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Title: Whats the best bed width and path width?
Post by: mummybunny on April 16, 2009, 10:02:00

Hi guys,

Going down the lottie today to mark up the beds and dig over just wondered what the best bed width is? And how wide i should leave paths in between?

Thanks lucy

Title: Re: Whats the best bed width and path width?
Post by: asbean on April 16, 2009, 10:09:31

You need to be able to reach the middle from either side, ours are 4.1/2 feet wide mostly, the path depends on whether you have grass (do you want to cut with a lawnmower or strimmer), how big are your feet - my sons complain, our paths are supposed to be 18 inches, but seem to be less in some places, and with their size 9-10s find it difficult to move around. Some people on our site have huge paths between their beds, which seems wasteful to me. :) :) :)

Title: Re: Whats the best bed width and path width?
Post by: tim_n on April 16, 2009, 10:12:47

All depends on the amount of space you want available for planting but!

I personally would make the paths wide enough to kneel comfortably in and the beds certainly no longer than the furthest point you can reach both sides (ie twice the length of your reach). You may also want to think about the width of the path in relation to any grass cutting devices you have.

It varies for different people o'course.

If there are two of you working on your plot, choose the shorter of the two lengths to enable 'equal access'.

Personally I use 1/3 less of my stretch x 2 which is much more comfortable. I have raised beds which makes the width I need between beds bigger because I stupidly only allowed a small space between them. This means I can't get a mower down them and I can't comfortably kneel.

Title: Re: Whats the best bed width and path width?
Post by: landimad on April 16, 2009, 10:18:15

Hi,

When I had mine it was laid out to the sizes of 4 foot beds to reach the middle without over stretching and the paths were 18 inches wide so as to walk down them with a wheelbarrow and not catch any plants.
This will also help the little ones to get into gardening and not into to much trouble when it comes to seeing how the big people do it.
Your plot should be around a chain long which is 22 yards or 20 meters in new money. This will give you about 9 or 10 beds to play with.

:D

Title: Re: Whats the best bed width and path width?
Post by: mummybunny on April 16, 2009, 10:37:46

Thanks your all saying around the same width which is handy ;D Will be going down shortly to mark it all up also managed to get some summer cabbages off freecycle to plant out once they have hardened off abit :)

Thanks lucy

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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: mummybunny on April 16, 2009, 10:02:00