Lichen on Berberis hedge

My berberis hedge has, over the last year, become badly covered with lichen.

The lichen is quite easy to brush off but doing a whole hedge seemed a daunting task, until tried a pressure washer on it.

I started with a flat spray nozzle as I didn't want to damage the bark and it performed with some effect but it was still slow going; about 5 mins for every foot of hedge.

However I then tried an oscillating nozzle I have.

Well it was magic, easily cleaned of the lichen the other head had missed and about 10 times quicker. You do need to do it from both sides or at least from different angles.

So anyway it certainly worth trying, I just need to see how my nice 'clean' hedge compares with my neighbour's lichen covered berberis hedge when it starts to grow in spring / early summer.

 

The lichen doesn't do any harm though does it? Must admit, we do seem to have started getting more moss and lichen growing over the last few years...I do rake up the surface moss with a rubber rake when I do a Spring tidy up but I have never bothered to remove lichen.

 

Should I lichen thee to a summers day ?

 

:DOH:[hr]
So, leave it...or remove it? Think I'm for 'lichen' it :WINK1:

 

yeah - lichen up! it's luvverly stuff!
AND it does no harm to plants...AND the birds love it for nest decor!
BUT it will be most interesting to see if your clean berberis hedge actually does better than your next doors....please do keep us informed?

 

I read on another forum that the lichen does no harm until it begins to cover most of the plant, then it gradually kills it.

Anyway, comparison with the neighbours will decide it - so watch this space!

 

Bit like a strangler fig then, blocking the light till it kills the host.

 

lichen on berberis

My berberis hedge seems to be slowly dying from the lichen covering it. The leaves have all fallen off. My neighbour has same problem. I am beginning to think that it is the lichen that is killing it.

Any ideas?