How To Remove Moss from A Driveway

Driveways play an important role in every property.

As well as providing you with a safe, private place to park your car when you’re not using it, driveways can also add to curb appeal and enhance the aesthetics of a property. In some cases, driveways have even been known to add to resale value and increase the valuation of a house. 

With all of these factors in mind, it’s clear to see why driveways should be kept in the best condition possible. For the most part, driveways are fairly low maintenance and take care of themselves. However, there may be some circumstances when you will need to do a small amount of work to help maintain yours. One such example is if moss has formed on the driveway.

In this article, we’ll explain how to remove moss from a driveway, outlining the ways to do so most effectively. Read on to find out more…

How Does Moss Form On A Driveway? 

Before we explain how to remove moss from a driveway, let’s first take a look at how it gets there in the first place. 

Typically, moss forms during the winter months or in early spring. This is when the temperatures are colder than average which makes the conditions for moss more desirable. While moss growth is most common on brick or block paving driveways, it can also impact tarmac driveways. 

Moss spores in the air may settle in the natural gaps that your driveway presents (which are more common in brick and block paving driveway types). These gaps are great at retaining moisture and when you add the fact that they are exposed to sunlight on a daily basis, it’s not hard to see how moss ends up growing. 

While driveways are often excellent breeding grounds for moss, why is this such a problem? In the section below we’ll explore exactly that.

What Damage Does Moss Cause To A Driveway? 

While you may think that moss is fairly harmless, if not removed it can actually cause a whole host of problems. 

Perhaps the most obvious problem with moss is that it can ruin the aesthetics of your driveway. Where block paving, bricks and tarmac can provide the exterior of your home with a striking facade, moss can ruin this look by sprouting through gaps across the surface. 

If you’re not concerned with aesthetics, it’s still worth removing the moss as it can cause damage to the driveway if neglected. Over time, the moss will continue to grow in the gaps on the driveway, lifting up slabs, moving them and in some cases even causing them to crack. This damage is far more significant than just ruining a driveway’s appearance and you may require costly repairs to address it. 

Another problem is that the moss can actually spread to nearby lawns. It may suffocate the grass beneath it which will mean your lawn will not be able to access the light it needs to grow and thrive.

Whatever the case, if you have spotted moss on your driveway it is important you act to remove it as soon as possible.

How To Remove Moss From A Driveway

Now we’ve explained how moss can appear and the problems it can cause, let’s now turn our attention to how to remove moss from a driveway.

The method you will use will depend on the type of material your driveway is made from. So, first, check whether your driveway is made from tarmac or block paving/bricks.  

How To Remove Moss From A Tarmac Driveway

If you have a tarmac driveway, the most effective solution is to use sodium percarbonate. This is a non-bleach cleaning agent that can be found as an ingredient in a wide range of home and laundry cleaning products. 

You can purchase sodium percarbonate online or from your local supermarket. Once you have bought the substance, complete the following steps.

1. First, try and remove as much moss as possible manually. Don some gloves and pull out as much as you can, and use a wire brush for particularly stubborn areas. This will help the sodium percarbonate work most effectively.
2. Measure out the solution. On average, you’ll need 40g per square metre. 
3. Water is required for the sodium percarbonate to work, so you can either wait for a rainy day or wet the mossy area yourself. 
4. Making sure you’re wearing gloves, spread the sodium percarbonate granules across the driveway. 
5. At this point, you should start to see the sodium percarbonate start to bubble as it reacts with the water. You should wait at least 40 minutes for the reaction to work fully. 
6. Then, use a hose to wash away remaining residue. Sodium percarbonate is harmless to other plants so you do not need to worry about it killing your plants. 
7. Repeat the steps as required until all the moss is gone.

How To Remove Moss From A Brick Driveway

For brick driveways or those made from block paving, vinegar is the best thing you can use to get rid of moss. 

1. Just like with the tarmac driveway, start by manually removing moss from the gaps in the driveway’s paving. This will help the vinegar work as effectively as possible. 
2. Mix your vinegar with equal parts of water. Then, using a bottle with a nozzle, spray the solution across your driveway.
3. Allow the solution to sit for 20 minutes. This will give it time to work effectively. 
4. Rinse the driveway with water.
5. Wait a few hours to give the moss time to die. Then, use a scrubbing brush to remove any remaining moss.

The above techniques are the best ways to remove moss from a driveway. Often, homeowners will use bleach on moss but you should never do so. This is because, while effective, bleach is extremely bad for the environment. The bleach may spread to surrounding plants and cause them to die along with the moss. 

The bleach may also seep into the ground below the driveway, damaging it and it has also been known to permanently stain driveways.