Good afternoon, my reader. Paths between plots are usually made... out of nothing. Most gardeners simply leave a gap of land, which is then naturally trampled down during planting, weeding, or harvesting. However, this is not the best option: during the rains, the ground becomes slippery, dirt sticks to the soles, it is very easy to slip and twist your foot. In addition, even with normal watering, spilled water soaks the dirt track, and this does not add to the convenience of work.
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To avoid this, the paths must be strengthened. And you can do this in a whole bunch of different ways. We will analyze the most successful ideas for creating garden and garden paths.
Track requirements
First, briefly about the requirements that the path between the beds must meet:
- Portability. If the garden is processed manually, the paths can be made stationary. But if autumn plowing is used with the help of at least a walk-behind tractor, they need to be done in such a way that they can be removed to the side until spring.
- Strength. The paths must bear at least the weight of the gardener himself.
- Minimal slipperiness. The tracks should not slip under your feet, even after prolonged rains.
How to make a path between the beds?
There are several easy ways to solve this problem.
1. Wooden platform
On the border, you can lay out a structure of guide bars and thick boards. The advantages of this option:
- Durability. If the boards are soaked with a protective compound, such a platform will last a long time.
- No slip. If you take rough slabs, your foot will not slip on them even after a prolonged downpour.
- Strength. Wood is not the most fragile material.
- Possibility to make it yourself. It is enough to have materials, a saw and nails (or screws and a screwdriver) - and any platform can be assembled on your own, without limiting yourself in the complexity of the design.
However, there are also disadvantages:
- Empty space. Weeds willingly sprout between the planks - and it is not so easy to weed them out. In addition, garden black ants that breed aphids often settle under the boards - and you hardly want to help them in "animal husbandry".
- High cost. From scraps and slabs, fragile scaffolds are obtained, and high-quality lumber is far from free.
2. Rubber tile
Old-fashioned rubber tiles - the ones that used to cover stadium tracks - are a great choice for the gardener.
Its advantages:
- Not too heavy and easy to carry.
- Does not slip even when wet.
- Does not fall into the ground.
- The system of grooves and tenons allows you to assemble any structures right on the spot.
But there are also disadvantages:
- High cost. Rubber elements are even more expensive than wood.
- Inaccessibility. You can buy such a tile far from everywhere: it is usually found only in large construction supermarkets - and therefore you can hardly find it in small regional centers.
3. Plastic tiles
This option is similar to a rubber tile, however, it is already made of durable plastic elements with low sides along the edges. In fact, the tiles themselves resemble a designer: each element has grooves and spikes so that a strong connection can be provided. Thanks to the sides, the track does not float in mud, does not slip underfoot and serves for a long time.
Method advantages:
- Durability.
- Ease of assembly.
Disadvantages:
- Limited availability.
- High price.
- The need to additionally level the ground and make a drainage system so that water does not stagnate under the tiles.
4. Paving slabs
This option is suitable if the track needs to be laid once and for a long time. It is placed on a pre-leveled surface, and then lightly tamped with a mallet so that it lies flat. The weight of the tile makes it firmly in place even after heavy rains: it will not "walk" underfoot. In addition, any tile lasts for more than one year, withstanding the sun, rain, and winter frost.
However, this option also has disadvantages. Chief among them is the lack of mobility. Once laid, the tiles will be difficult to remove and transfer. In addition, the severity is not always good: paving the sidewalk will not be easy. Finally, this method requires skill and, sometimes, the presence of special tools (at least a "grinder" for trimming tiles).
In general, it is better to lay out paths from sidewalk tiles in a garden, where the layout has not changed for decades. In the garden, where you need to observe crop rotation and change the size of the plots, it is not the best option.
5. Flat slate sheets
Flat slate slabs have long been loved by gardeners as a material for strengthening the sides of high beds, but they are also useful as material for paths. Flat and wide sheets fit well on the ground, do not slip, do not fall through, easily withstand heat and frost.
However, they also have disadvantages:
- Fragility. The slate holds the pressure well, but a blow can split it.
- Structure. Asbestos, which is part of the structure of the plates, is not the healthiest mineral for humans.
Thus, there is no perfect option. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Do you know how to make paths in the garden?
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