Wooden fences can boost your home’s curb appeal and increase your property’s value. However, this type of perimeter enclosure can accumulate lichen and moss over time. They’re unsightly and can also cause the wood of your fence to deteriorate, which ends up costing you a lot of money in repairs.
Professionals from Nortex Fence & Patio provide expert solutions to protect your wooden fence and restore its pristine appearance. In this guide, you’ll learn how to remove lichen from a wooden fence and keep moss away from your enclosure.
Tools and Materials Needed
As you learn how to remove moss from a wooden fence, you need to gather a few essential tools and cleaning materials:
- Gloves
- Safety goggles
- Hose
- Garden sprayer
- Water
- Bleach or vinegar solution
- Scrub brush
- Pressure washer
It’s important to note that you don’t need a scrub brush and a garden sprayer if you use a pressure washer. While learning how to remove lichen from a wooden fence, you can do it manually or use a pressure washer if you have one.
How to Remove Moss From a Wooden Fence With a Pressure Washer
Here are the steps to remove moss and lichen from your wooden perimeter fence using a pressure washer. Please follow the instructions and tips below to prevent any damage to the wood. It’s also important to remember that misusing a pressure washer can do more harm than good.
- Prune plants and shrubs that have grown too close to your fence. If you have fragile plants and flowers along the fence line, cover them with tarps for protection.
- Clear any obstacles that may hinder you while using a pressure washer.
- Use a low setting for the pressure washer. A 100 to 135 setting should be enough to clean most types of wood.
- Hook up your garden hose to your pressure washer and turn it on.
- When aiming your pressure washer, keep the nozzle 19 to 20 inches away from the wooden surface. You can move it closer to the fence for the really dirty parts but don’t keep it in the same spot for a long time.
- Sweep the fence’s surface with the washer’s water jet one section at a time. Remove all the dirt, grime, lichen, and moss from one part before moving to the next section.
- Allow the fence to air dry after power washing all of its surfaces.
Stain Removal
Sometimes, if the mold, moss, and lichen have been on a wooden surface for too long, they can leave stains on your fence. These blemishes can’t be removed completely using a power washer.
Follow these steps to get rid of hard-to-remove stains on your wooden fence:
- Mix two parts of water and one part of bleach in a bucket.
- Take a scrubbing brush, dip it in the cleaning solution, and scrub at the spots and stains.
- Let the solution sit for 15 to 20 minutes, and then power wash the areas until clean.
- Let the wood air dry.
How to Remove Lichen From a Wooden Fence Manually
If you don’t have access to a power washer, you can remove moss and lichen manually using the tools and cleaning materials mentioned. Remember to wear protective gear before you begin.
- Spray the fence with water using your garden hose. Notice that some dirt and debris can get washed away at this stage. Avoid getting any of the dirt on your clothing or eyes.
- Mix one part of vinegar or bleach for the cleaning solution with two parts of water. You can also use commercial cleaning solutions that you can buy from a local supplier. Just make sure to use the recommended amounts as stated on the product label.
- Apply the cleaning solution to the wooden surfaces with hard-to-remove moss and lichen. You can also use a garden sprayer for convenience. Make sure to work your way from the top of the fence going downwards until you have covered every surface area with the solution. Let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes, allowing the cleanser to work into the wood.
- After that, scrub the fence using a brush. Don’t scrub too hard, or you may damage the wood.
- Rinse the fence thoroughly, removing all traces of the cleaning solution. This step removes all the debris from the fence, making it look nice and clean again.
- Repeat the same process for hard-to-clean areas, especially where the moss has left stains on the wood.
- Allow the wood to dry completely. For best results, let it dry overnight.
- Apply a stain or sealer to your wooden fence when it has dried completely.
Work With the Fence Specialists
As you learn how to remove moss from a wooden fence, you may find that certain planks and other wood parts may need to be replaced. At Nortex Fence & Patio, we commit to providing lasting solutions that can boost your property’s curb appeal. Contact us today for the best solutions to match your needs and budget.
