If you are the kind of person who loves taking care of your garden, then chances are you have often found yourself having to grapple with the wills of mother nature.
Although maintaining a beautiful garden can be a calm and relaxing experience, it can also be a difficult and thankless process, especially when your flower beds and potted plants fall victim to weeds, brambles and, of course, the dreaded moss.
Although moss is considered a natural occurrence in many gardens around the world, it can give your backyard a rundown and unattractive appearance, which can make all of your hard work feel completely pointless.
So when faced with a moss-covered wall or patio, you may find yourself reaching for commercial herbicides such as Roundup, as a quick and efficient way to combat the growth. But does Roundup actually kill moss?
In this article, we have gathered some useful information concerning the relationship between Roundup and moss, and whether the popular herbicide can be used to rid your garden of the invasive plant.
We have also included information about the dangers of using Roundup, as well as some alternative methods to rid your garden of any unwanted moss.
Does Roundup Kill Moss?
If you are a dedicated gardener, then chances are you have probably encountered Roundup during your excursions to the garden centre.
This commercial herbicide brand is considered one of the most popular weed killers in the United States and is often used in gardens to combat invasive and parasitic species such as groundsel and chickweed.
But does this mean that Roundup can be used to kill moss? Well, if you want a short and quick answer to that question, then no, Roundup cannot be used to kill moss.
This is because Roundup is a glyphosate-based herbicide, which means that the formula contains a chemical called glyphosate, which is a weak and acidic substance that has very little effect on moss.
Although there are currently numerous weed killers on the market, this does not mean that they can all be used to rid your garden of the same plants.
This is because different herbicides have to attack the weeds in different ways, as different species of plants are known to grow in different patterns.
So if you want to kill the moss growing in your garden, you have to invest in a specific herbicide that can do the job.
Is Roundup Safe To Use?
Roundup may have little to no effect on moss, but it is still considered an effective weed killer to use in the garden, especially when it comes to tackling various species of parasitic and invasive plants.
However, due to the formula containing such a potent and acidic herbicide, you may be questioning whether the product is safe to use at all?
Well, the answer to this question is not an entirely simple one, for Roundup can be perfectly safe to use, especially when used in small quantities by a part-time or recreational gardener.
However, if you find yourself in an environment where you are constantly being exposed to the formula, then you could begin to exhibit a range of dangerous symptoms, which could result in you contracting a fatal disease or defect.
Studies have shown that people who are exposed to Roundup for long periods of time are more likely to suffer from conditions such as heart disease, liver disease, depression, celiac disease and even cancer. This is because the Roundup formula contains glyphosate, which can be inhaled into the lungs or absorbed through the skin during long periods of exposure.
The chemical has also been linked to cases of birth defects and even various mental illnesses, which means it should not be used around pregnant women.
So if you fear you are being exposed to the chemical during your time in the garden, there are certain symptoms you can watch out for.
These include:
- Eye Irritation
- Burning Eyes
- Blurred Vision
- Skin Rashes
- Burning Skin
- Nausea
- Sore Throat
- Difficult Breathing
- Nose Bleeds
- Dizziness
If you wish to avoid these symptoms and other diseases, then you should only use Roundup in small quantities in your garden, or even invest in natural herbicides that are known to cause less damage to your health.
How To Get Rid Of Moss?
Currently, two products can be used to effectively kill moss – Pelargonic Acid and Sodium Percarbonate. However, this does not mean that you have to use the two products together, as each one is capable of killing the moss on its own.
To help you choose the best moss killer for your garden, we have outlined the two products down below, as well as their various pros and cons.
Pelargonic Acid
Pelargonic acid is a moss killing substance that is naturally found in various species of plants, with the chemical often being supplied as a concentrate that can be diluted in water.
All you need to do to use this product is mix the acid in water and then spray it on the moss that you want to kill.
This particular product is very popular when it comes to killing moss that is growing on lawns, as the acid will damage the moss but leave the grass intact.
However, there is one disadvantage to using Pelargonic acid, which is that the chemical may not destroy all of the moss spores, which could result in the moss coming back.
Sodium Percarbonate
Sodium percarbonate is often considered a popular moss killer because it not only attacks the moss but the moss spores as well, which means it leaves very little chance for the moss to regrow.
The substance is a dry form of hydrogen peroxide and is particularly effective when killing moss that is growing on your tarmac or tiled roofs.
All you have to do is sprinkle some of the powder on the moss that you wish to kill, which will begin a chemical reaction that will see the moss fully destroyed.
We recommend this method to kill moss, as it promises to leave little damage to your garden and ensures that the moss will never return.
