Moss on driveways & Growing plants from cuttings
How to rid your driveway of moss:Perhaps the most organic way is to hire an apparatus called a steam pressure cleaner. This machine will kill-off the moss on a tarmacadam driveway. A day before you hire the machine sprinkle a little domestic table salt onto the moss. The salt will begin to eat into the moss. Another option worth trying is to hire a flame gun. Repeatedly passing the flame over the moss will cause it to die off very quickly. If there is a lot of moss covering your tarmacadam driveway or path it is worth hiring the flame gun twice in the one month so as to give the moss a good roasting. Don't worry the flame gun or the steam pressure cleaner wont destroy your tarmacadam driveway. But you are guaranteed to be rid of the moss, that is until the winter arrives. Moss thrives in damp, humid conditions so it probably will return over the winter but at least you know how to deal with it in an organic & environmentally friendly way.
Don't be tempted to use PathClear or any of the other moss & weed killer chemicals because they are not good for the environment & they tend to seep into the ground water causing harmful damage to the ecosystem. However, a chemical product called RoundUp is less likely to cause environmental damage. It is available in both liquid & powder form. Also be aware that quite a lot of the chemicals used to control plant pests, disease & weeds are being withdrawn from the market due to their negative effect on the environment. Always read the instructions carefully before using any chemical and/or biological control agent. Obviously all chemicals including biological control substances should be stored in a safe place well away from children & pets.
Growing Plants from Cuttings:
Cuttings are one of the easiest ways to increase your plant stock. Shrubs & perennials with soft growing-tips & other softer stemmed plants can be propagated from soft- wood cuttings once they are in spring growth.
Take cuttings on a cool day or in the morning or evening of a warm one. Immediately put the cuttings into a plastic bag. Tip cuttings of softwood growth should be at least 4cm (1.5 inches) long & should include 3 leaf pairs.
More about cuttings tomorrow...
posted by Thomas @ 11:40 pm
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