GREEN algae not only makes your fence look dirty, but can also damage the wood over time.
Gemma Down went to the Facebook group, Gardening UK – Hints, tips and advice to ask for help regarding her fence.
3
3
She said: “Hi, unfortunately our fence panels have green algae.
“I will try to treat in the springbut if I don't succeed, I can just paint the fence panels with fence paint…
“Or will this cause problems? I would appreciate your advice, thank you.
Gardeners rushed to the comments section to share their tips and what products they discovered to remove green algae from fences.
Wet and forget – £21.89
Sabrina Connolly said: “I would absolutely recommend Wet and Forgotten. Just apply it and 'forget' it, as the name suggests. Brilliant stuff!
“We use it every year on our slabs and decking boards. The rain washes away the greenery.”
Ian Price demonstrated this: “If it's warmer and dry, use a product called Wet & Forget and then 10 days later (while it's dry) you can paint or stain your skin. hearts contents.
“If you paint while the wood is wet and/or covered in algae, the paint will not adhere and will failure.
“Wood must be dry for paint to work properly.
“Prevent current Snakes as it opens and raises the grain and forces water deeper into the wood, making it more porous within the wood futureand makes the problem worse.
“Bleach or other household chemicals are never recommended for this purpose as they are not designed, tested or approved for use and can cause extensive damage to the wood and soil if washed away.”
White vinegar – 79p, B&M
Kaye Gilby added: “My house is wooden planked and the north-facing back wall was covered in algae.
“I used white vinegar with a spray bottle and it worked, just spray and leave.”
Patio Magic – £12.75, B&Q
Angela Knight said: “I use patio magic on mine and it works wonderfully. Spray it and for three to five days it just disappears.
“It is also close by pets because it is completely safe when dry.
“Personally, I wouldn't use bleach as it will also bleach the wood.
“And keep in mind that once you start painting, you'll need to repaint every two to three years or it will look terrible and you'll still get the algae back in your painted surfaces.”
What does an expert suggest?
ABS Fencing has shared a list of the do's and don'ts when it comes to removing green algae from your fence.
- Do not use household mold or mildew removal sprays as they are generally intended for use on indoor hard surfaces.
- Do not use bleach in the garden, it kills much more than the mold.
- Do not attempt to sand back the top of the wood as algae will simply grow back.
- Don't worry about powerful hoses; that only opens the wood grain and lets more water in, making the problem worse over time.
- Use white vinegar mixed with hot water in a spray bottle and work it in with a brush, let it sit for 30 minutes or more, then rinse.
- Once dry, repaint with good quality fence paint.