Paths in raised bed gardens?

[wsmoak]

I do wood chips, and 'weed' with the tiller. After a while I can scoop up the 'path,' add it to a bed, and put down more chips. This works because I'm on 20 mostly wooded acres, so there are *always* trees and branches to chip up and use.

I do wonder whether it's better for the environment to burn the diesel fuel in the tractor to run the chipper, vs. piling up all those branches and burning them...

-Wendy

 

[thistlebloom]

Wendy, I really like your method. At least when you're using the fuel to chip the wood you're creating something useful, vs just making wood ash.

 

[catjac1975]

I'm wondering what y'all use for the paths in your raised bed gardens. Grass? Mulch? Gravel?
I've just tilled my new garden and added the loose topsoil from the paths to the raised beds. There are 18 4'x8' raised beds that will eventually have borders (of some kind), 3 18'x4' raised beds for artichokes, asparagus, and strawberries and 3 flat 18'x20' beds for melons, corn and squash. I know that if I don't do anything grass will come back in the paths. I have a huge mound of wood mulch I could put on the paths, but I don't like the way it feels (I'm barefoot more often than not) nor do I want to drag enough gravel up from the creek to line the paths. I was considering planting clover as a groundcover. I know it will grow here because it's all over our 10 acres. Has anyone tried this?

Rabbits love clover. I do not know if I would invite them to be near the veggies. I use grass paths in my daylily beds. They are built the width of the lawn tractor. A cutting always make them look neat. Gravel will need some other type of maintenance to keep down the weeds.

 

[timberlane]

I use sawdust from the local mill. I have it about 6 inches deep. works fine.

 

[ducks4you]

If you DON'T want grass you will have to put a barrier and then a cover. Grass is just unstoppable! Grass will grow through the clover and maybe even take over, although clover is quite the choler itself.

Remember that you will have to weed eat around all those beds. No matter what the stuff just get too tall.

Knowing that nothing is going to be no maintenance, I might consider an environmental lawn mix. It has yarrow and other low growing herbs. I like it because it is easy on the feet, requires low water, chokes out a lot of other stuff and it's aromatic. It's a little bit more expensive up front, but very sustainable.

SO TRUE re: grass!!! I, too want to plant something BETTER than the free-range grass growing in-between my raised beds. I've been offline for awhile--computer problems directly related to BYC viruses 2 years ago--but I went the raised bed route in 2011. I dug four 2 1/2 ft, 3 x 12 foot beds last spring. They are only 6 inches above ground level and worked great, BUT same problem--grass taking over in walkways.
THIS year I'll be adapting by other 4 beds, not as deep right now, to raised beds.
Here's some 2011 pics of my raised beds, May, 2011~

ONE solution, for me, was to move the top 6 inches of dirt with grasses to my horse's training area. IF they grow there, they might be grazed, but probably will be trod under during schooling.

 

[The Mama Chicken]

This is what I have right now. Before we moved in this field was being mowed for hay, so I'm assuming I'm dealing with perennial grasses. I just know I'm going to have to do TONS of weeding this year.

 

[April Manier]

Your paths are so narrow. This will be an asset when maintianing!

My last place I literally went to our local recycle place and old chip board and plywood. I laid it between the paths and then mulched.

Cardboard laid thick is good too! It's the edges that become an issue. They must be weeded or weed eated.

I love your photos. How exciting!

I like the clover idea because it attracts pollinators. That being said, clover is deadly when blooming on bare feet. you just don't see the bees and the stings between the toes are AWFUL!

 

[omar818]

We have our raised beds on top of our grass. So I don't have to worry about covering the paths with rocks or anything cosmetic. I have a feeling it will cause my grass to discolor around the beds.

 

[jomoncon]

I've been asking myself the same question: what to use between my raised beds. I've tried growing grass between beds, but the grass always finds its way into the boxes. I've tried mulch - still have weeds. I've even tried strips on carpet. Eventually dirt collects on them & I get weeds. Weed block fabric tears to easily & if I cover it with mulch or leaves, I get weed seeds, that grow into weeds. I really don't want to use just bare dirt, just to keep down the mud factor. I think I'm going to try wood chips & pine needles this year, over a good base of cardboard.