to 6 months.

Still got black spots?

5L Cleenly Black Spot Remover Cleaner

Price: £24.95

Buy Now

If you have completed this process and are still left with ink-spatter type black spots when the green mould and algae have gone, this is likely to be black lichen. This will require a black spot remover product as this is the only thing that will remove stubborn black lichen. Luckily, this product is as easy to apply as mould and algae remover!