lottie paths..

[moonbells]

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.

When I took on half plot 1, I had one permie grass path across the width, and all others were just trodden down for the season. I decided quite fast that I'd rather have more permanent paths so I didn't have to try and dig the compacted soil, so put strips of carpet down (with pegs every couple of feet to stop them wandering). Works well.
With half plot 2, as I've said before, I made raised beds; in between them is more carpet, wider than the gap so it goes up the sides and stops weeds.  At the top section by the shed is a wider path (where the wheelbarrow lives) and I've been filling it up with flints similar to what Redclanger is considering.  Lots of flints. Makes a pretty good surface of path, but I'm only doing that one with stone as all the others will have me kneeling on them to weed, and flints are too darn knobbly for that! About the only thing I haven't tried is paviours as they're too dear. 

moonbells

[moonbells]

[David R]

Carpets! Got them from various places, including skips.

I think, the cheaper and nastier the carpet, the longer it lasts. Must be the cheap ones are polyester and don't rot, whilst finest wool disappears in a year. 

Held down with stones dug from the stony soil. Put it down upside down. Underlay also works very well.

I am sure, most carpet warehouses must dump tonnes of the stuff.

I have heard cardboard is very good for temporary paths, as long as its held down.

[moonbells]

This is funny - never thought that the word k n o b b l y  would get edited by the auto-whatsit! I was rereading the post and was laughing at its use of thingybly!

;D ;D ;D ;D

m :) :) nbells

[NattyEm]

;D the filter is so funny what about a doorknob?

[legless]

mine are just trodden earth at the moment but i am hoping to use chippings when i can get there in time to nab some of the deliveries!!

[Anne Robertson]

Thanks for all the suggestions, I shall make enquiries next week. Fingers crossed.  ;)

[kitty]

thanks everyone-i think-as i have actually started to plant stuff and make raised beds(hurrah! ;D)that soil paths are emerging as a natural thing-i shall put grassy ones in bit by bit-i'm haveing 4 open studio weekends from the end of may and i'm hoping the lottie garden will be an interesting feature for people to see-they'll have to keep coming back to watch the garden grow! ;)

[Gillian]

We're busy marking out the beds on my tiny plot right now. We've bought some of that lawn edging stuff which seems to be working. And we plan to fil in the paths with bark chips. (with some anti-weed fleece under it).
There are some pictures on my site if you want to see work in progress...

[kitty]

i nipped on to your tiny plot-dont worry-i didnt tread on anything vital! ;)
its lovely!(or it will be -i'm keeping a paper diary and pictures of my virgin plot-it used to be a corner of a farmers field...i've popped you into favourites so i can peek in on you!
kitty

[moonbells]

Hi Gillian
Your plot looks really nice - not like the lumberyard mine is! Very pretty - almost potager-like. I bet it will be stunning when you've filled the beds with stuff!

moonbells

ps 11 cucumbers! wow! I've got to go buy a greenhouse specimen at some point... and then see how it takes the red spider mites to eat it... darn things have been munching away on my aspidistra all winter  :(

[Bramley]

I use ground cover material thats very strong, says it lasts for 10 years. It's a meter wide which half of that is burried into the ground each side. Or you can peg it down with special pegs.

[diver]

I have a main path down the middle which i've paved so I can get the wheelbarrow down and the other paths are carpet..courtesy of the local carpet dealer who saves me all of the long narrow offcuts.....it makes for colourful paths that can be changed when necessary.....I have made raised beds between the paths. I have been offered free wood chips, in fact they have been delived but the old hands tell me not to use them as they encourage wood lice which will eat my veggies...apparently!

[Roy Bham UK]

I have been offered free wood chips, in fact they have been delived but the old hands tell me not to use them as they encourage wood lice which will eat my veggies...apparently!

Woodlice are not a real threat, slugs will be your main enemy, :o woodlice will be attracted to your compost bin and munch on rotted leaves etc: I think the traffic on the pathways would be enough to discourage them. ;D

Here's a Royal Horticultural Society link that may put the old hands minds at rest ;)
http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0202/woodlice.asp

[BAGGY]

Our wood chip was full of chipped bell bine roots - beware we didn't know until later that year when it started to sprout.

[Lizard Man]

Bell bine? Can you eat it??!! ???

[johcharly]

Bell bine? Can you eat it??!! ???

If you could I have enough to supply Tesco! >:(

[Andy H]

I hammered pegs in plot and divided into quarters with rope, making four bits with a "cross" path in centre(top to bottom and left to right)
Carpets and stuff also helped, cardboard and the weeds grew through it!

Wondered about wood chips?

I like the idea of lawn edging but would prob damage with wheelbarrow/trailer?

Our other plot has grass which I am starting to dig out as the weeds seems to like it as a jump across barrier.(if you know what I mean) I think that is why people dig round the plot edge deeper than the rest of the soil?

like when edging? slows the jumping onto plot of certain grasses? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick again?

I dont want too many small beds as it hinders the rotivator which in turn helps my back!!! 40 on thursday so geting on a bit ;D

[Derek]

Hi

I took over my second half plot this time last year and the previous tenant had used carpet strips between the beds. I have been lifting the perishing (literally) remnants for months.
Weeds/couch grass had grown through plus it seemed as though it was a breeding ground for the slugs.

A good many carpets are polypropylene (plastic) these days so rotting isn't a big issue.

I decided to put down slabs to divide the plots as this makes rotation easier and clearer...these do have some slugs residing beneath too but not so many. Our local paper has people selling slabs at very cheap prices but often you can see them lying around in gardens.... this is where your negotiating skills come into their own..freebiesl

Derek

[moonbells]

Hi

I took over my second half plot this time last year and the previous tenant had used carpet strips between the beds. I have been lifting the perishing (literally) remnants for months.
Weeds/couch grass had grown through plus it seemed as though it was a breeding ground for the slugs.

This is where lifting the carpet regularly is a good idea - if it starts to disintegrate, replace ASAP. And because the underside attracts slugs, you can put the boot in as you lift to check...

A good many carpets are polypropylene (plastic) these days so rotting isn't a big issue.

The downside is the chemicals in that type of carpet if you're organic. If you're not, then no problem!

I decided to put down slabs to divide the plots as this makes rotation easier and clearer...these do have some slugs residing beneath too but not so many. Our local paper has people selling slabs at very cheap prices but often you can see them lying around in gardens.... this is where your negotiating skills come into their own..freebiesl

Derek

Wish I had room for slabs but they're invariably wider than I want. And since my lotties are very very sloping,  slabs might provide a slippery surface.  I shall stick to carpet (literally!  ;D ;D)

moonbells

[Clayhithe]

40 on thursday so geting on a bit ;D

You poor old thing :-[

wait 'til you're my age ;)

(cue tim)

Happy Birthday ;D