December often brings freezing weather and many gardeners prefer to stay warm indoors, but now is one of the best times to remove moss and weeds. Weeds and moss can survive through winter by growing deep into patio gaps, where they are better protected from the cold.
If left untreated, they can damage stone slabs and spread rapidly in spring, which will create more work to prevent them from taking over the garden. Boiling water is one of the best ways to kill weeds and moss, but you should not do it in winter as the sudden temperature change can crack surfaces. Other popular solutions like vinegar are not effective as they tend to only remove the moss and weeds on a surface, which means the spores and plant roots will just keep coming back.
Instead, the experts at Good Grow have shared that there is a really simple way to clear your patio completely, as you just need a little baking soda.
They said: “Baking soda, a common household item, is a versatile agent that can effectively kill moss on various surfaces including lawns and hard materials like paving stones.”
What is fantastic about baking soda is that it is highly absorbent, which means it can quickly drain water out of weeds and moss. It can reach deeply into the roots to dehydrate them and kill them within a few hours without needing to do any work.
Baking soda is also alkaline, which can change the environment around the weeds and moss to stop them coming back as they need slightly acidic conditions to grow.
How to use baking soda to clear patio weeds and moss
To begin, place mix two to three tablespoons of baking soda into a basin (around 950ml) of water. Stir the water until the baking soda completely dissolves, then place it in a water can or sprayer.
Use the solution on your patio on a clear day when no rain or wind has been predicted, otherwise the mixture could run off down a patio onto garden plants or a lawn.
Directly apply the mixture onto weeds or a mossy part of your patio, and then wait. They should be done and turn a crispy brown colour within a day or two.
However, if the moss or weeds still look green then simply reapply the mixture to kill the remaining spores or roots. Your patio should now be sparkling clean so you can enjoy the rest of winter without worrying about your garden.
