Whatever was the organization of your kitchen garden, in the form of long beds or squares, in the form of "the French beds" or simple rows of vegetables, you have to provide paths for its service.
When choosing paths the set of decisions is possible: temporary or constant, vegetable or mineral … Actually opportunities are so numerous, as well as forms of kitchen gardens. Each type of passes has the advantages and shortcomings. Choose and adapt them for the environment and types of kitchen gardens.
Constant paths
Are laid from solid materials for long time. Bulks – sand, gravel, bark can be used. Also solid materials – stone, tile, concrete, stone blocks can undertake. These paths are practical as they are resistant to loadings and adverse weather conditions. It is necessary to provide substrate from geotextiles or strong polyethylene film. It is desirable to establish borders between path and zone of garden plants. They will allow to maintain passes by clean. Constant paths are simple in leaving. Passes from solid materials can be washed water from hose. Bulks should be filled up in 3-4 years.
The lack of constant paths is that the prime quality land which does not participate in crop rotation is used. And their cost is high. Therefore it is necessary to think over planning of such kitchen garden carefully.
Temporary paths
It is the part of kitchen garden used by the gardener for pass between plants, but which can be applied further to landings. Classical option – the use of wooden boards. With them it is simple to manipulate, shifting from place to place. They do not condense strongly the soil. At the same time they can become traps for slugs. Derive from this benefit, bringing together these wreckers from reverse side of boards. Shortcomings is that wood collapses over time and boards need to be moved, and they are not always lungs.
Mulch – the public decision
Straw, the cut branches, weeds – materials for this purpose like paths. It is possible to add cardboard pieces also. The mulch which is spread out on paths by rather thick layer allows:
- to keep plants clean and dry in rainy days;
- to limit development of weeds;
- to reduce water evaporation;
- to feed the soil;
- to reduce consolidation of the earth.
Big lack of mulch of damp areas – appeal to slugs and snails. It is necessary to fight against them.
"Green paths"
It is possible to leave grass on paths. If they lawn-mowers, rather wide for pass, then their service is not too heavy. But it is impossible to give up on arbitrariness growth of grass on footpaths – there will be weeds which can creep on beds. On the other hand the grass is easily trodden and bald spots are formed of the naked earth. It is possible to provide crops of special lawn grass. It is convenient if the kitchen garden is located at lawn. Garden paths will become continuation of lawn. It is beautiful and original.