Artillery Fungus – Everyone’s Home Has It and They Don’t Know That Pressure Washing Will Wash It Away

What Is “Artillery Fungus”?

Most people have seen something that looks like the photos above around their home at some point, whether on their siding, their sidewalks, or other hardscapes around the home. These little black dots are mold spores, otherwise known as artillery fungus. The name is derived from the Greek word for “spear thrower,” and you will see why. In this article, you will discover where artillery fungus comes from, how it attaches to various locations around your house, and what you can do to get rid of these unsightly black dots.

Where Does Artillery Fungus Come From?

It’s springtime, which means it’s prime time for getting yards ready for the spring/summer landscape season. One of the main items that homeowners tend to do is to re-mulch flower beds around your house. Landscape mulch usually consists of hardwood shreds or chips. It provides a nice cover in landscape beds; it holds moisture for the plantings and adds beauty to the exterior of your home. However, this mulch provides a food source or breeding ground for fungus growth. A fungus is a natural decomposer, breaking down plant material when the fungus is active; thus, the black mold spores or “artillery fungus” is born. The worst thing about this fungus is not only that it looks unattractive, but that it can propel mold spores quite some distance – up to 20 feet! These spores can adhere to siding, cars, and anything else that surrounds the mulch. Unfortunately, no natural mulch can resist this fungus.  

What Can I Do About It?

As the weather warms up, siding and other parts of your property are more vulnerable to artillery fungus growth. The fungus ejects spores when temperatures are between 50-68 degrees; the fungus then reproduces promptly in temperatures between 68-77 degrees.  The more time the fungus is in place, the more difficult it is to remove, especially from siding. It is essential to remove the spores no more than two to three weeks after their first appearance to ensure they do not consume and ruin your siding.

The only long-lasting solution is to remove the mulch completely and replace it with stone or some other material. However, with mulch being such a popular option to use in landscape beds, pressure washing is your best bet to remove the artillery fungus that will grow as a result. If the mold or artillery fungus is fresh, the surfaces in question will need to be pressure cleaned or power washed to remove the mold.

Trying to remove the fungus from your siding without professional help can prove to be incredibly difficult and frustrating. The key to ensuring you thoroughly clean your siding and surrounding surfaces affected by artillery fungus is to hire a professional who has the right type of equipment to do the job and do it right. At KEVCO, our trusted and experienced professionals can restore the appearance and lengthen the life of your siding and other surfaces around your home by ensuring potential fungus growth is removed.

To schedule professional residential siding cleaning in Alexandria, VA or surrounding areas, please contact KEVCO Building Services or call (301) 258-9750 today!