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Posted: Jul/23/2006 2:06 PM PST
I'm looking for some suggestions/help please. We are designing an area in our garden from scratch and will be forming walking paths throughout this area. I know what I want it to look/feel like but I don't know what it is...I'd like something that is soft to walk on, almost like walking in a woodlands area that is covered in moss or lots of soft, cushy leaves without the mess! My husband thinks that covering the area with those bags of shredded brown bark (used for mulch I believe) would work but I don't know if that's quite the right thing to use. So, a couple of questions arise. Do we put landscape felt down first to prevent weeds from popping up and is there a better product for creating this kind of "natural" pathway? Thanks for your thoughts on this. Deb |
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Posted: Jul/23/2006 2:19 PM PST
material to use is a matter of preference, but the small bark pieces will be fine. Whether to use landscape fabric is a matter of some debate, but I say no. The primary reason I say no is that your paths will be narrow (only 1-4 ft, right?). Weeds have the ability to grow under the fabric and then 'peek' out the edges. With the landscape material over them they are protected against your pulling them out by the roots. I used landscape fabric one year and swore never again. It works great over a broad area like under a deck, but in narrow areas it won't stop the weeds, just make them more difficult to pull out. |
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Posted: Jul/23/2006 2:36 PM PST
Thanks for your thoughts. I must say you raise an interesting point with the landscape felt. I wasn't even convinced that the felt would work as I have seen some nasty weeds poke through the tarmac at the edges of our driveway during the hot season! If they can make their way through that, I figure landscape felt might be less of a challenge! Still mulling over the shredded bark.... |
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Posted: Jul/23/2006 2:36 PM PST
Bark mulch sounds like the type of material you want. Soft spongy materials like moss simply don't hold up under foot traffic. Rather than landscape fabric, you may wish to try compacting the soil well where the walk will be beforew applying the mulch. This will go a long way towards discouraging weeds. |
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Posted: Jul/23/2006 2:45 PM PST
In the spring I dug up the sod for a short, wide path between my garden beds. The plan was to lay flagstones, but I couldn't find what I wanted. So I spread some bark mulch in the meantime and the path is solid and weed-free from walking on it daily. The bark will weather quickly and have the natural look you want. You'll need to use several inches so it doesn't shift and leave bare spots, like mine does. Our fall project is to lay a brick walkway there, but the bark does look nice. |
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Posted: Jul/23/2006 2:51 PM PST
What are you going to actually step on? What do you like for edging to keep the form? What color (S) are you thinking for the steps? Do you want just large enough steps for any foot size and step size? What is the purpose for the paths, just you (& Hubby) or lots of people walking it ? Are you on a fixed budget, you know (within reason of course) whatever it takes to make a neat clean path. One tip is when laying down the steps walk it (a natural walk) lots of times walk way and then walk it have your husband do it too, the steps should be smooth walking not missing at all . To prevent weeds is easy it is the underground runners that will get you unless you use lots about 6 inches of mulch (wood chips) . You may be able to get wood chips by the truck load for free if you call around to tree removal companies. You may even be able to get the kind of chips you want (as long as that tree grows in your area) . I had pine and Ash tree with a touch of maple free delivered to me . It is a job to sort out, but..... worth every scent in sweat! Here's my second path, I tried dark pine woodchips with brick but didnt work out (the path was tied into the extended driveway and to drive on it wasnt working ) so I removed it all and put limestone there to tie into the driveway extention. If you search the site a little you can see my paths, If I have time soon Ill try to find a few pics. Paths are a bit of thinking ahead work but fun! Happy path making... Kale 
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Posted: Jul/23/2006 2:59 PM PST
A word of caution...bark chips, or nuggets (or whatever they call the larger, smoother pieces of bark) are very slippery! I have some along the side of the house (a freebie) and my foot has slipped on them a few times. Clarification: the bark was a freebie, not the house! 
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Posted: Jul/23/2006 3:01 PM PST
Thanks for your thoughts on this one. I must say that thanks to your replies I have definately decided against the landscape felt...I really like the idea of tamping the earth firmly first. It looks like the shredded bark is the route we will go with - I guess it is the most natural look and that is what I want to have. Well, this project will be commencing in the next week so I'd best go limber up for the upcoming workout
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Posted: Jul/23/2006 4:00 PM PST
And please post your results here, hopefully with some photos.... I'm looking at doing the same thing in my backyard possibly next year. |
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Posted: Jul/23/2006 4:04 PM PST
I use news paper to line my walk way first ( lots of it ) then put my bark mulch down then walked on it for a few weeks then added more mulch there about 10 inches on the walk now I still pull a weed here and there but the more you walk on it the less weeds you will have and it feels good when you walk on it ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Garden Bear [URL="http://www.littlebossbear.com"]http://www.li ttlebossbear.com[/URL] Attachments:  |
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