lottie paths..

[kitty]

sorry about all these questions...but a kitty has to know.
whos got what as lottie paths-i plan on having grass-at the moment i have a lottie sized blank canvas.....yes,i know-enviable isn't it..trouble is-knowing where to start :-\i try not to look at the WHOLE plot all at once-its a bit daunting......
anyway-paths-is grass a bit difficult to keep where you want it?......

[kitty]

[Mrs Ava]

I don't have permanent paths, just walk down the soil wherever I need a path.  Then I can dig them up when I need a bit more space.  The only down side is I end up with a serious of footprint sized stepping stones where I have grown things in the paths.  Suits me tho.  ;D

[kitty]

wot about weeds?
or am i being finicky? ::)
hey ej-can we have a foto of your lottie?

[Mrs Ava]

Weeds don't seem to be a problem for me really, I mean don't get me wrong, I get them, and plenty of them, but because I walk on the paths they don't grow there.

There are photos on the site here and there, but next time I go I will stand on the top of my compost heap and take some so you can see what I mean.  ;D

[NattyEm]

we were thinking of clovering our paths.  haven't actually done it yet though :)

[Lady of the Land]

I do the same as EJ but other allotment holders have laid paving slabs and  others laid turf to divide allotment up into smaller beds. It looks neat , only problem I can see is with rotating crops one bed maybe too small or too big for an individual crop.

[Roy Bham UK]

I laid wood chippings courtesy of the council ;D helps keep mud off your boots. 8) take a peek at this link...http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php?action=profile;u=889;sa=showPosts;start=280

[suhayb]

please don't post any more pictures of your allotment Roy!  >:(
envy is a horrible thing innit! ::) ;)

[Wicker]

We have two main paths of slabs but then lay temp paths each season where necessary by using strips of black weed suppressing membrane (you know- the sort of porous black cloth stuff??) which we peg down so they can be lifted and stored away at the end of each season. Last for years so far.........

[kitty]

blimey roy!
10/10 fer neatness!
hmm..well.....i think i'll go for mud and grass(cheapskate y'see!) ;D

[Ceri]

I'm a woodchip girl (it's free to allotment holders) A big load is delivered every now and again at the site, but trying to get any before everyone else is nigh on impossible - there seems to be a bush telegraph that doesn't quite reach our top plots!!

[Anne Robertson]

I phoned the council yesterday about obtaining wood chips for the lottie, even offered to pay for them, but got a very definite "No Chance" :o. Any other suggestions as to where I can get a large quantity?

[Roy Bham UK]

I have country-parkland close by and spotted the council shredding and pruning, thought nothing of it for a few weeks until I saw Ina's lottie pathways covered in the stuff. ;D

I rang the council explaining that the chips had been down ;D for weeks and could I help myself, they said yes. :o

Keep your eyes peeled :o when out in your local  country-parkland, once you find a spot there will be loads of it lying around, that is if others haven't beat you to it. ;D

[Doris_Pinks]

I am a carpet n straw girl meself! ;D

[North Country Boy]

Mine are grass but with all the walking over it in the same place due to the raised beds i bet il have to put something down this year before the winter, fitted carpets would be nice, or maybe even laminate flooring.

[Ceri]

ani

have you tried going 'sideways' with the council - rather than just ringing up and asking, try and find the name of firstly the council's allotment officer.  Failing that, parks manager, recycling manager, anybody except the people actually responsible for doing the chipping!  Ring them up, play as girly and manipulative as your personal ethics allow (I find mine very bendable when it comes to freebies for the plot!) and go for it.

Failing all that, try and find out what they do with the chips - physically go to the place they are kept/stored and try girly again.  If you still don't win and find out they dump/burn etc. chips kick up a nice environmental stink - and start again. 

Councils are made up of individuals who can be ground down emotionall and psychologically - being extra nice and extra persistent beats ranting any day on the psychological trauma front!!

[Clayhithe]

Ani,

Try the local tree surgeons.   Ours deliver.   Free.

[wardy]

Kitty I have a grass path with rhubarb in it.  The path is not very straight and it's kind of got lost as the plot was neglected for years.  We mow it as best we can, same as the rest of the plot which I've not got round to doing anything with yet.  As I want a bed I make one and then keep mowing the other bits.

Has your lotty society got a shredder?  Ours has and they might do you some shredding if you come up with something to shred.  We have just laid a shreddings path on our in bloom lotty and it's lovely and soft to walk on
(see pic below)  Since then we've added more shreddings.  My two mates here nailing fencing to supports.  He has just hit her on the knee with the hammer.  Incidentally she had bursitis at the time and could be heard screaming in the next county.  ;D  ;D

[redimp]

My paths are compacted mud - but I do have a very stoney lottie so I am thinking of collecting the larger stones and using this to define my paths.

[gavin]

Hi Kitty - I have permanent paths, just grassed over.  At the moment it's all couch grass, so I'll have to edge the beds a couple of times in the year.  But keeping the grass short weakens the couch, and it gives into "gentler" grasses.

I'm very happy with them - a little bit of work, but then so are most paths?

All best - Gavin