Monty Don's best way to clean 'very dangerous' patios during winter

Maintaining the cleanliness of your patio slabs and pathways is often a neglected task compared to other chores.

It's crucial to remember that without proper care, green algae and moss can start growing on patios, stone floors, stone walls or fencing. This can damage the appearance of your stone and create a slippery hazard.

In his November blog post, shared various tasks that need to be done around the garden - one of which is washing patios to remove algae. Late autumn to winter is typically when algae and moss growth is most significant, but it can occur during any wet period or in shady, humid areas.

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Algae tend to thrive more on irregular and soft surfaces rather than straight, hard ones. Monty emphasised that the primary reason to eliminate algae on pathways is because it can be "dangerous" at this time of year. He warned: "At this time of year brick and stone paths can be very slippery and dangerous.

"This is due to algae that grows on the surface, especially if wet and shaded and at this time of year they may stay wet and slippery for months."

To reduce the slipperiness, the expert suggests that "the best way" is to wash off the algae with a pressure hose (which can be hired by the day). Using a pressure washer can remove algae from patios, however, it can also remove grout, reports .

To safeguard the longevity of patio slabs, grout plays a crucial role, and extra caution is needed when using a pressure washer to avoid damaging it. However, if the grout is accidentally compromised, it's not the end of the .

Once the algae has been successfully removed, Monty recommends using sand to repair the grout and prevent regrowth by filling in the gaps between the block paving. He advises: "When this is done brush in sharp sand. If the path is brick or stone the porous surface will absorb some of the sand."

For a quicker but still somewhat labor-intensive alternative, Monty suggests simply working sand in with a stiff brush without washing. According to the expert, this method is a "very effective way" to clean a patio and make a path safe "without resorting to chemicals".