[Yana]

Not sure if I have got the correct forum for my query, but here goes........
I have marked out paths and laid Mypex and now want to cover this with something.
Is wood chip OK to use??
Should I not cover the Mypex at all?
Should use gravel?

Thanks

[mumofstig]

unless your path is lower than your beds the woodchip will just blow away 

[Yana]

I've got raised beds using decking boards so the beds are above the paths I guess.
Won't the wood chip rot eventually?

[allotmentann]

Woodchip makes great paths. I do not have raised beds, all my paths are covered in woodchips and I have no problems with it blowing away. I have also done all the paths on the second plot I work, which does have raised beds and it is great there too. I think it only becomes a pain when people lay directly onto grass, then the weeds and grass grow through it and make more work.  I always use two to three layers of plastic and weed control fabric under them. They will rot down eventually (the bigger the chips the longer it takes), but they are easily topped up every so often. 

[Yana]

So do I need more than one layer of Mypex? I have dug all the grass and weeds out before laying the Mypex.

[angelavdavis]

Yana, I only add another layer when the weeds start sprouting through.  I just rake off the bark chips to one side, add another layer over the existing (removing bigger weed growth if necessary) and then rake the bark chips back over it.

[Yana]

That seems straight forward enough. Next job on the list is to source the wood chip. Council maybe?? :blink:

[angelavdavis]

That is where we get ours from here in Hastings.

[Yana]

I've just emailed th local council to see if they have any.

[mike0001]

on our site we have the council take all old wood from when they are thinning out the woods

only been there for 3 months but there is also a mountain of woodchip to take

i used paths and put it straight over grass, quite thick yes but for last 6 weeks its been fine and far better than the muddy grassy tracks...... maybe best to put down a membrane if you can stretch to it

it will need topping up every now and again

[savbo]

If you contact your local tree surgeons they will often dump it for free if they are working in your area...but be prepared to get pot luck, may be quite leafy.

If you have a horsetail problem (like me), I think there is a case for not putting fabric down...I think it just acts as a rat-run for the roots from one bed to another. I just keep adding the woodchip on top of the old stuff, and hoe off weeds...

just to flag it up, I can see a possibility that restrictions will be placed on the movement/disposal of woodchip as the UK tries to manage an increasing amount of tree diseases....

sav

[Yana]

I've contacted the local council and they say that the contractors they use dispose of the wood chips so they don't have any. I'll scour the yellow pages for a tree surgeon.

[Annen]

The council used to dump a load at the gate for free, but then started charging.  So we contacted the local tree surgeons and they deliver as much as we want for free.   But now the council say it is fly tipping and we have to clear the pile!  Its funny it wasn't fly-tipping when they were delivering!

[bobr1960]

That seems straight forward enough. Next job on the list is to source the wood chip. Council maybe?? :blink:

Hi My Allotment very kindly gets loads delivered for free from a local landscape gardener so it might be a good idea to give a few a call and see if they have got any that they could let you collect or maybe they could drop it off? If you dont ask you dont get! Happy sowing. Bob

[Yana]

Hi Bob
Am I stoopid or what?? My son-in-law has his own landscape management company, I never thought of asking him. And i am sure he will deliver for free.