Allotment paths.

[Mrs Dobby]

Hi BG, we've woodchip paths on our plot, some are only about 4" deep, but in the main they are between 6 and 8" deep, the bark does get compacted by the barrow, but we've not found it a problem to be honest! Definitely havent had any weeds trying to come through it, and it does stop the paths from getting too waterlogged or muddy!

[pigletwillie]

Thats the best bit Mrs D, harvesting in winter without getting muddy feet.

[Snadger]

Just make the paths smaller Nick, Like I did

What do you reckon is the narrowest you should go considering you may need to get wheeelbarrows through and you dont want to be knocking plants over with your backside in the other beds when bending down? 18" do you think?

[nick the grief]

You don't need a wide path on every bed Snadger. So long as you can get the wheebarrow down a central path I would have thought that wouls be OK then you could get away with a 12" path.

[Mrs Dobby]

We've 4 main paths running the length of the plot, all of which are edged with reclaimed pallets and barked up with bark mulch, and are about 2' wide. 2 of the paths are at the outsude borders with the neighbours and 2 running equidistant down the center, dividing the plot into beds of 9' to 12' width. Down the center of these beds we've another walkway or path, which has 'stepping stones' for us to walk on and hopefuly should stop us from having to step onto the beds either side, these center paths are only about 12" wide, just enough to traverse without too much difficulty! Pretty much like Nick has described!

[supersprout]

how does wood chip stand up to a heavy wheelbarrow?

Excellent. After a month or so it's thoroughly compacted and is kid-proof too

[JennieAtkinson]

Excellent. After a month or so it's thoroughly compacted and is kid-proof too

Most of mine has blown away ....... it was not a good idea for a windy site.

[supersprout]

crikey Jennie you must have hurricanes!
seriously, I put a good 8" of woodchips down and they've flattened down to a firm surface, ideal for harvesting in wet weather. I thought all my straw would blow away too, but it seems to stay put - it's very thickly spread, I wonder if that has something to do with it?

[Snadger]

crikey Jennie you must have hurricanes!
seriously, I put a good 8" of woodchips down and they've flattened down to a firm surface, ideal for harvesting in wet weather. I thought all my straw would blow away too, but it seems to stay put - it's very thickly spread, I wonder if that has something to do with it?

I think you have got Jennie's straw supersrout, It was last seen heading over the ocean like a giant tumbleweed!!!

[pigletwillie]

I have a 4' wide paved path down the middle of one plot and the spacing between beds is either 18" or 2' Snadger. I made some too small and ended up widening them.

[Snadger]

I have a 4' wide paved path down the middle of one plot and the spacing between beds is either 18" or 2' Snadger. I made some too small and ended up widening them.

Yeah my lottie is divided up into four foot beds two foot paths but as someone has so aptly pointed out I am wasting 1/4 of my plot on paths. I have one 2'6" communal path right down one side of the lottie with 15'0" beds coming off it. In other words each time I go down a path between beds I have to turn around and come back up same same path to the communal path! With very narow paths, when I kneal down to plant /work on beds my toes will be in the bed behind me!

If I stop my paths ,say 3'0" from other edge of plot this will redeem me an extra 3'0" X 2'0" at the end of each path which when I multiply this by seventeen beds equals a sizable extra area to plant! In fact these areas could be used for companion planting of flowers and I could probably grow all my cut flowers there as well!

[pigletwillie]

Get digging Snadger , I will send you up some Red nasturtiums and white cosmos seed to get you going with your companion planting.

[Snadger]

Get digging Snadger , I will send you up some Red nasturtiums and white cosmos seed to get you going with your companion planting.

I'd get kicked off the site!! You're determined to turn me into a Mackem PW but I must admit, monochrome could get a bit boring!

[nick the grief]

Yeah my lottie is divided up into four foot beds two foot paths but as someone has so aptly pointed out I am wasting 1/4 of my plot on paths. I have one 2'6" communal path right down one side of the lottie with 15'0" beds coming off it. In other words each time I go down a path between beds I have to turn around and come back up same same path to the communal path! With very narow paths, when I kneal down to plant /work on beds my toes will be in the bed behind me!

If I stop my paths ,say 3'0" from other edge of plot this will redeem me an extra 3'0" X 2'0" at the end of each path which when I multiply this by seventeen beds equals a sizable extra area to plant! In fact these areas could be used for companion planting of flowers and I could probably grow all my cut flowers there as well!

I seem to remember Geoff Hamilton made a sort of bridge affair out of scaffold planks that he could lower across the bed , that way he could kneel on than to plant stuff without walking on them , maybe this could be a solution for you as well?

[JennieAtkinson]

I have stepping stones through my beds - even in the polytunnel. I dug up alot of large flattish stones and they are quite flexible to change from year to year. You have to learn to squat though rather than kneel and at my age it is then a bit difficult to get up without toppling over. At least no one can see me!