Do you have walking paths in your garden? Help me!!!

[Jared77]

What about gravel? If the edges of the gardens are slightly raised it would keep the gravel in place. Would easily hold up to any foot traffic, wheelbarrows etc. The gravel would be a permanent solution that would look really classy. Its also something you could slowly work towards with a truckload here and a truckload there as you had the money and time to do it.

Ive also seen shredded rubber which is supposed to be pretty heavy and last for years and years. I've never seen it personally so I can't comment on its function but it might be worth looking into.

Personally Id do gravel, but thats just me.

Love the pics by the way, I could totally picture myself strolling through there in the morning with a cup of coffee or in the evening after a good meal with a glass of pinot noir. Very well done Steph

 

[curly_kate]

I have invested in several rolls of this:

http://www.gardeners.com/Weed-Mat-Landscape-Fabric/EdgingMulches_Mulches,34-312,default,cp.html

It is very durable, albeit a little expensive. But since it lasts a number of years, I figure it's worth the investment. I leave it out all winter, and it's as good as new after 3 years. DH doesn't understand why I'd put paths in, but he doesn't go out after it rains to weed!

 

[journey11]

Wow, Stepstephens2, your garden layout is very pleasing to the eye! I love that all the beds are shaped or bordered differently. It's a work of art!

 

[stepstephens2]

Oh my gosh, thanks everyone! I don't personally know anyone who has any vegetable gardens here, so I'm kind of making up what I'm doing as I go along... all the garden layouts I've seen in books were really hard for me to understand. I know that it's more politically correct and in right now to use up less space and all that, so I was nervous I was doing things wrong. Thanks for the reassurance!

 

[4grandbabies]

Oh my gosh, thanks everyone! I don't personally know anyone who has any vegetable gardens here, so I'm kind of making up what I'm doing as I go along... all the garden layouts I've seen in books were really hard for me to understand. I know that it's more politically correct and in right now to use up less space and all that, so I was nervous I was doing things wrong. Thanks for the reassurance!

Wow!!! I love the look and you definately can walk thru and enjoy!!

 

[4grandbabies]

My garden is rather large, and I have it divided in long rows with walking paths between each row. I like the way I have it set up. The problem I have with it, is it is UGLY. I use cardboard to line the paths and it just looks trashy. I have to use rocks and planting poles to hold it down so it doesn't blow away, and it often curls up at the ends. Because of the cardboard I do not have to worry about weeding in the paths, and I can plop down to weed anywhere without sitting in the dirt, but it looks so awful! I see pictures of beautiful gardens with mulched paths, but the amount of mulch I would need to use to prohibit weed growth would be really expensive. Also, wouldn't the mulch end up creeping over into the plants? I really don't want a garden full of mulch- I love the soil I have in the garden now and I don't want mulch or straw getting mixed in because of the paths.


Right now the cardboard is level with the garden soil. I have thought about digging down a couple of inches so that the paths are a little lower than the garden rows, and then putting the cardboard down and covering it with some mulch or straw. The cardboard underneath would prohibit the weed growth, and the mulch or straw would look nice. I don't know. It would be a lot of work. Can you please all share with me what you do. Pictures would be fantastic if you have them!

In the past we just kept the walkways tilled and hardened up by walking on them so much, but also my husband planted clover and (oops forgot what else) and kept it mowed between rows.

 

[hoodat]

I'm a cheapskate. I like to use what's available. A million years or so ago my area was a shingle beach so I can't stick a shovel in the ground without finding round rocks that the waves took the edges off. I lay down a thick mat of flattened cardboard boxes and thick newspaper and as I dig I toss the rocks into a pile. When I have enough I take it to the area and toss the rocks on top. After being walked on a while they sort of find their own balance and flatten out so they're easy to walk on.

 

[digitS']

Well, that stone mulch looks nice, Hoodie.

Very creative, Steph. My parent's should have called me Steph so that, maybe I could dance and all that sort of thing . .

SweetMissDaisy wrote:
... would enjoy seeing a photo, or sketch of your "garden town"

Likely, I've completely overstated things, Daisy. I can affect a Hoodat's stone mulch by running the sprinklers about 3 times but I couldn't claim the result. My "boulevard" would be a double bed without the intervening 2' path so, 10' wide instead of 2 @ 4'. Might be more of a "bulls yard."

Beds are parallel or laid out at right angles to each other, unless I'm in a triangle . . . my rectangles then turn into parallelograms with little triangles thrown in . ~ sigh ~

Everything is measured by the foot in my gardens: my foot. I really recommend that because it personalizes things, kind of makes things feel right. However, I can't even claim much here either since the soles of my Hush Puppies are almost exactly, 12-inches long.

Steve

 

[stepstephens2]

I tried to do what you did, hoodat, in my front garden... but could never find enough rocks. I really like that idea. I ended up crowding what I could up and filling the rest in with iceplant to make the illusion. But I love that look.


Anyways, I was also going to suggest paving stones (if you have extra laying around) and growing thyme between them. If it's a small garden we are talking about it would work especially well. I've seen it done in a couple of magazines and it was stated that thyme can take being walked on. I've never tried it only because I love to cook with thyme too much and I don't think I could bring myself to walk on something I would rather be eating.

 

[4grandbabies]

I'm a cheapskate. I like to use what's available. A million years or so ago my area was a shingle beach so I can't stick a shovel in the ground without finding round rocks that the waves took the edges off. I lay down a thick mat of flattened cardboard boxes and thick newspaper and as I dig I toss the rocks into a pile. When I have enough I take it to the area and toss the rocks on top. After being walked on a while they sort of find their own balance and flatten out so they're easy to walk on.
http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/uploads/6858_rock_mulch.jpg

That really looks great Hoodat!