Opnions on pathways

[hangin'witthepeeps]

So this winter I'm going to build more boxes, but I would also like to work on my pathways. I put down mulch last year, it's just not good enough. So in your opinion, should I buy $1 pavers (a few at the time) and put them down or should I frame up my walkways and put down cement. I'm sure the cement would be cheaper.

Here is one of the walkways. It's to the left of the picture and in between two 4x8 boxes. This would be a easy cement walkway.

Spring picture before all the grass took over.

 

[hangin'witthepeeps]

Keep in mind that I do have a drip irrigation and for now my only idea is to put pavers around those areas where the line crosses the pathways.

Nothing like doing things in reverse order to make you think.

 

[gettinaclue]

I'm the type that likes to be flexible with stuff. More than likely, I would buy the pavers just so I could move them if I wasn't happy with the initial arrangement.

I also did an experiment of sort between my raised beds. Between half of them, I put straw and the other half, some old pavers. I prefer the straw. I have chickens free ranging and I had to wash the pavers.

 

[vfem]

I put down landscaping fabric, and covered with pea gravel. Didn't work out so great, it wasn't thick enough and the grass came through. So trying to weed whack it down under control this year, and then will rack up the gravel in the fall and think of something else. For my new garden, we're putting down the old dog food plastic bags to try to kill off the grass. Then for now layer with hay. In the fall we'll find something that will work for both beds. I like the ideas of placing flagstone or pavers over that to make it more attractive and keep the plastic liner down underneath.

Wish I had more ideas, I'm in the same boat!

 

[wsmoak]

If you are comfortable working with concrete and want pavers, what about making them yourself? There is http://www.themoldstore.com/ .

(I actually went looking for some cute stepping stone molds with dragonflies and hummingbirds that I saw in a catalog, and ended up there instead...)

-Wendy

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm going to try putting carpet down just outside my garden fence to keep the grass and weeds down. The chickens won't let me do anything with mulch. Maybe if you can get some old thrown-out carpet, put it down maybe upside down, and put mulch on to to walk on and for appearances.

 

[lesa]

The concrete is just too permanent for the Gemini in me! I love the idea of making your own pavers- I always say I am going to do this- and never get around to it! I wanted to put bits of mosaic in mine- or press leaf patterns into them...
The carpet with mulch idea is good, too. I have used carpet for weed suppression in the back 40-where I don't have to cover it up.
You have such a nice setup- it is not like you could go too far wrong. Whatever you do- I am sure will look great!

 

[hangin'witthepeeps]

I think I'm liking the old dog food bag with hay on top idea that vfem is using. My garden is in a fenced area to keep the chickens out. I have spent hay from the goats. May be I'll do a little pavers and a little hay. I just worry about the grass coming up between the pavers. That is what happened on our walk way by the back door. I dug down and stripped the grass off, put a layer of sand, set the pavers and added cement sides. I now have grass growing in the "grout" areas. I still have to use the weedeater on the sidewalk!!!!

Me and the weedeater don't always see eye-to-eye.

 

[Rhodie Ranch]

Cardboard works great. Ugly, but good for keeping down the weeds.

 

[gardentoad]

I use crusher stone, gets hard like concrete, but a lot easier to put down and very cheap..we get 3 tons for about 20.00 $
You can make it as thick as you want.. We have it on our driveway and the floor of the barn..and the floor of the green house as water go right through it..at first it feels mushy when you walk on it then it compacts, you can get it from any rock quarry
We use a trailer..it is great for controlling weeds.


Don :watering