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Moss growing in garden and patio #679185

Asked January 19, 2021, 8:32 AM EST

Increasingly we are having moss grow on our brick patio and in portions of our vegetable garden. The areas described are not fully shaded. How do I get rid of the moss.

Montgomery County Maryland

Expert Response

Sounds like you have the desired conditions for moss which includes some shade and moisture. If you do not want it there, perhaps you can look at possibly changing the shade/moisture conditions. Could you prune trees back to allow more sunlight in? Any way to change moisture conditions? It will return if underlying conditions are not changed. 

To remove - You can use a power washer at a low angle to quickly knock off the moss buildup. It will probably grow back but not right away and you can power wash again when that happens.   If you do not have a power washer, you may be able to hire this out.  Finally, some like the moss among the bricks and choose to leave it. 

Vegetable garden - Moss likes several conditions: acid soil (low pH), lots of moisture, shade (though can handle some sun), compacted soil (or average soil), and low fertility. Be sure to get a soil test of your vegetable garden if you have not done so for 2-3 years. Here is information on soil testing https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/soil-testing-and-soil-testing-labs

You can scrape it off your vegetable garden or you can incorporate the moss into the existing soil and add some compost to help with drainage.

Marian

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