[VioletSky]

My allotment will have raised beds and I'm thinking of laying weedblock fabric between them, and bringing in wood chippings for the paths. How long is that likely to last? Do wood chippings rot down too quickly to make them viable for paths?

[arugula]

Hi Violetsky,

On top of weed fabric they make a great path as they do rot down to a degree (quite slowly) but this only adds to the weed suppressant (sp?) value of the surface. They can be topped up as and when necessary.

[Rangerkris]

Im lucky enough to be able to get cord wood chips, this make adds to the length of time it takes to break down.  And when it has started to brak down you can scrap up the old stuff and use it as a mulch around fruit tree's and bushes.

[VioletSky]

That sounds like it might be ok then. Do you think it'll last several years? Maybe 5 years?

[Jamie Butterworth]

Im thinking of doing the same as you violetsky, i cant decide whever tto use bock paving (which would be free anyway) or barck chippings like yourself

[cob nut]

We have done this on our allotment & found the wood chips work well, as others have said they do rot/disintegate over time but slowly, our woodchipped paths have been down & in use for 4 years & have now started to rot so we have over the last few weeks just started to replace some of our paths.

[Elcie]

When I first got my allotment I bought bags of bark from the garden centre to go between the raised beds.  It cost quite a bit!  I am very lucky now that we have a free delivery of wood chip which seems to be never ending so I can use as much as I like and it doesn't cost anything.  To be honest I'm not sure where it comes from but it is very handy.

[JayG]

Trees! 

[mumofstig]

DOH

[Slowgrind]

Watched a Gardeners World programe last night. The people involved spent their holiday money on 15 cubic yards of bark chippings. I remember him saying that they should last for the next eight years. They were big chippings.

[cissie]

The wonderful woman who had my half allotment before me had also used chippings, she did 4 bays with paths between, they just need topping up We also have free chippings dropped on site were so lucky :DIf only i could get on there

[cob nut]

We also get free woodchippings delivered to our lottie site along with the free horse manure 

[cissie]

God think i'll move to Kent your double lucky