Question

long view & on siding   Hi Jim,  
A few days ago while I was pulling on a 1/4" tubing on the ground, it wouldn't budge so I went to investigate.  Part of it was embedded in a whitish (with green moss/mold on it)growth.  It was spooky like a science fiction scary movie!!  :-) When I picked up the plastic run-off hose (from the roof gutter), it saw that it ran all the way under that - 7-8 foot long.  It is also growing on the house siding a little (scarier ever!).
We had this wonderful old pine tree cut down when we saw that it was lifting the closet a little (crooked window, etc.).  The stump is approx. 33" across. I have a pot with a rose on it that gets watered automatically everyday during the growing season and I was wondering if the runoff water is causing something within the stump to produce this fungus stuff?  It has almost totally encased a pinecone. The white stuff is fairly thin, maybe 1/8" - 1/4" and you can tear it in to.
Should I spray 100% bleach onto it or what?  It concerns me that it is now growing on the siding.  I have 2 more photos I could send if you want.
Thanks so much for your help.
Ginger

Answer
I would wash the mold/fungus off the siding. You can use a power washer or a commercial cleaner.
Put a generous amount in a bucket, and add warm water to make a frothy mix of soapy water. You can either  pour this water into a hand-pump garden sprayer to apply it onto the vinyl siding once it has been rinsed with clear water. OR dip the brush into the bucket and apply the soapy water. Always work on a section of siding from bottom to top, and always work in the shade. You never want the soapy water to dry on the siding before it can be rinsed off.  

Purchase a soft brush from a recreational vehicle (RV) dealership or Home Depot. They sell special brushes used on long poles to clean the sides of RVs. These brushes are superb tools to use on dirty vinyl siding. Once the vinyl siding has been coated with soapy water, dip the brush in the soapy water and use side-to-side motions to remove dirt.

Start cleaning from the bottom and go up as far as you can reach. Immediately rinse the area you cleaned. Proceed up the wall until you get to the top alternately washing and rinsing. As you get higher, always make sure you rinse all dirt all the way down the siding to the ground.


I would not use chlorine bleach as an additive to your soapy water solution. Chlorine bleach is a deadly toxin for any and all vegetation around your home. The chlorine  can soak into the ground and kill or damage  the roots of the plants, grass, trees and bushes.