In my day job as a conservator of outdoor sculptures and monuments I regularly have to kill moss, lichen and algae. I always feel guilty but they are just a bit too good at turning stone back to soil if you are trying to preserve something for the long term!
I didn't know they can be so distructive! And I didn't know you're a conservator! That's such an interesting job, you probably see a lot of cool places?
Yes lots of cool jobs! - I run a small business based in Canberra, which by European standards is very young - barely 100 years old, but as the capital, all the national institutions are here so there is lots of good work.
Here in the Pacific Northwest it's pretty pointless to battle moss. While I like moss and see it's usefulness, when it's on your home's roof it can compromise the asphalt tiling and shorten the life of the roofing which could lead to other problems. That's the only place where I make sure to scrape it off. On the plus side it does show that moss could be used as a way to breakdown petrochemical based products.
Hmm. Good question. I wonder. I guess you could always do a test with putting a piece of tile on the ground, let the moss attack it and see what the effect is. Of course, you'll need some patience since this will take years to observe.
Haha! My neighbor just did his pressure washer session last weekend (coincidentally, I already had this post scheduled). But he looked so happy, I almost wanted to try.
The only reason that it's not done at casa Der Kinderen yet is because someone (who shall remain nameless but happens to be married to me) forbade me to start, given that the windows where _just_ cleaned.
You're welcome to come over and join in 🙂. Windows have been clean for long enough.
If you like moss, you'll love the book Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer!
Yes I do love moss! Will but the book on my b-day list ☺️
I didn’t know about this book! It’s now on my list too! Thanks, Elizabeth Gilbert’s Signature of all things is also a lovely deep dive into moss!
I forgot about that wonderful book. May be time for a re-read . . .
I’ll pluck taller plants from between my bricks but I always leave the moss. It’s a beautiful mortar. ☺️
Never actually thought about moss benefits 🤔 thank you
You MUST respect the moss!
In my day job as a conservator of outdoor sculptures and monuments I regularly have to kill moss, lichen and algae. I always feel guilty but they are just a bit too good at turning stone back to soil if you are trying to preserve something for the long term!
I didn't know they can be so distructive! And I didn't know you're a conservator! That's such an interesting job, you probably see a lot of cool places?
Yes lots of cool jobs! - I run a small business based in Canberra, which by European standards is very young - barely 100 years old, but as the capital, all the national institutions are here so there is lots of good work.
Here in the Pacific Northwest it's pretty pointless to battle moss. While I like moss and see it's usefulness, when it's on your home's roof it can compromise the asphalt tiling and shorten the life of the roofing which could lead to other problems. That's the only place where I make sure to scrape it off. On the plus side it does show that moss could be used as a way to breakdown petrochemical based products.
I didn’t know that! We don’t have asphalt on the roof but bitumen stuff -hope it doesn’t do any harm there…
Hmm. Good question. I wonder. I guess you could always do a test with putting a piece of tile on the ground, let the moss attack it and see what the effect is. Of course, you'll need some patience since this will take years to observe.
Googled it, must remove. 🥹
Not _only_ do I pressure-wash my driveway each year, I'm also *addicted* to video's of https://www.youtube.com/@PartridgeExteriorCleaning that show how they clean stuff.
Arguably, that's not _moss_ though, it's just ... dirt that evolved to life.
Haha! My neighbor just did his pressure washer session last weekend (coincidentally, I already had this post scheduled). But he looked so happy, I almost wanted to try.
The only reason that it's not done at casa Der Kinderen yet is because someone (who shall remain nameless but happens to be married to me) forbade me to start, given that the windows where _just_ cleaned.
You're welcome to come over and join in 🙂. Windows have been clean for long enough.
I was concerned when my neighbor was on his happy spraying spree, but I have to say… it dried up nicely! And that was the first cleaning in 7 years.
You could always hose the windows down when you’re done (probably low pressure is best…)
Moss is beautiful!