Any suggestions on how to get rid of these from Block Paving Driveway?

shiraz99

It's really the wrong time of year to do anything about anyway. Best time to tackle this job is in the Spring.

GDB2222

Can I just put the alternative view, namely that a bit of moss is natural and makes the block paving look better, not worse. Yes, that’s a minority opinion, but it’s worth a thought.

Apodemus

shiraz99 said:

It's really the wrong time of year to do anything about anyway. Best time to tackle this job is in the Spring.

I'd disagree on this one!  As you come into winter, the paving will no longer be drying out and the moss will spread rapidly.  Controlling it now will knock it back and greatly reduce the amount of over-winter growth.  I'd spray it with iron sulphate.  

dacdac

Apodemus said:

shiraz99 said:

It's really the wrong time of year to do anything about anyway. Best time to tackle this job is in the Spring.

I'd disagree on this one!  As you come into winter, the paving will no longer be drying out and the moss will spread rapidly.  Controlling it now will knock it back and greatly reduce the amount of over-winter growth.  I'd spray it with iron sulphate.  

Don’t use iron sulphate on concrete pavers unless you want then to be stained a nice rust colour. 

I have just tackled this on my drive by pressure washing and then re sanding. No need for any chemicals.

EssexExile

The joys of block paving.

B0bbyEwing

Is there much point in putting paving sand down?

Bags are expensive.
Never seems to last long.
Acts as a bed for more stuff to grow out of.

I did what's been suggested in this thread. Took time on the drive & brushing in all the sand. Within no time it was in my drain channels. The gaps in the paviours fill up with dust & crap anyway. 

Ebe_Scrooge

B0bbyEwing said:

Is there much point in putting paving sand down?

Bags are expensive.
Never seems to last long.
Acts as a bed for more stuff to grow out of.

I did what's been suggested in this thread. Took time on the drive & brushing in all the sand. Within no time it was in my drain channels. The gaps in the paviours fill up with dust & crap anyway. 

You do need the sand to stop the blocks from shifting around.  Once it's in there it shouldn't come out again by itself.  The key thing is to make sure everything is dry before you start.  Keep the sand dry until you're ready to use it, give it a day or so after you've jet-washed the blocks for them to dry out, and pick a dry day to do it.

And yes, weeds will grow back, no matter what you do (short of sealing the whole lot, which is a whole different discussion).

But really, it's not that much of a hassle.  A good going over with a pressure-washer once a year, blast all the weeds and what-not out, re-sand (the sand isn't that expensive), job's a good-un.  I've got a pretty big drive, I usually plan on a good 5 or 6 hours to do it properly.  But it's a once-a-year job.

shiraz99

B0bbyEwing said:

Is there much point in putting paving sand down?

Bags are expensive.
Never seems to last long.
Acts as a bed for more stuff to grow out of.

I did what's been suggested in this thread. Took time on the drive & brushing in all the sand. Within no time it was in my drain channels. The gaps in the paviours fill up with dust & crap anyway. 

The sand between the pavers is the thing that actually gives the whole paving area strength and rigidity, it locks the pavers together. If there was little point to it then it wouldn't be used in the first place, it's not there for decoration.

JohnB47

If I had moss growing in mine I'd be very happy. It would stop the massive crop of grasses and weeds that I can't get rid of. If I had moss, I would find a way of scraping just some of it off and leaving the rest to continue growing and protecting the gaps from weeds.

Be careful what you wish for

ColdPensioner

Once you have scraped out the moss, don't just use any old sand.

It is specific sand which sets hard (ish) when it gets wet, and reduces the weed growth.

It's a hard job, but the result is worth it. 

If you have a neighbour like mine who spends five hours several times a week washing, polishing, hoovering, wet-vaccing and blow drying cars on his drive, the chemicals he uses seem to keep the drive clean too.