How to Kill Moss on A Tarmac Driveway

Whether your tarmac driveway is relatively new or has been in place for some considerable time, the emergence of moss can turn a once decent-looking driveway into something unsightly and even dangerous.

Luckily, it is not too difficult to remove moss from a tarmac driveway. In this blog, we’ll explain how you do it.

Why is moss growing on my tarmac drive?

Moss thrives on a damp surface and the opportunity to avoid sunlight. Add in some poor drainage and you’ll find that once it starts appearing, it will just get more and more prominent. A way you can stop the problem from even starting is to strategically plan the layout of your drive. If you can limit the amount of shade and ensure sunlight can cover most of the driveway, you’ll greatly reduce any opportunity there is for moss to grow.

Unfortunately, in this country, rain is frequent, meaning that even the most exposed surface can remain damp for days. Therefore, it’s probably best to have a plan in place to halt or at least reduce the chance for moss to start spreading.

Removing moss on a tarmac drive

There are some quick fixes you can put in place to prevent moss from ruining your tarmac drive. Some won’t cost you anything and will take no time at all, others may require a little bit of spending and take a little longer to carry out. Let’s take a look.

Vinegar

Yes, it can be this simple! A common item you are likely to have in the home can be your cure for moss invasions on your tarmac driveway. Simply mix some white vinegar with water in a spray bottle. The acidity of the vinegar will cut through the moss killing it off. Make sure the area of moss is well soaked in your homemade cleaning agent and leave it to set for around 15 minutes. Then, head back with a scrubbing brush and simply scrub the moss away. You’ll need to do this every day for around a week to really get the results you want. Once done, a quick hose-down will remove any debris, and your driveway should look great again.

Baking soda or washing powder

Sticking with some household items, you could find your moss loses its battle with your tarmac driveway if you use either of these two products. A sprinkling of baking soda or non-bio washing powder dries the moss out making it simple to brush away. Leave it for a few days to allow the baking soda or washing powder to fully work itself into the moss but once you have, it’s a simple cleanup!

Weed killer

Any garden centre will have plenty of options for weed/moss-killing chemicals. You’ll have to make sure you find one that is safe for use on the tarmac as some chemicals can cause irreversible damage to it. You should also factor in what type of sealant has been used on your driveway. The best way to test this is to find a small patch of your driveway and apply the moss-killing product. Leave it for a day or two. If the moss has not been impacted, the sealant might be interfering with how the chemical works.

With a suitable moss-killing product, apply it on a dry day so it can be fully absorbed and not washed away. The moss should turn brown within 24-48 hours. You’ll then be able to brush it away.

Jet wash

You could consider applying a jet washer to the driveway to remove the moss, but this can be a bit of a gamble. If you use too much pressure, you could cause damage to the driveway.This means you'll need to have work done on it to bring it back up to scratch. If you use the jet washer at a sensible power level, mix the water with some weed killer and, you’ll see some results pretty fast!

How can I stop the moss coming back on my drive?

If you’ve tried all of the above suggestions yet still find moss creeping back, you might need to make a few alterations to your driveway. You may want to consider improving the drainage. Ensuring water can run off the surface reduces how much moisture is present and limits the chances for moss to grow.

You should also look at increasing how much sunlight your driveway gets. If there are overhanging trees or bushes, trimming them may allow more natural light to cover your drive and stop moss from spreading.

Should these not be an option, simply keeping on top of it by regularly maintaining your tarmac drive could be the easiest way to limit the opportunity for moss to appear.

What’s the best time of year to kill moss on a driveway?

Your best options are to use Spring or Autumn to tackle moss. As it will be actively growing at these times you can successfully kill it off. Even though the summer is the time moss is at its weakest due to the lack of moisture and hotter temperatures, it is also its most dormant making many treatments largely ineffective.

Look for periods where dry weather is expected for at least 24 hours. This allows your chosen treatment to effectively soak into the moss and do its work.

If you have a tarmac driveway that’s seen better days and needs a bit of a refurb, or you are seeking an alternative driveway surface like a block paving driveway, speak to our team. At Tidey & Webb, we have more than 40 years of experience throughout Sussex, Surrey, Kent and Hampshire as surfacing contractors. For all commercial or residential surfacing projects, contact us today.