Overgrown moss on your roof may make your home feel like it is deep in a magical woodland forest. But in reality, moss is not a good thing when it is growing on your home, despite the magical feeling that comes along with it.
Moss in your yard can also mean trouble if it is natural. However, you can grow your own moss safely as there are varieties that are safe to use around other plants and that can survive in any region.
Why Does Moss Grow On Roofs?
Moss forms from spores that are carried by the wind or rain. The reason it doesn’t grow in your yard often is that moss doesn’t usually grow where healthy plants, including grass, are already thriving.
But it can grow on your roof because there is a good place for the shallow roots to grow and because there aren’t any other plants there. Also, your roof sees a lot of rain, which will help the moss grow quickly.
As pretty as moss can be, it is not good for your roof as it can pull up shingles, grow underneath wood, and damage your roof. When this happens, your roof will be prey to leaks, pests, and other dangers.
Types Of Moss On Roof
Moss is actually a broad term to use, such as grass or mold, to describe a certain type of growth. That’s because moss is small, non-vascular flowerless plants that grow shallow and don’t get very tall.
Although you should treat all moss the same, here are the most common types of moss you may find in your yard or on your roof.
Cushion Moss – Leucobryum glaucum
Color: Gray-green leaves and dark brown stems.
Region: Eastern North America and Europe.
Info: This moss gets its name from the soft, pillow-like mound that can be up to two feet wide. It is known for being able to withstand droughts whereas other mosses need moisture at all times.
Mood Moss – Dicranum scoparium
Color: Dark green.
Region: Native to North America
Info: Also known as rock cap moss, this moss is tightly packed but very short. The moss often looks wind-blown with leaves curving in just one direction.
Sheet Moss – Hypnum cupressiforme
Color: Dark green to brown.
Region: Everywhere
Info: This small moss can grow almost anywhere, with climate mattering little to none. It is so hearty that you can buy it in sheets, alive.
Feather Moss – Hypnum imponens
Color: Lime green
Region: Eastern US, Canada, and Northern Europe.
Info: This stringy moss grows well in the shade and with acidic soil. It looks like a short and flat conifer tree.
Shiny Seductive Moss – Entodon seductrix
Color: Dark green
Region: North America
Info: This moss looks like a scaly carpet. It can grow in large amounts and tend to take over whatever it grows in, hence the interesting name.
Fire Moss – Ceratodon purpureus
Color: Golden-green leaves.
Region: Everywhere
Info: This bright red moss can grow anywhere, and we do mean anywhere. Though it is most famous for growing on recently-burned land.
Plume Moss – Ptilium crista-castrensis
Color: Light green and orange leaves.
Region: Canada and Northern Europe.
Info: This feathery, yet thick, moss grows on forest floors, taking over and creating nature’s carpet.
Spoon-Leaved Moss – Bryoandersonia illecebra
Color: Bright green to brown
Region: United States
Info: Another scaly type of moss, this one starting out bright green before turning brown in old age and dying.
Fern Moss – Thuidium delicatulum
Color: Bright green and light brown.
Region: North and South America and Europe.
Info: Fern moss has leaves that look like ferns. It is a common moss used in floral arrangements because it grows so fast.
Common Haircap Moss – Polytrichum commune
Color: Green and reddish-brown.
Region: Western hemisphere.
Info: This moss is wiry and looks like stars from above. It is appealing and easy to spot.
Common Peat Moss – Sphagnum centrale
Color: Yellow-green to golden-brown.
Region: Northern US, Canada, and Europe.
Info: This type of moss can only grow in very high-moisture areas like swamps and bogs.
Warnstorf’s Peat Moss – Sphagnum warnstorfii
Color: Red.
Region: US, Canada, and Europe.
Info: You won’t mistake this moss for any other moss. Not only is it red, but it is bright red and stands out in swamps.
Baby Tooth Moss – Plagiomnium cuspidatum
Color: Green and orange
Region: North America, Africa, and Asia.
Info: This short moss is also short-lived. It stays a baby and doesn’t grow to be very large.
American Tree Moss – Climacium americanum
Color: Green and reddish-brown
Region: Eastern US and Canada.
Info: This dense moss looks like tiny trees and creates a tiny forest when it grows together.
Juniper Moss – Polytrichum juniperinum
Color: Green with reddish-brown tip.
Region: Everywhere
Info: This moss also looks like tiny trees and it can grow anywhere on earth.
Big Shaggy-Moss – Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus
Color: Dark green and reddish-brown
Region: Northern Hemisphere
Info: This messy, fuzzy moss does its name justice. It is long, shaggy, and loos unkept.
Hoary Fringe-Moss – Racomitrium canescens
Color: Dark green to light brown
Region: US, Canada, and Europe
Info: This star-shaped moss is quite sturdy. It can even grow in sandy soil found in deserts and drylands.
Star Moss – Tortula ruralis
Color: Dark green to yellow-green
Region: North America and Europe
Info: This moss has star-shaped stems and is often used in terrariums because it is easy to grow and plentiful.
Heath Star Moss – Campylopus introflexus
Color: Yellow or green
Region: South America, Africa, and Australia
Info: This pretty moss grows tall and loose, with silver tips that help identity it.
Tousled Treasure – Callicladium haldanianum
Color: Green to brown.
Region: Eastern US and Canada
Info: This moss grows in carpets and can cover entire forest floors if left untouched.
Springy Turf Moss – Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus
Color: Green and red
Region: Northern Hemisphere
Info: This moss often grows in yards and can grow up to six inches tall with each stem being bent.
Glittering Wood Moss – Hylocomium splendens
Color: Green and red
Region: Northern Hemisphere
Info: This may sound like a Christmas plant because the moss is large and shiny, looking much like a fantasy moss in the sunlight.
Common Smoothcap Moss – Atrichum undulatum
Color: Grey-green
Region: Europe, North America, and Japan.
Info: Also known as Catherine’s moss, this silvery moss shines as well and is star-shaped.
Dwarf Haircap Moss – Pogonatum aloides
Color: Reddish-green
Region: Europe
Info: This short moss has leaves that grow in a rosette formation, so it looks like an aloe plant.
Rigid Beard Moss – Didymodon rigidulus
Color: Dark orange-green
Region: North and South America and Europe.
Info: This moss has tiny leaves that clump together. This is the type of moss that often grows between cracks in the sidewalk. You may recognize the slight orange tint to the leaves.
How To Remove Moss From Roof
While you can get over-the-counter roof moss killer, you still need to apply the moss killer safely and efficiently. Here are the simple steps you can take to ensure that the moss is taken care of and doesn’t come back.
Note: wear non-slip shoes, gloves, a mask, and cover your limbs. This will prevent you from slipping and protect you from any dangers, like bugs or mold, that may be waiting for you on the roof.
Step 1: Clean The Roof
After preparing yourself with gear, get a ladder and secure it to the house. Then, bring a hose with a nozzle that you can control to the roof. Starting at the top, spray the loose moss and dirt off as if power washing.
Have a second person use a long-handled soft-bristle scrub brush to brush the area after you spray it. Work together in small sections to ensure each others’ safety through the process. Take your time.
Step 2: Apply Moss Remover
You can either use an over-the-counter moss killer or you can create your own moss killer with dish soap, bleach, or vinegar. After mixing the solution, apply it to the moss and let it sit for about 30 minutes or so.
Then, lightly scrub it down and rinse it with water one more time. This should do the trick and the moss should be gone. Make sure to mix water with any homemade solution you use so you won’t damage the roof.
Step 3: Preventative Measures
While you’re up on the roof, go ahead and stop the moss problem from returning by installing strips of zinc or copper-coated sheet metal on either side of the roof. It’s a good idea to get help with the process to prevent cuts and falls.
Roof Moss Removal Services
If all else fails and you can’t get rid of the moss for good, hire a professional. They can install preventative measures for you after they finish and perhaps even make repairs if the moss has damaged the roof.
This will be more expensive than other options but it is much safer and easier as well. You likely won’t pay more than $500 or $600 for a job like this, which is a good price for a clean and safe roof.
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