Allotments 4 All

I wanted your opinions. In between each plot on our site there are sandy, gravelly paths. Now I don't have nice edges to my lot, it just sort of slopes off into path with a few weeds around the edges. But I see more or less teh boundary.
Now it is quite unclear who is responsible for the paths. I guess it is each person just does around their own. For now I have just been trying to stop a complete invasion of my neighbour's area, but I guess I might have to take more affirmative action this year.
I of course am trying to grow organically on my actual plot but I admit that all these peripheral weeds do get me down. SHould I just put aside my principles and use a bit of glycophosphate (is that spelt right?) on these weeds or should I keep trying just to hack them away? Can anyone think of an alternative?? We are talking of strips about a foot wide around my lot (60 feet on either side, although the north side is fairly clear). The weeds are mainly dandelion, that tall green thing (toadwort???) and some small tufty very green weed that comes out in a big clump (unidentified to this day) and there was a little clover too last year, maybe I managed to dig most of it out?

i would be interested in this answer too as i have a similar problem, i would also like to know if you suggest using the weedkiller how do you stop it affecting the plants in the adjoining beds,
sorry antipodes hope you dont mind me jumping on the band wagon  :D

Some of the folk on our site use glyphosate based weedkillers such as roundup on their paths & edges once a year, roughly April when the weed growth has really started. Just don't apply it in windy weather where the spray from can or sprayer can drift onto plots that don't want to use weedkiller.
I have deep, wide ditches (about 1 x 2' ) that separate my growing areas from grass paths. This makes it reasonably easy to stop twitch, creeping buttercup etc spreading as you can walk along in the ditches with your strimmer or shears and trim off the weeds growth as it attempts to breach the ditch. You still have to keep on top of it though.
One chap I know has corrugated iron strips driven into the soil surrounding his patch to stop weed roots spreading.

Hi antipodes, Hi all  :)

On the site I am on we usually strim all paths that border our
own plots, I also use a push lawnmower as strimming seems like overkill sometimes. I see long grass and weeds on paths as habitat for slugs so I get benefits from keeping the edges trimmed. I think glyphosphate is best avoided, its been recently linked to brain tumors.

On my number 2 plot I have an low earth mound that marks the edge of the plot that is planted with daffs and tulips, and covered in clover, its very beautiful. I trim up to its base on the "public" side.

I also strim an empty half plot next to my number 1 plot and a few other neglected areas that directly effect either my access or my planting.
Neglected areas are just habitat for slugs and weeds that spread. I was suprised to see on the Big Dig programmes on TV how the weeds were allowed to grow around the paths next to the plots and yet plot holders were complaining about slugs.

Col

My plan is to eliminate the couch grass first... then re-seed with a less aggressive grass and just keep it trimmed down with a push mower (20quid job).

Others have used bark chippings, recycled bricks or flag stones on our site.  Just a matter of what is to hand I guess.

"Our England is a garden, and such gardens are not made
By singing - 'Oh how beautiful!' and sitting in the shade,
While better men than we go out and start their working lives
At grubbing weeds from gravel paths with broken dinner knives"

no glyphosate for Rudyard Kipling then

I have a solution that is not very beautiful. I have invested in enough metre wide Mypex to staple down all the way round my half allotment. It is in a meadow of rough grass, mainly couch, docks, buttercups with some nettles and brambles. Under the Mypex is a thick layer of wet newspapers and magazines.

I looked at the plots half dug out around me; they were overwhelmed almost at once by the meadow coming back in, so I realised drastic measures were necessary.

I also strim about a metre beyond the Mypex (tried push mower but not a hope of it coping - it just slid over the coarse grass and weeds). I regard the Mypex/strimmed zone as an essential "firebreak" between me and nature red in tooth and claw.

I am slightly surprised by the success of this firebreak, as almost no couch grass turns up in the beds now, after less that 2 years, in spite of the fact that their roots can crawl for metres under the Mypex.

My internal paths also started with wads of newspaper, over which are scattered free, rather rough woodchips from local factory.

Weeding the weedy paths in my vegetable garden were eating up my time inordinately so I put down a roll of brown woven plastic matting that has held up against wheelbarrows and walking for a couple years and still in great shape. I'll never go back to wood chips or gravel though I did put in some brick paths from a torn down paper mill near us which looks nicer but...needs the occasional weeding. The upside of brick is the herb seeds germinate in the cracks so well! Had a nice crop of cilantro in one path!

Quote from: Columbus on March 21, 2008, 05:45:09
Hi antipodes, Hi all  :)

On the site I am on we usually strim all paths that border our
own plots, I also use a push lawnmower as strimming seems like overkill sometimes. I see long grass and weeds on paths as habitat for slugs so I get benefits from keeping the edges trimmed. I think glyphosphate is best avoided, its been recently linked to brain tumors.

On my number 2 plot I have an low earth mound that marks the edge of the plot that is planted with daffs and tulips, and covered in clover, its very beautiful. I trim up to its base on the "public" side.

I also strim an empty half plot next to my number 1 plot and a few other neglected areas that directly effect either my access or my planting.
Neglected areas are just habitat for slugs and weeds that spread. I was suprised to see on the Big Dig programmes on TV how the weeds were allowed to grow around the paths next to the plots and yet plot holders were complaining about slugs.

Col

They are also a habitat for things that like to eat slugs and after a couple of years, a balance will be achieved.  Swings and roundabout. :)

Hi antipodes, redclanger, Hi all  :)

I`m really thinking of the edges of paths where people don`t usually place their feet so the grass grows taller.

QuoteThey are also a habitat for things that like to eat slugs and after a couple of years, a balance will be achieved

What kind of things?

Two years is a two lost harvests too many.

They have other rough places to live just a bit further from my crops.

Col

Hmm as i said at the beginning there is no grassy bit, it really is sandy gravel, with moss and these bloomin' weeds. They are mostly individual weeds and low lying so can't strim (don't have a strimmer anyway). Wish I could find the name of this blasted low bushy weed!!! Then you would know what it is!! There is a bit of grass (not couch) and dandelions and dock too.
On this pic you can sort of see the paths at the top of the picture, to give you an idea. They are about a metre, metre and a half wide:

Hmm quick enquiry leads me to say my 'orrible low lying green bushy weed is a type of plantain... Also have toadwort but think I said that.

Until I read 'artichoke's reply i was going to suggest landscape fabric (if your budget allows it). I have that on the paths in my veg plot  and it does prevent weeds coming up from below. I agree it doesn't look nice and can blow about a bit so it is best to cover it with something more decorative. i have gravel on mine but this is in a garden so needs to look good. On an allotment you could try bark or wood chippings which depending on the source would be a lot cheaper.

I ought to add though that while this stops the weeds coming up from below it wont stop wind blown weed seed coming in and germinating into the surface of the path. Some weeding will still be nessesary i am afraid.

I was planning to put membrane down (after cardboard) and then add wood chips after that but GrannieAnnie - you said you wouldnt go back to wood chips - could you say why please? Thanks

Quote from: gwynleg on March 21, 2008, 17:36:15
I was planning to put membrane down (after cardboard) and then add wood chips after that but GrannieAnnie - you said you wouldnt go back to wood chips - could you say why please? Thanks

Only because they deteriorate and then support weed growth. The chips we used were very coarse and stick-like dumped by a tree removal company when some limbs were taken down in the community, not pleasant to walk on. Perhaps if I'd had available something finer  like shredded bark for a really thick layer it would have been nicer. The brown plastic never needs renewing and if anything takes root you just raise one end and snap off their little roots.
"Life is too short to weed paths":  my new motto. ;D

hee hee I agree, that's why I would like to find a solution. Perhaps it happens because my lot is not as long established as some of the others?
On the other hand I am not sure if I can actually lay something down on the paths?? They are very funny about this sort of thing on my lot. I suspect the others use weedkiller because I can't see how they manage to keep it so weed free!! Perhaps I should try some sand??
I still have never found the time to properly delimit my plot in any way, so the veg bits are on the same level as teh paths - sigh sigh sigh. I have never been able to scrounge enough wood or stones etc to make a proper plot border. Somehow that seemed to come second in my mind after my spuds and carrots and things  ;D