Allotments 4 All

We have a large plot - put to 36in wide beds with 15in paths between them. Beds are not walled and the paths are bare earth - in theory. However, the paths get very grassy. I need to get rid of the grass. The other factor is that, because of work commitments, we can only garden on a Sunday afternoon - so we are always behind with everything - this will be the situation till we retire. Therefore, we are happy to spend money to save time.

I have tried plastic paths - but weeds grow along the edges and they provide 5 star accommodation for slugs. I don't like the idea of weed killing (not green, can't spray if rain forecast or if there is much wind). So I am thinking of buying a flame gun.

I would welcome advice as to whether a flame gun seems like a good idea and, if it is, recommendations for a good one - we have about 16 paths each 25 feet long.

A flame gun won't do what you're looking for without regular outings, once every week or two. A strimmer might be a better bet.

If you don't want to weed/strim/nuke your paths regularly you could just cover the grass up. My paths are weed control fabric with wood chip on top - easy to construct, cheap, eco-friendly and you just need to top up the wood chips every now and again. I used to weed/trim them but this is waaaay easier.  :)  (You do have a lot more path going on than I do though so that would be a lot of wood chip heaving.)

Get yourself a decent hoe, it only takes a few minutes to clear such a path.  Your path will still get weeds but a few minutes every few weeks will keep it under control without using expensive products.

What about something like a push power lawnmower.  No fuel, no battery and no electric.  Something like these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=push+lawn+mower&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=7974488313&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3184797041907289039&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&ref=pd_sl_mv93o6ed4_b

I was given a weed flamer but rarely use it.
It catches things on fire (no surprise there), usually things you don't want on fire.
It melts plastic. It is too easy to scorch precious plants nearby since the flame is invisible.
And I'm afraid it will blow up on me.

The only place I use it is to burn off dead leaf debris on gravel walkways which are hard to rake out, and that doesn't happen very often since I'm not fastidious.

Just taken on an allotment which had paths between beds which were covered with membrane and bark. I have removed the lot and returned the plot to an open ground system. The weeds were growing happily through the membrane and bark and the number of slugs resident underneath were amazing.

I have a few layers of newspaper topped with straw for my paths. The weeds are kept down, it turns into a mulch after a while and can be put in the compost bin, or used on the beds. It's also handy that you can change the layout without major reconstruction.

So why not reduce the the paths, divide the plot into a three year rotation with two paths going across or four year with three paths going across, if its couch grass dig 6" trenches along the sides to stop it spreading, but you will still have to cut the grass or weedkill it.

Get rid of all the paths and divide into rotation plots and put down scaffold planks, this being the only place for slugs to hide so that's where you put your slug pellets.
Most scaffold firms sell off the damaged planks quite cheep (£2 each) and will deliver them
In both cases you have increased the growing space but the weeds will be easier to control by hoeing or weedkiller

it sounds like you have the same layout as us, exactly - with soil paths and no upstands to the beds. wood boarding, wood chip.etc will all harbour slugs. If you want to be organic, as we do, then why dont you simply try boiling water? make a small camp fire and when you have a nice pile of hot embers - introduce a 2 gallon stew pot to the fire, this makes boiling really quickly which can then be quickly transferred to a watering can for applying to the paths with a good soaking. You should be able to treat 3-4m of path with one batch...

weeds gone - as effective as any chemical! we only have Saturdays on the plot also..

we have some photos on another post "2 frustrated newbies"

take care, Roy and Tanya