Alottment beds - paths

[greensg1924]

Afternoon all

I'm new to alottments, and just spent the autumn clearing (mostly) a heavily overgrown plot i've just taken on.

So far so good. Now i'm wondering how to divi up the plot. Optimum bed size c 4/5 ft x 10/12 ft: but what to use to make a path in between?

I've been looking at block paving, and possibly paving slabs. Just wondered if anyone else had any thoughts?

Thanks v much

[veggiechicken]

Hello and welcome to the Grapevine.

Since your plot is new to you, you may change your mind on the layout as the year progresses. One option is wood chippings which are delivered free of charge to many allotment sites. These can be laid down over cardboard and are easy to move (or allowed to compost in situ) if you change your plans.

[crannman]

i scrounged a load of block pavers build two path to seperate my beds you become a magpie when you get a allotment

[Martin H]

Hi, welcome. I'd use whatever I can get free or almost free.

But don't do anything you can't move; after a year's experience you'll have better ideas than the ones you have now; everybody does.

[arpoet]

Put an ask on freecycle for paving slabs. our lottie was very steep and we had them laid from bottom to top. Worked a treat.

[Greenleaves]

I have a mixture of bark and pallet tops, bark for semi- permanent paths and pallet tops to allow re - organisation should I wish

[Spunky]

I've just started to use heavy duty weed fabric it cost about 30p a metre @ 750mm wide

[JMCKG]

I would agree with Veggiechicken. I got my Allotment last year and ma on thé procees of changing everything around.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Put an ask on freecycle for paving slabs. our lottie was very steep and we had them laid from bottom to top. Worked a treat.

Me too and I have cross paths as well. Clean feet from top to bottom and side to side

[Veggielot]

There are a whole range of materials you could use, I have a mixture of wood chip, paving stone and solent gold recycled from my back garden. My plot is on a slight slope so I do find that the wood chip tends to work its way down hill.

[AlanP]

I have nothing but grass paths dividing my 12ft beds on one allotment, no problems, just needs strimming every couple of weeks, looks good like a proper allotment

my other allotment has paths made of paving slabs around the tunnels and greenhouses, a real pain, weeds grow in between and they keep moving over time.

Alan

[Elfeda]

My allotment has wooden boards as paths in between beds to an extent. they were very nice I had to remove them to put them on weed covers. could not get them as is, bords started decaying which is nice though.

planning to use all wooden pieces i have at home for paths.

[KevinM67]

Me too and I have cross paths as well. Clean feet from top to bottom and side to side

I agree.

When I first took on my plot I wanted to 'break with convention' and I created a maze-like plan with beds of varying sizes and in various directions.

Totally unpractical and more of a vanity thing on my part.

I now have one long straight path with intersecting cross paths - much, much easier for my wheelbarrow, watering, transporting compost and of course access to my beds and less risk of me stepping back and ruining crops in another bed.

[alldigging]

My allotment has wooden boards as paths in between beds to an extent. they were very nice I had to remove them to put them on weed covers. could not get them as is, bords started decaying which is nice though.

planning to use all wooden pieces i have at home for paths.

Were they not slippy?

Even decking made for walking on gets slippy if it's not cleaned.

[Elfeda]

They were not slippy at all. was bit hard to pull them off from the ground. and part of it in bottom started decomposing.

These paths are slightly different, the planks/boards were put besides few specific beds but not all over.

also 2 planks are laid on lengthwise and width wise to make paths inside cold frame pergola. ( top is just covered with plastic ) they are also not slippy.