[simbamara]

My neighbour at the allotment has covered the spaces between the raised beds with red stones to prevent weeds from growing, will it work ? Is there a better option ? Thanks

[al78]

I have put as double layer of weed fabric down for allotment paths, and that works very well for keeping weeds down. Over time, soil gets deposited on top of the weed fabric which results in weed seeds germinating, so you have to occasionally pull weeds off the fabric, but that is a lot easier than getting them out of the ground, because the weed fabric severely limits the roots going into the soil underneath.

If you want to put stones down (do you mean like coarse gravel?), put weed fabric down first.

[JayG]

Not sure whether you mean gravel, stones, or even paving slabs, but as al78 says, weeds will grow through the gaps in any hard building material without weed control fabric underneath.

[snowdrops]

I’ve got slabbed paths at the allotment but if I’d known then what I know now(hindsight is truly wonderful lol) I’d go with just having mulch on the paths & giving them the occasional hoe to dislodge the weeds.

[rowlandwells]

we always spray our paths between the raised beds with roundup then cover the paths with bark chippings delivered from our local tree surgeon that keeps the weeds down and last's way into  the winter until we repeat the process next spring

[simbamara]

Thanks everyone for your inputs. Has anyone tried cardboard topped with wood chippings?
Card board worked for me in keeping my raised beds relatively weed free over winter.

[maddave]

All I'd say about wood chip is that you need to keep it topped up. I used plastic weed membrane with wood chip which looked great, but eventually the wood chip rotted, produced lovely compost and the weeds returned with abundance.  With a sporadic supply of wood chip at the allotment, I ended up scraping it all off, relaying the plastic and have left it bare. I just sweep any soil off if it build up to stop anything growing in it. Doesn't look as nice but is easier maintenance.