Paths in the Flower Beds

My front yard beds have started to have weeds and fill-in so tight that I can not longer easily get into them. We cut down a 4-way cherry tree that had simply demanded too much pruning to keep it from hitting the power lines and house a few years back. As the smaller replacement Japanese maples have grown the woodland garden has prospered. Unfortunately so has the morning glory and weeds.

I have started weeding the last few weeks and decided that paths are essential if I am going to maintain these beds of ferns, foxgloves, Pacific and old-fashioned bleeding hearts, sweet woodruff, Oregon grape, hellebores, echinacha, heathers, and easy perennials and bulbs. I started by clearing the soil pulling some of the bulbs and thinning them. As I did this I pulled the sweet woodruff, which comes up easily and had covered most of the old paths.


Creating paths to get into beds to weed ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

As I am weeding and clearing an area I am placing cardboard. Helps keep me out of the dirt. I got cardboard boxes from work and have now laid a couple of paths. As I work my way through the beds I will continue this process. It will probably take me into the summer to finish. Hopefully it will be easier in the future to maintain this front patch of garden once the paths are re-established. This is the first time in years that any major maitaince has been needed.


bark on the cardboard paths front yard weeding project ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

I started by using cardboard on garden beds which have had some benefits for smothering weeds. I have tried it in the back yard for paths with limited success. My dogs like to run and slide on the bark especially if it is on the cardboard. The one dog, Kota, can get a really good slide going clearing off all the bark after one pass and has such a big smile at her success. Oh well, we are on to the next experiment. I think this will work great and save on the amount of bark I have to purchase. Over time the bark deteriotes in our climate so if I change my mine it is just organic matter added to the soil.

 

That looks great Jewell! I was thinking of doing this in my veggie garden...I just don't have the time to weed the path!

 

The bark looks good and despite the dogs racing and should be easy to renew with new bark. Good choice.

Jerry

 

Jewell--you are making great headway there--the paths look very bice. I like the looks of that plot in the fr=irst piccy.

BTW--what is the name of those purple balls on long stems?

 

Thanks Netty and Jerry.
Sjoerd, the purple balls are allium "Aflatunense". They are a new bulb to me. They were nicer than I expected. The slugs do climb the stem and occasionally wound a stem. Now I am interested to see how they do over the next year or so.

 

I agree Eileen. And with my fickled ways it lets me change things much easier than the pavers.

 

I agree with the others... very nice! I like the "relaxing" look to it.

 

Really like the wood bark paths... it looks so natural, warm and inviting... I tend to forget about the cardboard method for clearing an area without having to weed and dig. Thanks for the reminder too.

 

Jewell--I agree, great idea. Looks more inviting than stepping stones, which is what I have. I might make a switch!

 

Jewell I must have missed this when you first posted it... But your paths look fabulous. Post us an update if you have time. I use lots of cardboard in my gardens also. And then I cover it with a mulch of some kind, just to keep the weeds down and it does make for a nicer place to walk. Then come fall/spring, all we do is till it under and start anew.

 

Carolyn I finally finished the one side of the front yard. Here is that and the paths in the backyard I have also created both this year and last. The bark is fantastic, but any cheap mulch that is popular where you live would work (I was envious of a friend is Oregon's pine needles). With the cardboard underneath it is doing a good job of keeping the weeds from popping through and I use a lot less mulch. Cardboard is definitely the cheapest mulch out there since it is free for the hauling.


Front yard mulch paths finished ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


walking/running path for people and dogs ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


area under filberts ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )


New path through woodland bed in backyard ( photo / image / picture from Jewell's Garden )

 

That looks great. I agree, that you can't go wrong with the cardboard. It really is the most economical addition to mulching that I have found also.

 

Jewell, You have a beautiful garden. Gives me great ideas.

Barb in Pa