[WendysLot]

Hello All

I have nearly finished clearing my newly aquired plot.  The next stage is to define the beds and make the paths.  Looking around my allotment site, many people have used strips of carpet and others woodchips.

What do people here recommend?

Thanks in advance,

Wendy

[Ice]

Don't use carpet as it can leach chemicals.  Check your agreement as it might say what you can and can't use.

[WendysLot]

Oh no, that's scuppered my plans.  I have some old carpet covering the area I have weeded (which will have my greenhouse and shed on eventually) and I was going to get a load more from Freecycle to make paths with.  Never thought about chemicals though.  My neighbours have used carpets and they look really neat.

Just read the very useful ideas using the link on this site but am still undecided.

Woodchips might be a good idea although probably not very comfy for kneeling on - even with a kneeling pad.

Wendy

[Gwiz]

As with most gardening questions, you'll get dozens of different answers!
Most of the old boys on our site use carpets (non foamed back kind)
I use a combination of both carpet and chippings between my raised beds.
Now there are many that would say that the wood chippings rob the soil of nitrogen as they rot down, which is true, but as I tend to use a little growmore/ chicken pellet fertilizer/ rotted manure or what-ever is handy at the time, I can't say I've noticed any difference between my allotment and those around me.

[Doddy]

...is fine - well for me it is. Get a weed suppressing membrane down then cover with wood chip; Over time the chip will soften (and eventually break down) but it provides a pretty good path material that helps to keep you from the mud in this fine summer that we're encountering. Last year (pre-chip) I was wading up to my armpits in mud, now it's much, much better.

[sunshineband]

Doddy has done the same us we have, and it is great 

Easy to take up too if you need to chnage the design for any reason, or reclaim bits of path to grow stuff 

[Plottered]

we've just done ours with wood chippings which are often available free from the council 

[stompy]

I put down cardboard covered with wood chippings, it lasts around 3 years then just put more cardboard down and more wood chips on top.

None chemical and as it's on permanent paths between raised beds so it doesn't effect the nitrogen in the growing areas.

[Plottered]

mmmm never thought of cardboard before the chippings....i will next time.

[sunshineband]

Saved weeds from forcing their way up through the chippings if there is some sort of solid barrier under them 

[Swing Swang]

Old concrete patio paving slabs - got 40sqm worth free of charge - good for both permanent and temporary paths if your back is up to lifting them - don't pay for them though - there are enough free ones going spare if you wait ling enough and look hard enough.

[operabunny]

Local tree surgeons can be a good source of free wood chippings as they often have to pay to dispose of them. They may even deliver to your plot.

[WendysLot]

That's a great idea thanks.  Will ring round a few.
Wendy