Algae and lichens (Black Spot & White Spot) are often found growing in damp or shady places in the garden on patios, paths, ornaments and pretty much any other hard surface. Whilst they do not cause any damage they can make paths and patios slippery and unsightly.
Sometimes they can enhance the maturity of a garden but if safety that is important to you and the family or you just do not like the look of the infestations then help is at hand. With a little basic knowledge of what problem is you can find the best way to treat it.
Algae
There are many types of Algae and they can vary in appearance depending on where and what they are growing on.
• A green film, often slippery, or powdery deposit is typical of algae growing on just about anything including the usual surfaces paving, patios, driveways, ornaments, garden furniture, glass and planters.
The dark green or blackish jelly-like growths that appear in damper, cooler weather on paths, paved areas and driveways are incorrectly known as gelatinous or blue-green algae, but are in fact cyanobacteria.
Algae Remover Before and After pictures on the side of an algae coated shed
Lichens
Lichens are composite organisms, not a single organism, they are a symbiosis between different organisms - a fungus and an algae or cyanobacterium. There are several hundreds of species of lichens in the British Isles. Some are very rare, restricted to specific sites but most gardens have several varieties.
Before and After pictures of EASY Black Spot Remover, designed to tackle particularly stubborn lichen infestations
Growing conditions
Where growing conditions are favourable algae and lichen usually appear in gardens naturally. Algae tends to form on any hard surface or plant but especially in shady, wet or poorly drained conditions. They proliferate in water such as ponds or water butts where light and nutrients are available.
Lichens: Lichens prefer humid, still conditions and clean air, so are often more common in rural areas and mature gardens. They are particularly adaptable as they are able to exist where nutrients, and sometimes water, are scarce. However, they grow only very slowly so, unlike algae, are slow to colonise. They can be found most frequently on paths, patios, paving, and walls, but also on tree trunks and shrubs (mostly those that are generally in poor health or neglected).
Encouraging growth
Algae and lichens can add character to a garden and especially on paths and patios where they can give them a mature look but this is not to everyone’s liking.
Algae and lichens all require a moist environment to reproduce so keeping the area damp and shaded will encourage them to flourish.
Problems
Although algae and lichens can be tolerated or even encouraged in a garden, they can make paths and patios slippery, cut out light to greenhouses and conservatories and make the top of planters unsightly so control is sometimes necessary.
Solutions
There are several products on the market that can treat Algae and Lichen including products that Azpects manufacture which are EASYCare Algae Remover and EASYCare Black Spot Remover. As the names suggest they do what they say on the bottle. Interestingly the Algae Remover has an active ingredient that keeps working, preventing Algae from growing back for up to 12 months! The EASYCare Black Spot Remover kills the spores that hold onto the paving, thus loosening their grip and enabling a pressure washer to remove them.
EASY Algae Remover, EASY Black Spot Remover & EASY Patio & Deck Cleaner are part of the EASYCare Range from Azpects, designed for all your hardscape cleaning needs
For our full list of products visit: http://www.azpects.co.uk/products.aspx
Azpects on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AzpectsLtd/
Azpects on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AzpectsLtd
For further help Azpects offer a Customer & Merchant Support Helpline: +44 (0)1473 760777