Hello :)

[henny]

Hi everyone! I'm new to all this........& fairly new to allotments too. This is our 2nd season & so far we've been muddling through. We've generally cleared, planted fruit, a comfrey bed, compost bins & a shed.........phew, doesn't sound too bad when you see it in print! but in reality we're not keeping the weeds under control well enough ( very smart site.....got a ticking off yesterday  :'(  ) So 2 questions:
What's the best thing to use for inexpensive ( but smart! ) paths? I'm sure we'd control the plot better if it was in smaller beds. And how does everyone keep their weeds under control? We tried black plastic but it wasn't that good. Thanks!

[henny]

[Pixie]

Hi Henny

Nice to meet you  ;D I'm afraid I don't know the questions to your awswers but just wanted to say hi.

I have planks for paths on my shared garden but my garden partner had those stored away so I'm not sure how much they cost but they seem to work ok.

Sam

[ALAN HOWELL]

Hi Henny,
We have our lottie divided into no-dig beds with pathways down each side so that we don't have to tread on the beds,we used old carpet tiles initially as we spotted a big pile of them in a skip outside a big shop being refitted ,and we went and cadged them and they have last up until now ( four seasons)but are now feeling a bit sorry for themselves and are up for renewal.The chances of getting some more tiles are slim so I propose to try and cadge some old carpet (go skipping ;)) and cut it into lengths path width.Alternatively I have had some success with spraying the path area with Glypsophate,I used a cardboard box approx path width size to prevent overspray around the cropping beds,this will need to be done on a fairly regular basis of course,unlike the tiles which are long term...Hope this helps.....Alan

[Wicker]

Hi Henny, welcome to the site!  
We have a couple of "main" paths laid in concrete slabs on top of black plastic (they are about £1/£1.50 each so may not be what you are looking for but they are more or less permanent)  We also have temporary paths whcih I shift about each season, they are strips of black membrane which are pegged down you could use black plastic but will get puddles!.  I've done it this way for years and am still using the same strips of membrane - just roll them up and put away when not in use - a hose down cleans them for storing.  
Lot of people on our site have grass paths and some have "trodden" down paths which seem to stay pretty weed free but I don't know how!
On the subject of weeds - welcome to the club!  Think it's a never ending battle and just trying to pull/dig them out as often as you possibly can not letting them get too tall.

[tim]

I think slabs & membrane may be the best long-term solution.

I have to say that planks are not cheap, and they become V slippery & warp upwards. Watch your step! = Tim

[Doris_Pinks]

I use old carpet with straw on top, works for me, but it does hide slugs, as do planks.  But on the upside, you know where they are and it makes em easier to find! ;)

[henny]

It's me again!  Thanks for the warm welcome & it's reassuring to know that everyone battles along with weeds. ( Other half is battling as I speak! )
Thanks also for the path suggestions. We like the sound of a few ' permanent ' ones & then those membrane ones that can be moved.....next question......what exactly is the membrane, I mean what's it called in order to buy it? And where'e the best place to get it?
Henny ( cos we keep hens  :)

[Roy Bham UK]

Mambrane is just plastic sheeting to hold back water/damp and can be purchased from builders B&Q or specialists in plastic sheet, I recently bought a pack of 600 grade (thickness) for a fiver and used it as a temarary pond liner, I think it was approx 6x3metres. Generally 1000grade is used under concret but more expensive.

Roy ;D

[Gail-M]

Hello Henny & welcome,

what I did after getting wet feet with my grass paths & spending time cutting it to keep it tidy  was to remove grass, put down black polythene bin bags then wood chips on top - seems to be working well. Also needed to edge the beds with planks of wood first.

I was lucky enough to spot piles of wood chips left from council tree cutting and helped myself.

Seemed like a lot of work but its saved me loads of time so I can fight the weeds !!!!

good luck,

Gail.

[Wicker]

Hi, Henny, the membrane I was meaning isn't plastic as such as it is porous - more like "material" gardeners and lottie people mainly use it as a suppressant for weeds when planting things like strawberries (i.e. cut a "cross" and plant thru that).  You can buy it in places like B & Q or even Poundstretch or Instore.  Also called Landscaping Fabric in catalogues such as N A Kay.  If I remember 10 Metre roll costs under a tenner but Poundstretcher had rolls for £4.

Good luck

[Doris_Pinks]

Henny, Tis called weed supressing membrane round here, and every garden center plus the B n Q type places carry it.

[Mrs Ava]

Well, as everyone has answered your question, all that is left for me to say is....HI !  ;D

[windygale]

Hi Henny, i'm new at all this myself, read loads & have the chance to put it into action with a new allotment myself, hope everything go well for you this year, ref--weed supressing on the garden try a three /four inch thick mulch of garden compost, or shredded paper, or cardboard then covered by compost, even straw or grass cutting, which all can be composted or dug in to the ground at the end of the year to start the cycle again.
Garden paths-if a grass path try an old way- peg down a thick wire mesh on top of the grass that you can walk on or an old worn out weedy path lay cardboard then straw,and all this will help to hold water in the summer

[mitzzy]

Hi Henny

I am in process of digging a negleted plot at moment :)
I had not even thought of paths yet .

The more I dig the smaller my plot looks  ;)

Hope to have it all dug in the next few weeks and then marking out the beds and paths then .
A friend uses newspaper and straw as a temporary path in her garden .


Mags

[busy_lizzie]

Hi Henny,  Welcome!  We have got different size sections on our plot, some are separated by wooden pathways.  We made these from the wooden slats from  pallets, and we got these from Skips.  We cleared the paths as much as possible from weeds then laid down some old compost bags and placed the wooden slats on top.  In between our raised beds we have some weed supressing membrane and tree bark chippings.  I am just about to lift our main pathway which is paving stones and dig up the weeds underneath and lay some wooden planks as edging and do the same as I did between the raised beds, lay membrane down then cover with bark chippings. This seems to work very well for us.

Weeds eh! Little blighters - you just have to keep plugging away at them.  Like others I have laid down membrane, old carpets etc. over a bad area over winter, and at leas it gives you a bit of a start come spring. Good luck!   :D  busy_lizzie