It is important to get rid of moss during the frosty weather as it will cause pathways to be even more slippery (Image: Getty)
Moss spreading across patios and pathways in your garden can be frustrating at the best of times but in winter it is important to deal with it as soon as possible as it can be dangerous.
Having growing on a stone can make it more slippery and the frosty weather in December can also lead to an increased risk of accidents.
The longer moss is allowed to grow unchecked the more entrenched it becomes which means it can be incredibly difficult to without spending ages scrubbing at it.
However, Ann Lovejoy, a and founder of , has shared you do not need a pricy pressure washer or harsh chemicals to get rid of moss as the best solution is likely already sitting in your kitchen.
Ann said: “A few years ago I learned that all you really need to do is sprinkle plain around. I’ve since tried it and sure enough, it works beautifully and surprisingly fast.
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Baking soda not only kills moss but prevents it growing back (Image: Getty)
“For the past few years, I’ve kept my north-facing roof moss-free by sprinkling it with baking soda each summer. Recently I treated a very mossy stone walkway with baking soda and despite the cool, damp weather, the moss was all dead in a week.”
It may sound strange, but baking soda is so effective due to its dehydrating properties as moss retains moisture and can only survive in damp conditions.
Baking soda has a high salt content so draws out water from the moss cells which will lead to it quickly turning brown and dying.
What makes baking soda so useful is that it is alkaline and moss can only survive in an acidic environment.
Baking soda will change the pH of a surface so not only does it kill moss but prevents it from being able to grow back.
How to use baking soda to get rid of moss
To remove moss you will need baking soda as well as a stiff brush such as a broom. All you have to do is pour a generous amount of baking soda onto where the moss is growing in your garden.
All you need to do is buse a broomstick to spread the baking soda into every nook and cranny (Image: Getty)
Then use a brush to even out the coverage and make sure the baking soda gets into any nook moss that may be growing on a pathway or patio.
Leave the baking soda alone after a few days and then you will notice the moss turn brown and begin to flake away.
Quickly brush away the dead moss and excess baking soda using a broom then your pathways will be completely moss-free until next year.
Using baking soda to kill moss is not only effective and easy but it is also environmentally friendly as it will not harm your lawn, flowerbeds or any other plants growing nearby.
Ann said: “The best aspect of this totally simple treatment is that, unlike most commercial moss killers, baking soda won’t harm garden plants, soil, or water.
“Dumping a whole bagful on a given plant won’t be helpful, but runoff from a roof or deck cleaning job won’t hurt anything.”