Paths in the garden between the beds: what to make of

Do you have a summer cottage and a vegetable garden? So, for sure, every weekend from May to October you spend at the dacha, devoting all your time to sowing, watering and weeding. In this article, we will talk about how paths in the garden can help you spend less time fighting weeds and make the overall look of the site more beautiful.

Why make paths in the garden?

Weeding the beds, we perfectly understand what this is for. Thus, we protect plants from pests and diseases, give them the opportunity to get more nutrients from the soil, that is, we increase the quality of the crop. But the trouble is that you have to remove weeds in the space between the beds. Because there they grow very actively. And if the weather is rainy, then the earth becomes limp and it is simply impossible to enter the garden.

Arrangement of paths will help to solve both problems at once: it will be possible to walk around the garden even after the heaviest rains, without getting dirty up to the knees. And the number of weeds will be significantly reduced. Well, in addition to this, a decorative component will appear. Your garden will become not only more convenient, but also more beautiful and original.

Consider how many passes you need, how wide they should be. And after that, proceed to the selection of materials for the tracks.

Material for making tracks

There are several options for material for arranging tracks. Each of them has its own pros and cons.

Wood... This is one of the simplest and most sustainable options. If the aisles between the beds are small, you can put one or two wide boards. Or make a flooring if the track is wide. The advantage of this option is that it is not difficult to build such paths. But there is also a minus: firstly, they are short-lived. A tree lying on the ground will rot from moisture. True, it can be coated with varnish or special impregnation, this will extend the service life. Secondly, during the rains, an accumulation of slugs and snails forms under the boards.

Mulching... Different materials can be used as mulch: sawdust, hay, straw. Perhaps from an aesthetic point of view, it does not look very nice. But mulching will not only slow down the growth of weeds, but also thoroughly fertilize the soil. But, when mulching the paths with sawdust, remember that in this case there is a possibility of oxidizing the soil. Therefore, if the soil in your area is acidic or moderately acidic, then it is better to refuse sawdust paths.

Siderata... These are plants that nourish the soil, saturating it with nitrogen and other useful substances, and also stop the growth of weeds. Planting paths with siderates (white mustard, rye, clover, oats), you will actually start growing fertilizer. The disadvantage of this method is that it will be inconvenient to walk along such paths, you will have to constantly mow siderates.

Crushed stone or pebbles... This is one of the most convenient options, but only if you've identified a permanent track location and don't plan on changing anything. Pebbles or crushed stone just need to fall asleep along the pre-marked contours, it looks very beautiful. Larger stones can be placed along the edges of such paths so that small material does not creep to the sides.

Concrete... Such paths will be the most practical option - weeds will not appear on them, such paths do not require maintenance. You can fill in even smooth ribbons or use a stencil form, in this case the tracks will turn out to be especially beautiful.

Tree cuts... This option is very beautiful, it is convenient to move along such paths. And if necessary, they can always be moved to a new location. The downside is that, as we said above, wood can deteriorate from moisture.

Whichever option you choose, I assure you that with the right approach, it will be possible not only to reduce the time spent on weed control, but also to decorate your summer cottage.