[kennystevens]

Hi,

Was hoping for a bit of advice. I've dug up a lawn and put some raised beds in. I want to have gravel paths between them.

When I've done paths before, I've put a fabric membrane down after treating the area with weedkiller. Can I safely do this here - I'm worried about the weedkiller leeching through to the soil under the raised beds?

Also, what depth of gravel would people recommend?

Thanks for any help.


Kenny

[oldbean]

If you're going to use fabric, you won't need weed killer, which kills plenty more than weeds. I would use anything other than gravel. It makes walking hard work. Limestone chips pack  down well, are porous, will have a beneficial effect on the soil and are comfortable to walk on..

[Bombers]

Hi Kenny and welcome to the madhouse forum. I've used gravel around the small 'ish' area around my raised beds in the garden. I used the best quality weed supressant (sp) membrane I could find, and make sure you cover with at least 2 " of gravel ( or 50mm in new money!) If you use a glyphosate based weedkiller ( Like 'Roundup)  it shouldn't affect the ground. But more information can be found Here.
Personaly, I would clear it by digging it out first. whatever you choose to do, good luck.

P.S. Gravel is fine to walk on.

[oldbean]

P.S. Gravel is fine to walk on.

You may find gravel fine to walk on, but then you may not have walking difficulties. Compared to other surfaces, deep gravel which shifts as you walk on it takes significantly more effort. IMO it is not "fine" to walk on.

Also worth a read

http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/Issue/pn61/pn61p25c.htm
http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/Issue/pn46/pn46p11b.htm
http://www.pan-uk.org/pestnews/Issue/pn24/pn24p16.htm

[Ice]

Have to agree with bombers, can't see a problem with gravel.   Wouldn't want to roller skate on it though.

[Aunt Sally]

Makes a lovely crunching sound too

[Ice]

Just like on Brighton beach.

[Trillium]

Must admit that I put down the small 'pea' sized gravel in my path and I now regret it. It's hard to walk on so I plan to top it with gravel dust which packs down nicely.

[penance]

If you are worried about walking on gravel just make sure the path is well laid.

membrane first, then at least 2" on chip to dust and compact it, then 2" of gravel on top and lightly compact it. That overcomes many problems of lose gravel paths.

[Gwiz]

I used landscape fabric and then a couple of inches of bark chippings ( I get them free from our tree surgeons) they rot down eventually and then get put onto the beds and replaced.
I was going to use pea gravel, but I would have had to PAY for that....

[sunshineband]

We've just got grass, and it is easy enough to keep it cut --- even an old push along mower would do it 

[Eatyourgreens]

I also have grass.

One real advantage of grass, is if you decide to change your garden or plot in a year or two's time you haven't got the real problem of digging up all that gravel (And this can be a real pain).

Grass has some disadvantages, but a kneeling board takes care of most of them apart from cutting and for me that's a five minute job once a week.





Bob

[Kristen]

I'm thinking of grass between my raised beds.  Soil is very heavy, and in the winter Wellies pick up all sorts - gravel would be no good for me Some fairly rough grass would be the easiest, and most pleasant, type of path in the Winter, I think, and would look nice in the Summer - needs to be designed to be a single mower's width I reckon