Removing mold safely from bricks

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Removing mold safely from bricks

Los Angeles Times - CA

Christy Hobart

October 19, 2006

http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/home/la-hm-

askus19oct19,1,2372282.story?coll=la-home-

printedition & ctrack=1 & cset=true

QUESTION: We have a small, beautiful backyard surrounded by used

bricks that I gathered out of a Venice canal years ago. The problem

is that due to moisture and shade in the garden, a slippery, black

mold develops on some of the bricks. How can I get rid of it without

killing nearby plants and lawn?

ANSWER: Scrubbing the mold with a stiff brush and white vinegar

diluted about 50% with water will do the trick, according to Jackie

Scheidlinger, a landscape designer based in Woodland Hills and a

master gardener volunteer with the University of California

ative Extension.

If the mold has become thick, use a power washer on the mold, she

says. These can be rented by the day at stores that rent garden

equipment. You also can hire a power-washing company to come out and

do the work for you.

To keep the problem from recurring, Scheidlinger recommends applying

the vinegar solution every few months. " It's like mildew in a

shower, " she says. " If you keep up with it, it won't build up. "

The Common Ground Garden Program at the UC ative Extension

helps individuals with gardening questions. A master gardener will

answer questions about almost everything — aphids, composting, weed

control. Call (323) 260-3238 or e-mail mglosangeleshelpline

@ucdavis.edu.

— Christy Hobart