Mold and mildew show up outside in a number of places around homes, offices, school, and other public and private buildings.

Usually mold growing in the out of doors is a good thing. These tiny organisms -- members of the Fungi Kingdom -- are responsible for keeping the world from being overrun by decaying matter. Imagine if every tree that died and fell in the forest just stayed there, every leaf remained, every branch, every plant, every bush, every twig, and every shrub. Dead organic matter would have taken over the Earth by now.

Instead, mold comes along and -- through its unique metabolic and digestive processes -- it breaks down organic matter, turning it into soil. When we see a tree trunk or a pile of leaves decaying, that's mold at work.

Problems develop when unwanted fungi begin to grow on, digest and metabolize items we don't want destroyed and turned into soil, or begins to spread onto things we don't want covered with green or black or red slimy or powdery growth. Having mold digest a tree trunk is a good thing. Digesting our wood fences, not so good! Pile of leaves? Good! Roof shingles and trusses, not so good. This is why you’ll want to know the best way to remove outdoor mold when you find it growing on the exterior of your home or in your yard.

It's important to take action to kill the mold and thoroughly clean it off as soon as you notice it. You need a fungicide designed to kill these invasive fungi all the way down to their roots.

Do not just let it run its course, or it will completely destroy what it's growing on. Remember, destruction is basically mold's job in nature -- and it can't tell the difference between what it's supposed to eat and the wood in your back deck!

Some of the more common areas where outdoor mold problems develop include:

• Fences
• Patios
• Siding
• Other outdoor areas

Visit these pages for tips on how to remove outdoor mold.