Concrete vs. flagstone: went with flagstone for my patio and kind of regret it

I spent last summer choosing between a poured concrete slab and flagstone for my 12x16 backyard patio in Portland, picked flagstone because I liked the natural look. After a year the moss keeps growing between the stones even with sealing, and I spend every weekend scraping it out. Anyone else have luck with a specific moss killer that doesn't harm nearby plants?

2 comments

2 Comments

ninaross13d ago

The boiling water trick really is the way to go here. I had the same exact problem with my own flagstone path a few years back and tried every chemical on the market before finally giving up and trying plain hot water. It takes a few passes but it works just as well as the store bought stuff and you never have to worry about killing your shrubs or flowers. Your situation sounds frustrating, I know that weekend scraping routine gets old fast. But give the boiling water a real chance before you decide you made a mistake, flagstone really does hold up better than concrete over the long run.

kai_west13d ago

Honestly that "natural look" is exactly why I went with flagstone too and I love it still. The moss thing you're talking about is actually a feature not a bug for me, it adds character. I just hit mine with a stiff broom once a month and call it good. But if you really hate it, try boiling water instead of chemicals, it kills the moss without hurting your plants and you don't have to worry about runoff. Tbh I think the maintenance is way less annoying than dealing with a concrete slab cracking or staining after a couple years.