Paths and weeds

[queen of the cobs]

Having spent several back-breaking days over the summer keeping my paths free from weeds, I'm really ready for some advice on a better way.

Each year I do a super weed and add a couple of barrow loads of woodchips,,but the horsetail this year has been overwhelming.

Any suggestions most welcome! I'm nearly at the point of considering weed killer, but trying to stay strong.

(And perhaps this is the wrong forum? Eeeek)


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[Bill HH]

Where paths are concerned I dont mind using round up, its not like its in the veg plot. I find bending down or getting onto my knees to be a pain (literaly). I see they have quite cheap gas burners (like the old flame throwers) out now that work off a small camping gas type cylinder but it might set fire to your wood chip. I have never done much good with weed suppresing mat, the weeds just came through it and were harder to pull out. Mind you I think some are better than others, You could try a layer of builders polythene sheet (heavy guage stuff) under your chippings, that would work. Best of luck.

[andy_j]

In my experience, strong weedkiller (SBK and diesel or strong roundup) are really the only way to eradicate it. Even then, it may take a few years of constant spraying.

Good luck with that one !!!!

Andy

[lottie dolly]

Horsetail will still come through,using heavy plastic will not drain water from your paths,plus most weeds will simply sprout from the edges,nothing seems to kill horsetail,the best plan is to keep at it,then it will get weaker over time,put it into a container to make a tea with,for your plants,this year has been its hay day,however,i have a patch smothered with the stuff,this year i lay spuds on the top,covered with hay,i still got some HT,no worse than in the rest of my plots,this is 1 of my experiments,have to see what happens next year,

[veggiechicken]

Horsetail creeps out from under plastic and makes a "pretty" edge to your path
Instead of one super weed session, keep pulling it out every time you see it. You won't kill it but you will weaken it

[Mysterious Gardener]

Annoying little things, huh? If you're at your wit's end about what to do, check out this link: http://www.maine.gov/agriculture/pes...il-swanson.pdf

There's no easy way to get rid of it though.

[zazen999]

We prepped our new path, sowed grass seed and now just mow the weeds with the grass - there aren't alot now to be fair. We dig out all the perennials with a long thin doo dah and mow the rest. Horsetail and horseradish; we eradicated by digging a trench and taking up the slabs between ours and next door's lottie, and putting damp proof plastic down, and then just taking it up as soon as we see it. The horseradish gets potted up and is sold and the horsetail is put into the greencone.

[Snadger]

I'm learning to live with weedy paths.
Unsightly to some I know buta s long as the weeds aren't flowering they add a bit of greenness to the plot.They don't affect the planted beds and give me something soft to kneal on whilst weeding the beds.

If truth be told, most of the weeds on the paths have been weeded from the beds anyway, just not picked up.