Moss is an often-overlooked problem, with people ignoring the growth when it inevitably appears on their lawn, patio, walls, or roof. While it is impossible to prevent moss from growing around the outside of your home, it is important to address the problem as it can cause all kinds of issues down the line.
For example, moss grows on most roofs as it offers the perfect growing conditions, namely being a damp environment. When left unchecked on a roof, the plant continues to grow and spread, absorbing and retaining a lot of moisture that can cause rotting, a serious issue for any roof material.
Similarly, moss growing around brickwork and masonry can also cause serious damage and erosion. Again, this is due to the moisture retention, trapping moisture inside the mortar joints that causes erosion.
Not only that, but moss on a lawn also competes for all the nutrients, water, and oxygen, causing poorer growth and lots of unsightly patches across the lawn. In fact, moss can seriously ruin the aesthetic of anything it grows on, giving all the reason you need to eliminate it. Below we reviews the best moss killer products available for sale in the UK.
Moss killer for Lawns, Patios & Driveways
Pros
- Easy to apply
- 5L bottle offers enough solution to treat areas up to 3002
- Non caustic, non-acidic, contains no bleach
- Biodegradable
Cons
- Takes a few weeks or possibly months to completely kill off moss
Wet & Forget is one of the leading products on the market for moss removal. Capable of making up to 30L of solution, you get enough product here to treat an area up to 300m2, so it is a great option for anyone with a lot of moss to remove.
Granted, you may get less from the solution if dealing with an especially large moss growth, although you can still expect the solution to effectively kill all traces of the moss. It does take a few weeks, and even sometimes months, to get the full result but few products are so effective at killing off the plant entirely – don’t expect regrowth for up to year after application.
Not only does it work with moss, but you can also use it to remove similar natural growth like lichen and algae, making it a versatile solution for maintain your outdoor surfaces like roofs, patios, decking, driveways, pathways etc.
Another nice feature is that the solution is non-caustic, non-acidic, and contains no bleach. This makes it biodegradable after application, while it won’t cause any sort of damage to other plants it comes into contact with – not many products offer this.
- Removes Mould Easily: Just wet & walk away, leaving the product to effectively…
- Large Coverage: Mix one part solution to 5 parts waters to make 30 litres of…
- Multiple Surfaces: Our non-bleach formula is perfect for cleaning ANY outdoor…
Patio Magic
Pros
- Easy to apply – doesn’t require any mixing
- Suitable for moss, algae, lichen, and mould
- Lasts for up to six months
- Kills moss in days
- Good value for money
Cons
- Only treats up to 852 which is less than similar products
This budget-friendly solution is a great way to kill off unwanted moss and other natural growth like mould, algae, and lichen. One of the big advantages of this product is that everything comes ready to use from the bottle, meaning you don’t need to worry about making your own mixture.
When applied to the moss it starts working immediately, killing it off within two to four days in most instances. Tougher growth may take a bit longer, as does killing other growth like lichen, although results are still impressively fast compared to many other products.
Expect it to keep moss away for six to nine months, making it one of the longer lasting products, which is even more impressive thanks to its lower price point. A 2.5L bottle of the solution offers enough treatment for up to 852, which is less than many similar products, although its effectiveness does mean it’s not the biggest issue, especially if treating smaller areas.
- Patio Magic! Liquid Concentrate Mould, Algae and Moss Killer can be used on hard…
- Patio Magic kills green mould in 2-4 days, and gently cleans the exposed…
- This biodegradable cleaner is suitable to treat your patios, fencing, driveways…
Pro-Kleen Patio Cleaner
Pros
- Versatile solution suitable for roofs, patio, fencing, decking, driveways, and furniture
- Kills moss, green mould, and algae
- No scrubbing or pressure washer needed
- Non acidic, contains no bleach, and is biodegradable
Cons
- Does require mixing with water, although this is optional as it can be used directly on the growth
This 5L solution from Pro-Kleen goes a long way when making a diluted solution, creating up to 25L of product for killing moss, green mould, and algae. Just 1L mixed with 4L of water offers plenty of solution for moss, killing it entirely in a few days and preventing regrowth for several months. s
While you can apply directly to the moss, this means it won’t last as long, while non-concentrated solutions are only necessary for serious growth. You probably want to buy a sprayer for the best application, although you can easily just use watering can.
A versatile product, you can use the solution on virtually any surface where moss grows. This includes usual surfaces like roofs, walls, pavements, driveways, and fences, but also things like patio furniture and PVC window frames.
Plus, because it treats green mould and algae too, you can use it to clean virtually any weather worn outdoor surface.
- EFFORTLESS CLEANING: Pro-Kleen Simply Spray eliminates all green mould and algae…
- USE ON HARD SURFACES: Ideal for Patios, Decking, Fencing, Pathways, Driveways,…
- SUPER CONCENTRATE: A single 5 litre creates at least 25 litres of solution,…
Everbuild Patio Wizard Moss
Pros
- 5L treats an area up to 300m2
- Fast acting -results in a few days
- Doesn’t require washing or scrubbing
- Suitable for paving, fencing, sheds, greenhouses, roofs etc.
Cons
- Requires dilution and a sprayer, although this means you get more uses from the solution
If you need a powerful and fast acting solution then be sure to check this product from Everbuild. Known to kill off moss in as quickly as a few days, this potent solution is perfect for treating areas with green growth including moss, mould, and algae.
In fact, this is the perfect pre-treatment if you plan on painting a shed or fence, with the solution killing off all types of growth beyond just moss. Furthermore, the fact you get such great mileage out of a 5L bottle means you might end up having some leftover to treat other areas – one bottle is enough to treat up to 300m2, some of the highest of any product on this list.
While it is a powerful solution, it is completely safe for kids and pets once dried, being made entirely from biodegradable products that won’t harm your local environment. Dilution the solution is a bit of hassle but it is well worth it once the results show in a few days.
- No need for scrubbing or pressure washing just apply and leave to dry, ideal for…
- Made from biodegradable ingredients and does not include any bleach or acid,…
- approximately 60 sq. m depending on the level of growth and dilution required
Jarder Spray & Leave Moss Mould & Algae Killer
Pros
- 5L treats up to 240m2
- Kills moss, green mould, and algae
- Suitable for all hard surfaces including pavements, patios, decking, fencing, roofs, sheds, greenhouses, windows, plant pots, and more.
- Results show in 2-3days
Cons
- Not quite as effective on decking, although mostly algae and mould grow here anyway
This versatile solution from Jarder can be used on any hard surface outdoors, including roofs, windows, walls, fencing, pavements, and much more. It is suitable for decking and patio areas too, although the effectiveness on decking is not as impressive as other surfaces – not much moss grows here anyway though!
With a 5L bottle treating an area up to 240m2, the product offers exceptional value for money, especially considering small amount is required to treat an area. Results show in as little as 2-3 days, making it one of the fastest acting on the market, while regrowth is prevented for several months.
You don’t need to use it on just moss either, as the powerful solution kills off green mould, algae, and lichen, although it may take a bit longer to kill some of these off entirely. But given how much mileage you get from a bottle; you can effectively clean all your outdoor surfaces with a single product.
- ✓ CLEANS WITH NO EFFORT: Jarder Spray And Leave Kills All Green Mould & Algae…
- ✓ SUPER CONCENTRATE: One 5 Litre Bottle Of Jarder Spray & Leave Makes A…
- ✓ ALL HARD SURFACES: Perfect For Use On Patios, Decking, Fencing, Paths,…
How to Remove Moss from Surfaces
You can’t stop moss from growing across the various outdoor surfaces of your property, as the plant naturally grows for long periods of the year. Instead, you want to remove it as soon as possible to minimise the chances of it causing more serious damage down the line.
For this, you need a moss killer, as those homemade remedies are not that effective. In fact, using non-chemical removal methods like a pressure washer may cause more damage to certain surfaces than the moss itself!
Therefore, it helps to know what products are best for removing moss (as described in our list above) and how to use them most effectively on the various surfaces around your property.
How a Moss Killer Works
Because these products are the most effective, we recommend using them for all your moss removal needs. While ingredients vary from each product, most of them contain iron to help draw moisture from the plant, effectively drying it out before killing it off.
Application is easy, with most combined with some water and applied over the problem area. You can use a watering can for these although you may find a sprayer is much more efficient at applying the solution over the various surfaces.
Buying this equipment may seem unnecessary but remember that moss regrows throughout the year, so regular removal is more than likely.
Applying Moss Killer
Mix with Water
All our recommended products are applied in the same way, being combined with water, and then sprayed over any area with moss growing. Follow manufacturer guidelines to do this properly, as the water to iron sulphate ratio differs from each product.
In any case, add the product to the sprayer/watering can first, then add the water. This helps to better combine the mixture, ensuring it all fully dissolves.
Spray on Surfaces
A sprayer provides easier application of the product so it is a good idea to get one for the task, especially if there is a lot of surfaces to treat. Pump your sprayer several times and then stary applying across hard surfaces, targeting all areas with moss growth, spraying for a few seconds.
After about 20 minutes the moss should hopefully show signs of dying off already by turning black. This is a good time to revisit the area, looking for any spots you might have missed, spraying anything that has yet to turn black.
Remove Moss Once It Dies Off
Depending on the location and severity of the growth, moss may take several weeks to die off completely, especially on a lawn. Continue to check the moss several times a week, looking for it to die off entirely, after which you can rake or brush it out.
Reapply When Necessary
Some areas may require reapplication if the initial batch did not kill of the moss. There may be a few reasons for this, such as making the solution too weak, although it could just be the moss growth is so significant that several treatments are required to completely remove it all.
How to Get Moss Out from a Lawn
Removing moss from a lawn is sometimes trickier than other surfaces. This is because you need to be careful not to kill the grass off at the same time, which is why it is recommended that you use a 2-in-1 lawn moss killer that also encourages healthy regrowth.
When to Treat Lawn Moss
Late autumn or early winter is the best time to treat lawn moss. This is because the moss is actively growing at this time of the year, so it is best to remove it before it spreads throughout the remainder of winter.
Moreover, by removing the moss at this time of year you ensure there is no competition for the grass come growing season early spring. With less moss to compete with, lawns growth healthier and more vibrant grass.
Rake and Scarify
You may not even need to use a product to remove moss from the lawn, as raking and scarifying the lawn thatch helps to remove moss lying on the lawn surface. Doing this in autumn/early-winter is a good idea, as it will prevent more moss spreading throughout the cold season.
You can use a rake for these tasks or buy an electric scarifier, which functions much the same as a lawn more but works to remove more moss from the lawn.
Use a Lawn Moss Killer
As mentioned, special lawn moss killer products are available and quite convenient for killing off moss on the lawn. The main advantage of these is you don’t need to mix a solution and carefully apply it, as most lawn moss killer products use small pellets or iron sulphate to achieve the same results.
They also tend to have grass seeds and nutrients alongside the iron sulphate, encouraging healthier lawn growth that prevents more moss regrowing. Simply apply it to the lawn as per the instructions, raking out dead moss a week or two later.
If this still doesn’t work, consider using a more powerful solution and applying to the most effected areas of the lawn. You may need to reseed afterwards; in which case you may want to leave the treatment until early spring so the grass regrows.
Last update on 2024-12-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API