Guy Barter, a cleaning expert from the Royal Horticultural Society, has explained why your patio slabs are covered in slimy green algae this Spring – and how to get rid of it for good
It’s time to get back into the garden and get your patio summer-ready.
Most Brits have abandoned their gardens during the winter due to the onslaught of rain, snow, wind, and more rain. But if you’ve noticed your once-white slabs are now covered in slimy green algae – it’s time to put your green gloves on and get to work.
Whilst algae is not necessarily dangerous, it doesn’t look very appealing and can make surfaces extremely slippery. It can also be a sign of poor drainage in the garden which can lead to rotting wooden fences and stagnant water. Luckily, there is a simple way to banish the pesky stuff.
Guy Barter, chief horticulture adviser for the Royal Horticultural Society, blames the vast growth of algae on the weather – as Brits witnessed record levels of rain and even flooding. According to the Sun, he said: “Algae particularly favours the prolonged drizzle we’ve been having.
“As we expect winters to become milder due to climate change, it’s likely we could see more of this type of algae growing.” The expert added that algae tends to form in ‘shady places’ of the garden that have poor drainage and a ‘lack of airflow’.
“It’s a tough old thing and if there is an opportunity to grow, it will find it,” he said. However, you can get rid of the slimey stuff with a pressure washer – but these don’t come cheap. You can pick up the highly-reviewed Karcher Pressure Washer from Amazon for £69.99.
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If that’s a little out of your budget, don’t worry, as gardening enthusiasts have been raving about a £6.99 holy grail that does the job just as well. Taking to the Hinch Army Cleaning Tips Facebook page, one user was in dire need of a solution to fix her algae-ridden garden.
“I’ve used Wet and Forget and Wickes’ own version successfully on my white render but it’s not worked on my greened decking and nor has pressure washing,” she wrote. Straight away, several members flocked to the comments section to urge the woman to buy Spear and Jackson’s Spray & Leave – with one person branding it ‘brilliant’.
“Yes, I used this on my wood decking…” another user wrote. You can pick up the acclaimed cleaner from Home Bargains for just £6.99.
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