[ptarmigan]

Hiya

I've got a great supply of free bark chippings so am finally putting  paths in between my raised beds. At the moment I weedkiller the paths when they get too grassy as strimming them takes too long.

It's for weed suppressing and also, as the paths get muddy and wet after rain, to help with that. I've put down weed suppressant fabric and covered with bark chips.  Would I have been better to just put down bark chips - I'm thinking as they rot down it might get slippy with the weed suppressant - whereas with just bark chips I could keep topping them up when they rot down.  I've still got half to do.

Any one with any views/experience?

[jmc1949]

I've put bark chips on weed suppressant fabric on the plot. They've been down for 2 years now and I've had no problems with slipping when wet. They are starting to compress down and I'm thinking of topping them up this winter. I find it's much easier to walk on during the wet weather.  I have been told that bark chippings directly onto the ground can alter the ph of the soil (don't know if this is true) and as it's just on your paths it probably wouldn't be a problem (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong on this.)

[Kristen]

I think you'll have trouble with weeds / grass if you put bark chips direct onto ground/soil, without weed suppressing fabric.

I have bark chip / membrane paths in the ornamental garden, but mown grass paths in the veg patch as soil gets spilled onto them during digging of the [raised] beds, and gravel (and to a much lesser extent bark) would pick up on my boots in winter, so I decided that grass was the most versatile.  I have a tough / rough grass type though, as a fine grass would become very squishy in winter.

[Yana]

I put down weed suppressant fabric and laid the bark chippings on top and haven't so far (second summer and going into second winter) had any problem with weeds coming through or the bark being slippery. The bark does rot down and some of it is taken by the birds to build their nests. Honestly, I've watched them do it!! I will top it up again next spring.
Fellow plot holders have said that there is a chance of the soil ph changing as stuff is leached out of the chippings if it is laid directly onto soil, but I think they meant if it is used as a mulch around plants as opposed to being used for paths. I've definitely seen one plot holder build all his paths using bark chippings directly into the soil and with no apparent adverse effects but he does have to weed every now and again.

[ptarmigan]

Thank you for all the comments - I'll carry on with the weed suppressant and topping up as necessary knowing its not wasted work. I'm looking forward to not weedkillering the paths next year - well maybe just a little bit at the very edges of the paths till the couch grass takes the hint.

[Totty]

I just lay chippings straight onto the soil. Not just bark chippings either. Whenever I come across some chipped up hedge trimmings etc I just keep topping up. Sprayed once in the first year, not had any weed problems since.

Totty

[azubah]

I just lay the chippings straight on the soil. When weeds grow through I just put another layer on top. When it gets so thick that their roots are all in the chippings they are easy to pull out. It is great to walk on in muddy weather.

[devonbarmygardener]

I still get the odd 'superweed' coming through weed suppressant fabric and a load of chips but they are easy to pull up and few and far between.

I don't find them slippy.

[Wigglesworth12]

I used weed membrane before putting my woodchip/bark down. I was told that the woodchip can sometimes disappear into the soil if theres not a barrier beneath it. I can't comment if that's true though. I've not found it slippy, but the chickens and other birds love making a mess of it to get at worms and woodlice.

[peedee555]

i have put in loads of paths with chippings straight on the soilnot had to many weeds and those cameup pretty easy to get out mine were mainly from pine trees we got loads around here they smell nice when they are wet