Posted on Sep 23, 2015
What It Is
You’ve probably seen it already: lots of tiny black dots spreading over your home’s siding, fencing, shrubs and even your car doors! If these little black dots are difficult to remove, leaving stains even after you’ve scraped them off, you are most likely dealing with artillery mold. This pernicious fungus grows best in rotting wood. That’s why its very much at home in your garden mulch beds, “shooting” its spores as far as twenty feet away onto plants, siding and many other surfaces. While artillery mold doesn’t harm your vinyl siding, it is a very obstinate eyesore.
A Very Stubborn Opponent
Unfortunately, artillery mold sticks around once it’s attached itself to your home. It is nearly impossible to remove completely. The top layer of the individual spores may come off with cleaning, but a very stubborn stain stays behind. Additionally, you risk damaging your home if you use high-pressure water or caustic chemicals when cleaning your siding.
What You Can Do About It
If you have artillery mold on your home we may be able to clean and restore its surface. However, if the mold has deeply penetrated the siding, it may need to be refinished or replaced.
Prevent artillery mold at the get-go by throwing away any piles of decaying sticks or logs on your lawn or in your garden. Consider using cypress or pine bark mulch to discourage mold growth since wet or rotting wood is its primary breeding grounds. (These tree barks are drier than regular mulch.)
Another option is to replace your mulch altogether with attractive landscaping stones or natural ground cover such as ivy or periwinkle. You will have the most success controlling artillery mold by eliminating its habitat near your home and by regularly scheduling Bethany Associates to service your home or business. Not only will this reduce the potential for artillery mold growth but it will also keep your property looking beautiful.
Our Services
Bethany Associates offers professional cleaning for the Delaware Valley. Our technicians are fully trained and equipped to clean your home’s siding, sidewalks, windows, awnings or more! Call us today at 888-601-4257 for a free estimate and we will be happy to serve you.