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Inexpensive material garden path, suggestions?
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EileenT
Just Arrived
Joined: 15 May 2007
Location: California
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:33 am Post subject: Inexpensive material garden path, suggestions? |
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I need a good idea for inexpensive material for our pathway. I don't want to use flagstone or pavers. I want a softer material but not sure what I should buy. Are pine needles good for that?
moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic
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eileen
Moderator & Resident Taxonomist
 Forum Moderator
Joined: 07 Feb 2005
Location: Scotland (Map)
Posts: 15716
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| Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:07 am Post subject: |
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Bark chippings are quite a good idea Eileen but have to be replaced every once in a while. Not too sure about pine needles as I've never tried using them myself.
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EileenT
Just Arrived
Joined: 15 May 2007
Location: California
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:28 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, Eileen. I'm planning to use bark in the area where my dog does his business and I wanted the path a separate color and texture. I'm tearing out the grass as our drought conditions plus the dog make it hard to maintain.
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real_ale
Just Arrived
Joined: 04 Jul 2009
Posts: 8
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| Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:08 pm Post subject: pathway material |
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what about using Pea shingle, its attractive and cheap.
Anthony E
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Joan
On The Way Up
Joined: 19 Jun 2007
Posts: 63
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| Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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Pine needles will work if you lay them down thickly. However, they do tend to be a bit slippery underfoot. Personally I like a very thick wood chip mulch that is allowed to age and decay in place. Add to it yearly or as needed.
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kuntrygal
Texas Rose
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Texas ~ Zone 8
Posts: 3549
PlantStew: 313 |
| Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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How about roofing shingles and cover with some type of mulch?
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Gaylyn ~ 2277 ~
"I'm so far behind, I thought I was first"
"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, It's about learning to dance in the rain"
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Jewell
Incorrigible Gardener
Regular Plantstew Contributor (over 1000 edits)
Joined: 17 Dec 2008
Location: Puget Sound Region of the Pacific NW (Washington State, US) (Map)
Posts: 1060
PlantStew: 3649 |
| Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 9:46 pm Post subject: |
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I use ground covers for some of my walks in the garden. Irish or Scotch moss (not really a moss) seems to spread and hold its own where the dogs don't run "hard". It doesn't take as much water as grass, but you do have to walk on it some to keep it "touching" the ground.
The other ground cover I have used is wooly thyme. Really soft on the toes, and does OK with moderate traffic. Does require full sun, and is pretty drought tolerant once establish. You do need to keep other weeds out of it though.
I realized you were thinking of something soft but I did see gravel used very handsomely. I had never thought of using gravel (comes in a variety of textures and types), but on a garden walk one neighbor had used it very effectively with a brick/rock or no boarder. It would not have to be replaced like bark does, and properly packed and installed doesn't move like bark seems to. Thymes are the colorful plants that are dark pinkish.
Blue Glass and Gravel Walkway ( photo / image / picture from Jewell2009's Garden )
Have fun whatever you decide to do!
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~Jewell
If a you have but two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one to sustain your life, and a flower with the other to give you a reason to live. ~Chinese Proverb
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SongofJoy57
Knows Their Stuff
Joined: 20 Oct 2007
Location: Foothills of North Carolina Z = 7a & 7b (Map)
Posts: 772
PlantStew: 46 |
| Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:49 pm Post subject: |
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Oh Jewell . . . your flowers are divine!
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Jewell
Incorrigible Gardener
Regular Plantstew Contributor (over 1000 edits)
Joined: 17 Dec 2008
Location: Puget Sound Region of the Pacific NW (Washington State, US) (Map)
Posts: 1060
PlantStew: 3649 |
| Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 6:46 am Post subject: |
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Thanks SongofJoy
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~Jewell
If a you have but two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one to sustain your life, and a flower with the other to give you a reason to live. ~Chinese Proverb
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Earthworm
Just Arrived
Joined: 30 Mar 2009
Location: Inland Australia
Posts: 22
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2009 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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Hey I reckon you cannot go past compacted gravel as a cheap and hardwearing path. It's usually a by-product of stone extraction, so no ethical worries there, and if it doesn't need too much transport can cost as little as $30 a cubic meter, which @ 100mm thick covers 10 sq. meters. All you need to do is pack it down and it will last for years. I have (literally) made 100's of kilometers of path this way, heaps better than bark or paving. Just Google some images and check it out!
E-worm
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