Paths between raised beds

[hamsterqueen]

not quite sure where to put this so feel free to move it.

I have now weeded between my raised beds and want to cover so that I keeo snail lurking places to a minimum.

I was going to cover the ground with weed membrane and then put something on top.

I don;t need to get a wheelbarrow down between beds just walk on them.

Not sure what to put down, bark or gravel or stone chippings?

Any recommendations, ideas?

[chengjing]

The easiest way is bark or wood chippings if you can get hold of some for free from tree surgeons or gardeners etc. That is what I use at the allotment. But they don't last forever you need to renew them or add more on the top in one or 2 years.

At home I use slabs and bricks, they look pretty, last forever and you don’t need weed much. I really recommend it.

Never tried graval or stone chippings. Not sure about that.

[Snadger]

I have woodchip and it is a bit of a pain to weed. Concrete would be too boring and paving flags likewise. I would imagine gravel would get weed infested like woodchips.

Chengjings idea of slabs and bricks/sets sounds good to me!

[rustylady]

I wouldn't recommend pea shingle. My landlord decided to cover the front "garden" in it, and it has become a cats' toilet. It also grows weeds.

[hamsterqueen]

thanks, we are having a holly tree cut down next week , so may use some of the chippings s a temporary measure. Slabs and sets sounds good. may have to get someone else to do it though!

[janeyo]

We used gravel - about 20 quid a tonne round here delivered

[Alison]

We have gravel at the front of our house and it looks OK but isn't very comfortable when weeding etc.

[zazen999]

Have you thought of straw, hay or sawdust - or a layer of clean soil and sowing chamomile or thyme?

[HeyWayne]

Most of my paths are covered in cardboard - and some chippings/leaves in places.

If you know anyone that's just moved house, or had a baby get pally with them. Furniture and baby stuff comes in big cardboard boxes.

Two of the boxes I've recently acquired cover an area about 1mtr wide, by about 3mtrs long. Weighed down with bits of wood or chippings/leaves. Keeps the weeds down.

[stooriefit]

I just have bare soil, hard packed, when the weeds show their heads they get them chopped off with the hoe

[vegetable-gardener]

At the back of our garden we put down wood chippings (we had just cut down a leylandi hedge) but though it looked nice once the weeds grew it was horrible to weed and just a mess. Between the other beds we try to keep the grass very short and strim around. That works much better.

[Lovely Helen]

I used large gravel over good quality weed membrane. It hasn't been too bad for weeds but as previously mentioned it's uncomfy for weeding - I use a good thick kneeler. The veg patch is in my back garden so I like the fact that it looks good but don't think I would bother if I was lucky enough to have an allotment.

[kingkano]

As Lovely Helen I went for slate chips (same as gravel really) because its in my garden. It looks nice but I do use a kneeler for weeding if necessary. I havent had any problems yet with weeds growing in it. Bark I imagine would rot and be great for weeds to grow in (lovely and fertile I imagine!). Paving would have been the ultimate best but too much effort for me.

[hamsterqueen]

thanks for all the suggestions, the beds are in my back garden , so I want it to look quite presentable. It;s all hoed now, so I shall sit out with a glass of wine and contemplate my next move!!

[Mrs Dobby]

We use bark chippings over weed control fabric (or old tents that have been cut up into strips), mainly because we get them for free on the plot! They look great at first, but you do get some weed seedlings in growing in them, so they do need occassional weeding / hoeing.