Marianne's Response

Removing orange lichen

Not exactly a gardening question, but I hope you can help me. A few years ago I had orange lichen on my sidewalk and blew it away with a pressure washer. Now I have some on a part of my roof and, needless to say, I won’t be hauling a pressure washer up a ladder. Is there something I can spray it with instead of calling in a professional?

Posted by on March 1, 2016

Marianne's Response

First you need to be sure it is lichen and not spores from a tree that is in bloom this time of year. Perhaps you can get a sample to take to a nursery or send a photo. The more practical solution is to wait until summer and see if the growth dries up and blows away. Lichen will not cause immediate damage to a structure. Late summer would then be a good time to brush it off once it has dried. Good luck - Marianne Binetti