Talkback: Algae in the garden - Talkback

Gardeners' World Web User

23/02/2011 at 19:10

I agree, nearly came a cropper on some of our faux decking..... http://archers-at-the-larches.blogspot.com/

Gardeners' World Web User

23/02/2011 at 20:50

My five-year-old went base over apex at least six times in 10 minutes, crossing and recrossing the small area of decking that had become similarly green and slimy. In the end I attacked it with washing up liquid and a heart-rushing attack with a stout broom. Three months on it is still safe to tread.

Gardeners' World Web User

24/02/2011 at 08:34

Spray bleach on stonework. Kills it Deed.

Gardeners' World Web User

24/02/2011 at 10:13

Soda crystals work a treat and seem to keep paving/decking clear of moss and slime for months.

Gardeners' World Web User

24/02/2011 at 12:54

vinegar and washing up liquid also works i've been told.

Gardeners' World Web User

24/02/2011 at 19:24

I always laugh at my neighbours who spend hours and loads of water spraying their drives and patios to clean them. How ridiculous when all you need are the above suggestions.

Gardeners' World Web User

26/02/2011 at 13:47

The best solution I have seen for slippery wood was at Dewstow Gardens and Grottoes where there are wooden bridges over streams. They have stapled wire mesh over the wood which gives a firm grip even when it is pouring with rain and, of course, makes the paths longer-lasting.

Gardeners' World Web User

27/02/2011 at 01:06

Soda crystals are the answer. About 50p a box from Wilkos. Put the contents of the box into a watering can with hose attached and add Boiling water until full. Pour onto algae (as many watering cans full as needed)and leave for two days to work , then hose off.

Gardeners' World Web User

27/02/2011 at 01:12

Sorry, I meant "rose" not "hose" in the previous entry. Also, the soda crystal treatment last about a year.

Gardeners' World Web User

27/02/2011 at 09:14

Just buy the patio cleaner attachment for a pressure washer, saves alot of time and uses less water particularly if you use the water out a waterbutt.

Gardeners' World Web User

28/02/2011 at 10:38

What an amazing aray of suggestions!

Gardeners' World Web User

28/02/2011 at 14:02

i live in the western Algarve and always well almost sunny, but i have a balcony that is nearly always in the shade in summer it gets a little sun but in the winter it has none. i want to make it look a little more apealing but not sure what plants will grow, i was thinking of something evergreen ( but not ivy ) climber with flowers in the summer. and a plant that i could get over here. any suggestions appreciated.

Gardeners' World Web User

03/03/2011 at 10:36

I use a spray & leave product. It does the job without all the back breaking scrubbing. Does the job far better than I could, well and its alot easier. Has anyone not gone down this route before when dealing with Algae, Moss or Lichens?

Gardeners' World Web User

03/03/2011 at 13:28

We are planning to patio our entire garden. Someone suggested we use a groundwork company to level it all off and then layer some cement so we have a good flat surface to work with. Any comments ot suggestions on this!

Gardeners' World Web User

06/03/2011 at 08:51

It have a beautiful camelia which is in bud as we speak but every year i have lots of blueflies around it then small white squares appear under some of the leaves. Then I get masses of what looks like soot all over it, up the stams all over leaves everywhere, it still manages to produce masses of flowers but they tend to fall early or not open.

Gardeners' World Web User

06/03/2011 at 13:02

Thanks for the great idears

Gardeners' World Web User

09/03/2011 at 20:58

What spray do you use James?

Gardeners' World Web User

17/03/2011 at 19:50

Sad to read that carolk is planning to patio entire garden. Couldn't you just have a small area of patio and then plant some plants? Sounds a bit barren to me having garden all concreted over how about something for the birds and bees?

Gardeners' World Web User

22/03/2011 at 09:18

Our lawn is over-shaded by a large spruce and the grass suffers. In Spring, beneath the branches, fungus appears in the lawn. It looks like half an egg shell, buried in the ground, with the open end pointing to the sky. The fungus disappears in a few weeks but we would like to know whether it's harmful. It's not something that we would like to retain and if there was a safe treatment to eradicate it, we would do so. Any ideas please?

Gardeners' World Web User

28/03/2011 at 21:47

how do i clean the little stones inbetween paving slaps, do u think soda crystals wud do the trick?