How do I clear the runway of moss?

[ronturner]

I know, its an odd question, but this forum provides wonderful answers to obscure questions.
The problem is that our runway at Atlantic Airpark is progressively getting covered in moss. This is partly because the contractor who cuts the grass on the airfield does not clear up properly, and partly because of the make up of the soil.
I can buy "anti mouse" (Anti moss) products locally, but the quote is about 3800 Euro for a product which is a preventative as well as a curative and its not harmful to the environment. I can use bleach, very cheaply, but its not a preventative. As I am the treasurer of our association of co-owners I am reluctant to spend 3800 Euro.
We need to treat about 9000 sq mtrs
So, experts on runway clearing, what product should I be using and where do I buy it?
RT

[CloudWarrior]

A sheep

[woody66]

Hi Ron,
The normal method of getting rid of moss perminantly is to improved the soils drainage or to increase the soils pH by adding lime. If you just want to kill it any fertilizer containing sulfate salts should do the job.

Colin

[liverpoolman1]

So the contractor is not clearing up properly, eh. Well look at the small type on the contract and, if he is in default of the agreed terms, then pull him up sharp. You could buy the anti-moss product, present him with it - including the invoice - and stand over him as he does the job properly. (I await reaction to this "management plan" with interest!)

[ronturner]

Thanks woody66 for your comments. Very useful

Unfortunately sheep do not eat moss, French ones don't anyway. Maybe they have a more discerning pallet

Contract? What contract? That is part of the problem. Have you seen all those programmes on the TV where it is impossible to get a French builder/craftsman/service provider to do anything properly, or on time, or even to do the job in the way that provides the client with exactly what they asked for. Well, all these programmes are true.

Dont try not paying or anything like that.

The law is very odd in that respect. We fired somebody for not completing a job and for doing badly the work he did actually complete. We paid him off, the full amount even though the work was not done, but we refused to continue the work for another season. He took us to court and lost. So he appealed and the court of appeal ruled that the quality of the work and the non compliance with the CONTRACT was irrelevent. WE had not followed the correct procedure in the way we ended the arrangement, so judgement was reversed and he was awarded the equivalent of another year's work without even having to do it.
As they say, in England too. We have laws but there is no justice.

Its different living here, but its fun.

[viscount]

I've been asking around.

You state the problem is moss. However others ask if it is slippy green algae or harder thinner lichens colonising concrete rather than lawn or bog moss that is your problem.

Moss loves damp, shady conditions with a good nutrient supply. Poorly drained, frequently renewed shallow puddles feed by grass cutting nutrient rich water on a little used surface would be ideal environment.

Moss finds frequently used surfaces difficult, if not impossible to colonise.

The summary of advice being:

Dig good drainage along the runway - a good trench with yellow field drain (well thats the UK colour code), filled with large chipping stone to below the roadway level. A long term investment of some massive proportion. Your wet winter will encourage the moss growth greatly this spring.

Use the runway edges. Frequent wheels and prop blast would kill off a good deal of the moss, especially in dry hot conditions when the moss is under stress anyhow. Get your mate with the VLJ to taxi down the runway edge (but don't tell his insurers!).

Borrow a snow plough or better still a long roller type street cleaner off the council, long-brush roller being best (rotary gutter brushes shift moss well but ground coverage on each pass is limited), with a long blade you risk grooving the surface and improving future moss growing conditions.

Get a load of aviation enthusiasts, issue them with yard-brushes, power-wash sprays and notebooks and tell them the best reggies are at the far end but they have to wash and brush their way there in line abreast formation!!

Looks like you are going to have to shell out for an environmentally friendly chemical cure.

Do lets us know what answer your residents association/owners committee comes up with.

[ronturner]

Thanks for taking the time and the trouble. In the last weeks I have learned more about the problem too. We have tried some experiments and the best solution appears to be a combination of chemical and brushing. Looks as though we can get our hands on a large tractor sprayer and one of those road brushing machines. Diluted bleach seems to be giving the best result so far.
We thought of trenches alongside the hard runway. Problem is that we have a parallel grass runway with turn off onto the hard, so the surface of the trenches would have to be free of all stones, and level of course.

By the way, my mate with the VLJ, actually did not get it. He was one of the customers who ordered an Eclipse 500 which he PAID FOR, IN FULL to get the lower fixed price. He is out of pocket to the tune of more than $1.25 million. and has now bought a brand new Malibu Mirage instead. What it must be like to be able to lose that kind of money and still sleep at night?

[davel]

Even better, what must it be like having a mate who can afford to lose that kind of money!!

[Biggles]

As you live in France, do the Human Rights apply to you as they do the UK, do you have Health and Safety Regs like we do in the UK, all these seem to apply to the UK yet most originate from Euro MP`s in Europe. So if an aircraft landed and skiddded on the uncut or untreated moss at your site and caused damage or injury, how would your contractor stand legally then ?

[ronturner]

As we all know,rules which originate in the EU are only implemented in France when it suits them (us perhaps.) Elf and Safety and Human Rights don't count for much here. Only yesterday, in our local supermarket workmen were busy repairing floor tiles, just working in the aisles with materials and cables trailed all over the place. The H&S man at Tesco would have a fit.. but not here; you just step over or around. That aside, back to subject, our runway is private, not open for public use without invitation or authorisation, so whatever happens is down to the user, but again, to be on the safe side we have insurance and legal protection cover.
As for the contractor, because the standard of work for these kind of things is often poor, and customer service non existent they all have the same insurance and legal protection cover. It seems to be a recognised safety net. There are a few exceptions , but all those stories you see on TV about French tradesmen, or "artisans" as they call themselves are mostly true. To have a really good job, find an "Anglais" who has set up here, or Polish, Portuguese or similar. Its the way life is, so you just get used to it and enjoy it, which mostly, we do.