London Cottage Garden

Blogging about cottage garden style in a town garden

  • Subscribe to London Cottage Garden

    • Home
    • About
    • Spring gardening
    • Summer gardening
    • Autumn gardening
    • Winter gardening
    • Tips/Inspiration

    No more power washing brick paving – did it work ??


    July 28th, 2021 - Tips and inspiration

    Share this post:

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Email

    Nope.

    Previously

    I wrote rather smugly about power washing brick paving in my last blog here.   I was no longer going to use the power washer on the paving in the back garden.  When it’s washed it looks lovely,  like this

    power washed brick paving

    Isn’t it lovely

    When it’s left to the sun and rain to do the job, it looks like this

    power washing brick paving

    Paving as Nature intended

    Time for action

    It hadn’t been power washed for 18 months. I’d grown to accept the “natural” look. Aka “the lazy look.”

    I didn’t want to disturb the little creatures that love the mud and moss. (Brownie points).  I didn’t want to lose the cute self-seeded daisies and poppies that came up in the gaps. (I’m so eco friendly).  I didn’t want to annoy the neighbours with the awful noise it makes. (I’m such a nice person)  It’s SUCH a waste of water. (Must be responsible)  blah blah

    I was learning to live with the slightly black slightly slimy bricks but after the rain came recently the paving turned into a death defying ice rink.  The grass which had self-seeded in the gaps between the bricks had grown and was now very slippery as well as Nature doing her thing.

    slippery brick paving

    Black and very slimy

    Monty Don on Gardeners World also had slimy slippery brick paths which he dealt with by brushing really hard with sharp sand.  He said it was very hard work but I was inspired. gardenersworld.com

    Act before you think

    So yesterday, without any sharp sand but with a spring in my step,  I began scrubbing, sweeping, brushing, washing, and had transformed a patch the size of a tea towel by lunchtime.  There was a lot of sweating, three pairs of shoes soaked, swearing, and splashing.

    At 2pm I finally cracked.

    I got the Karcher out. That fiendish instrument of the Devil.

    back garden paving

    Can you spot it at the end of the garden?

    I wished I’d used it from the start.

    I blasted those little creepy crawlies to oblivion.  I smashed those daisies out of their foothold.  I was ruthless.  If the neighbours were shouting “hypocrite!” I didn’t hear it because of the noise I was making.

    But even with the targeted blaster, the grasses in the cracks wouldn’t budge so after I’d soaked them I had to bend down like a medieval peasant and pull out every grass seedling by hand.

    I didn’t manage them all.  Some wouldn’t  budge, even being winkled with a knife.

    Grass hanging on in there in the cracks

    And with gaps like this between the bricks I’ll never be free of slippery weeds.

    old stock bricks

    Gaps where the mortar used to be

    Originally there was mortar between the bricks but it must have got blasted out by ……. I think I’ll just stop there.

    Moral of this tale

    – when you feel like being a clever clogs “Miss-can’t-tell-her-anything” snooty smug pants – just keep it zipped.

    Thankyou for reading  and if you’d like my monthly blogs to pop into your inbox please leave your email in the box at the top.

    Happy Gardening and best wishes, Julie

    Share this post:

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Email

    12 comments on "No more power washing brick paving – did it work ??"

    1. Jan Hodges says:
      28th July 2021 at 12:27 pm

      I have the same problem with bricks and usually have to resort to the power blaster. As regards the weeds, not liking to use weed killer, I have recently invested in an electric ‘weed blaster’. It really does the trick. It has a long flex so will stretch qyite a way from a power point.

      Reply
    2. Debbie says:
      28th July 2021 at 1:44 pm

      I have had success with pouring vinegar on weeds in the cracks of cement in my garden to get rid of them. Others have had success with pouring boiling water on them.

      You can use that sand to fill in where the cement has been blasted out. Pavement/playground sand should settle in although it may take a couple of times.

      I was wondering about it being slippery in the winter time. Take it from one who had been there and back a few times…..Best of luck to you. All that hard work!

      Reply
    3. Nikki says:
      28th July 2021 at 1:48 pm

      Ohhhh reading this has put a smile on my face on a rainy grey day! It really does look so lovely when it’s been karchered and although your patio eco system is no more, you can still be a snooty smug pants about the lovely haven you provide the pollinators with your beautiful planting! Some things are just better left to boisterous machinery 😊

      Reply
    4. Anne says:
      28th July 2021 at 1:58 pm

      Adore your honesty. Worth a million of the smug smarty pants #we’re only human and we have to live too xx

      Reply
    5. Emma Renton says:
      28th July 2021 at 2:07 pm

      You can use a product from Lithofin and others that you water on with watering can. It helps break down the slippy algae . Worth checking it out

      Reply
    6. Beverlt says:
      28th July 2021 at 2:29 pm

      I do have the same problem .

      Reply
    7. Cynthia says:
      28th July 2021 at 3:00 pm

      First world problems…I’m with you sister. One summer of Florida rains and humidity, and the pressure washer is my best friend!

      Reply
    8. Tracey Miller says:
      28th July 2021 at 5:35 pm

      Best post yet, love the honesty!

      Reply
    9. Barbara Lofgren says:
      28th July 2021 at 9:21 pm

      Looks like a lot of hard work!

      Reply
      1. Julie Quinn says:
        29th July 2021 at 2:02 pm

        Hard physical work yes, but actually what I need at the moment to take my mind off unsolvable problems. Helps a lot.

        Reply
    10. stevestongarden says:
      31st July 2021 at 9:38 pm

      Brilliant post.

      I have an unstained cedar deck, which has a lovely aged grey colouring. Except here on Canada’s wet west coast, the winter renders it slimy and slippery which forces us to scrub it down in the early spring. Goodbye lovely grey – hello not falling. I could use a pressure washer, but have never mastered the very light touch needed not to damage the wood. I use boiling water through the year, on the weeds that lodge in the cracks on the brick patio – and I think the boiling water also hampers the environment needed for algae and slime to thrive on the bricks. Ten years and we have not needed to scrub the bricks – they don’t look lovely and new – but they are pretty decent and not slippery.

      Again, great post with candor well appreciated.

      Reply
      1. Julie Quinn says:
        3rd August 2021 at 7:38 am

        Thanks so much Steve. That’s a great idea. I could pour boiling water on the worst bits as an experiment. It would be so good not to have to use a deluge of water to deal with. I am definitely going to try that. Best wishes and thanks for your encouragement.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    55 − 46 =

    London Cottage Garden
  • Subscribe to London Cottage Garden


  • Popular Posts

    Cottage garden alstroemerias for a vase

    Alstroemerias as cut flowers [caption id="attachment_3347" align="alignnone" width="600"] Pink and white in a Victorian cranberry vase[/caption] Do you buy cut flowers for the house or…


    Real flowers and artificial flowers – both fabulous

    I've recently discovered some online artificial flowers from Alex James that I think are beautiful and look wonderful either on their own or mixed with…


    How to introduce a new colour in a cottage garden

    A new colour in early Spring Here's a way to introduce a new colour in a cottage garden in early Spring. Plants can't always provide…


    How to use colour in the cottage garden style

    How to have colour in the cottage garden style town garden without it being too much work for one person to manage.  Well I would…


    Daffodils in a small garden – tips on how to grow them.

    If you have a small garden like a town garden and want to grow daffodils, here are my tips on how best to do it,…




    londoncottagegarden

    Fresh from @alstroemeriaben half a bunch in a vint Fresh from @alstroemeriaben half a bunch in a vintage vase #alstroemeria #britishflowers #cottagegardenflowers #londoncottagegarden
    Mr Feral Cat doing his bit for Nature. Dispersing Mr Feral Cat doing his bit for Nature.  Dispersing seeds. #feralcat #mrgreycat #seeds
    New blog about alstroemerias see link in bio @alst New blog about alstroemerias see link in bio @alstroemeriaben #cottagegardenflowers #cottagegarden #londoncottagegarden #flowersinavase #vintagevase #britishflowersweek
    @alstroemeriaben flowers mail order and now in a v @alstroemeriaben flowers mail order and now in a vintage vase (1930s?) #alstroemeria #britishflowersweek #alstroemeriaben
    @alstroemeriaben delivery from arrival to the vint @alstroemeriaben delivery from arrival to the vintage vase  delivered all year round #alstroemeria #britishflowerweek #londoncottagegarden #vintagevases
    Gorgeous fresh flowers from @alstroemeriaben in @b Gorgeous fresh flowers from @alstroemeriaben in @britishflowersweek
    Just one stem from @alstroemeriaben - from a deliv Just one stem from @alstroemeriaben - from a delivery of 40 beautiful #alstroemerias by post
    Erythrosora fern really is this colour. In a pot i Erythrosora fern really is this colour. In a pot it looks fab for 10 months of the year.  #londoncottagegarden #japanesefern #ferns #containergardening
    Fabulous delivery today from @alstroemeriaben of 4 Fabulous delivery today from @alstroemeriaben of 4 big bunches of alstroemerias.  Here are just 4 stems. #alstroemeriaben  #cottagegardenflowers #alstroemerias  #londoncottagegarden
    Nearly snapped but supported, bees can still go in Nearly snapped but supported, bees can still go in and out. #foxgloves #londoncottagegarden
    Does her bum look big in this pic? Yes it does. # Does her bum look big in this pic? Yes it does.  #tortiecat #tortiegirl
    Perennial Strawberry foxgloves are taller than me. Perennial Strawberry foxgloves are taller than me.  Apricot/pink/cream coloured. Bee magnets.  #londoncottagegarden #foxgloves #cottagegardenplants
    Splitting a hardy geranium from pic 1 to 2. So ea Splitting a hardy geranium from pic 1 to 2.  So easy.  Now is the time to do it #londoncottagegarden #hardygeraniums #cottagegarden
    Little posy from the garden picked for a friend. I Little posy from the garden picked for a friend. It may not last long but it’s lovely anyway. #londoncottagegarden #springflowers
    Good morning beautiful lady #foxes #londoncottageg Good morning beautiful lady #foxes #londoncottagegarden
    Tottering-by-gently, my first rose to come out. Ju Tottering-by-gently, my first rose to come out. Just how I feel today. #londoncottagegarden #davidaustinroses
    A new blog about the beautiful garden at Dedham Ha A new blog about the beautiful garden at Dedham Hall Hotel - see link in bio #londoncottagegarden #cottaegarden #hotel
    Mariette tulip after the rain - still looking love Mariette tulip after the rain - still looking lovely #londoncottagegarden #tulips #springbulbs
    Some tulips fall open and others curl up in the ra Some tulips fall open and others curl up in the rain. Unknown pale tulip and lily flowered Mariette.
    Up for World Dawn Chorus day. Coat on. Pot of tea. Up for World Dawn Chorus day. Coat on. Pot of tea.  Just wonderful. #dawnchorus #londoncottagegarden #citygarden #birdsong
    Load More… Follow on Instagram

    UK Gardening Blogs

    © 2022 London Cottage Garden - The London Cottage Garden Blog

    Website Design www.beamtwenty3.co.uk

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.