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Home > Archive > Gardening in England > January 2007 > Cleaning/preventing algae from path & patio?
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Cleaning/preventing algae from path & patio?
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| mentalguy2007 2007-01-16, 5:25 pm |
| Hi,
I have a long path and patio which are covered in algae, they look awful and
are slippery. I pressure-wash them fortnightly with ordinary detergent but
the algae starts coming back within days. Does anyone know of either a
home-made recipe for removing algae and preventing re-growth, or a
commercial product that's available in one of the main DIY outlets (B&Q,
Homebase, Focus, Wickes etc)? I don't mind cleaning it off once more as long
as there is something I can put down to stop it returning.
Thanks for any help!
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| Rob Bashford 2007-01-16, 5:25 pm |
| Use dilute Jeyes fluid sprayed onto the algae.
It works well for moss too. Don't mix it up too strong on tarmac, it can
soften it. Just apply it with a watering can or garden sprayer.
>
> I have a long path and patio which are covered in algae, they look awful
> and are slippery. I pressure-wash them fortnightly with ordinary detergent
> but the algae starts coming back within days. Does anyone know of either a
> home-made recipe for removing algae and preventing re-growth, or a
> commercial product that's available in one of the main DIY outlets
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| I think the commercial growers use a product called Abicide 82 for moss and
so forth, algae is a different story, generally in very wet conditions like
almost running water. If it realy is algae and not moss you might be able to
kill it for once and for all with a dressing of powdered lime? depends on
the eco system you are trying to destroy. Might be worth doing some
googling, or asking the RHS at a local flower show.
You cant get Abicide in the likes of B&Q, but a good garden centre might be
ale to get it. We last got some form a commercial garden supplier
(Birkenhead, Wirral, but there must be others depending on where you live.
Or try www.palacechemicals.co.uk/Cleaners.htm
This link suggests that Abicide is what you want, but i cant vouch from
experience with algae, it does work on moss though.
Cheers
John
"Rob Bashford" <rob@rjbashford.plus.net> wrote in message
news:45ad4620$0$8724$ed2619ec@ptn-nntp-reader02.plus.net...
> Use dilute Jeyes fluid sprayed onto the algae.
>
> It works well for moss too. Don't mix it up too strong on tarmac, it can
> soften it. Just apply it with a watering can or garden sprayer.
>
>
>
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| The Natural Philosopher 2007-01-16, 5:25 pm |
| John wrote:
> I think the commercial growers use a product called Abicide 82 for moss and
> so forth, algae is a different story, generally in very wet conditions like
> almost running water. If it realy is algae and not moss you might be able to
> kill it for once and for all with a dressing of powdered lime? depends on
> the eco system you are trying to destroy. Might be worth doing some
> googling, or asking the RHS at a local flower show.
Ah...that MAY be why I got a huge red algal bloom (thought it was
blood!)in the puddles on my sandstone after I brick acid-ed it..:-)
So it don't like alkali?
Bleach or caustic then. Lime will ruin the appearance..
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| The Medway Handyman 2007-01-16, 8:25 pm |
| mentalguy2007 wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have a long path and patio which are covered in algae, they look
> awful and are slippery. I pressure-wash them fortnightly with
> ordinary detergent but the algae starts coming back within days. Does
> anyone know of either a home-made recipe for removing algae and
> preventing re-growth, or a commercial product that's available in one
> of the main DIY outlets (B&Q, Homebase, Focus, Wickes etc)? I don't
> mind cleaning it off once more as long as there is something I can
> put down to stop it returning.
I can't understand quite why the algae returns within days, but household
bleach would work by killing the algae spores. There are specific
algaecides from companies like Quadralene.
--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257
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| peejos 2007-01-17, 3:25 am |
|
The Medway Handyman wrote:
> mentalguy2007 wrote:
>
> I can't understand quite why the algae returns within days, but household
> bleach would work by killing the algae spores. There are specific
> algaecides from companies like Quadralene.
>
>
> --
> Dave
> The Medway Handyman
> www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
> 01634 717930
> 07850 597257
Jeyes fluid works for about two to three months depending on recurrence
of dampness. Spray on with a watering can. Keep pets off it for 12
hours
Paul
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| Merryterry 2007-01-17, 9:25 am |
| mentalguy2007 wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have a long path and patio which are covered in algae, they look awful and
> are slippery. I pressure-wash them fortnightly with ordinary detergent but
> the algae starts coming back within days. Does anyone know of either a
> home-made recipe for removing algae and preventing re-growth, or a
> commercial product that's available in one of the main DIY outlets (B&Q,
> Homebase, Focus, Wickes etc)? I don't mind cleaning it off once more as long
> as there is something I can put down to stop it returning.
>
> Thanks for any help!
I use a product called Dax Fungo.
http://www.daxproducts.co.uk/fungo.html
It is expensive but superb and last about 12 months on my patio. It
also does well on my garden furniture and keeps it clean for about the
same length of time.
I have no connection with this company. Just a satisfied user.
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| Hi,
When I was at fish camp (remote fish processing village on the west coast of
Canada) we found the wooden docks to be very slippery. The companies
solution was to put salt down on the docks. That cured the algae from
forming. You could try a small section to compare with the other solutions
provided from other people. Salt is cheap but leaves a white film.
I hope you find a satisfactory solution.
Blink.
"mentalguy2007" <none@none.com> wrote in message
news:eEbrh.17196$696.13622@newsfe7-win.ntli.net...
> Hi,
>
> I have a long path and patio which are covered in algae, they look awful
and
> are slippery. I pressure-wash them fortnightly with ordinary detergent but
> the algae starts coming back within days. Does anyone know of either a
> home-made recipe for removing algae and preventing re-growth, or a
> commercial product that's available in one of the main DIY outlets (B&Q,
> Homebase, Focus, Wickes etc)? I don't mind cleaning it off once more as
long
> as there is something I can put down to stop it returning.
>
> Thanks for any help!
>
>
| |
| The Medway Handyman 2007-01-27, 8:25 pm |
| Blink wrote:
> Hi,
> When I was at fish camp (remote fish processing village on the west
> coast of Canada) we found the wooden docks to be very slippery. The
> companies solution was to put salt down on the docks. That cured the
> algae from forming. You could try a small section to compare with
> the other solutions provided from other people. Salt is cheap but
> leaves a white film.
Wouldn't salt eventually adversely affect the concrete?
--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257
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