Garden walkways

[Ridgerunner]

I have not used this method. What is the community’s thoughts on the spacing – 4-1/2 feet wide with 2 foot walkways? Is this too wide to reach to the middle of the bed? Are the walkways wide enough to use without getting your feet in the bed behind you when weeding?

 

[thistlebloom]

Personally I don't like a bed any wider than 4', and 3.5 works even better. I'm 5'7" so a taller person might be more comfortable with a wider bed. 2' wide paths sound doable, mine are usually that or narrower (not a recommendation, but I do so much cramming I don't like to waste a lot on paths).
Anyway Ridge, even tho' we call them BEDS you're not expected to lay down in them!

 

[digitS']

I have never wanted beds wider than 4'. I am over 6' tall but constant reaching is tiring.

Besides, I cheat. The 2' paths begin to narrow as soon as the plants in the outside rows begin to grow. They shrink to about 18" - hopefully, no more than that. Happy cukes, and such, may know no bounds.

Steve

 

[HEChicken]

I have never wanted beds wider than 4'. I am over 6' tall but constant reaching is tiring.

Besides, I cheat. The 2' paths begin to narrow as soon as the plants in the outside rows begin to grow. They shrink to about 18" - hopefully, no more than that. Happy cukes, and such, may know no bounds.

Steve

Yeah, I hear what you both are saying and I may only do it once. I was eager to maximize the growing space in my garden but we'll see. I'm not planning much that grows boundlessly like cukes - the worst thing I'll be dealing with is tomatoes but I kept them at one end with the peppers and tomatillos. Everything else should pretty much stay in its place

 

[Smart Red]

I agree that 4 feet is the comfortable limit to bed width. I am 'stuck' with 5 foot beds because that is what DH made for me and who am I to suggest they are not perfect? I put long season plants in the six middle feet where I find it hard to reach once the outsides are growing well.

I have a weedy grass between the beds that I'd like to get rid of, but until one of you comes up with a fool-proof way to manage them, I'll be mowing.

 

[HEChicken]

The nice thing about my garden area is if the beds are too wide this year, next year I can make them narrower

In my experience, mowing (and then edging) works okay in raised beds, but not so well with a garden that is directly in the ground. With my current garden bed, I can mow around the perimeter, as long as I set the mower to direct the flow of cut grass away from the garden bed all the way around. but I have no way to mow the walkways between beds in this garden, without spraying the cut grass all over one of the beds and winding up with it sprouting and giving me even more weeding to do.

 

[timberlane]

We live close to the Amish. We get sawdust from them and use it for our paths.

 

[catjac1975]

The nice thing about my garden area is if the beds are too wide this year, next year I can make them narrower

In my experience, mowing (and then edging) works okay in raised beds, but not so well with a garden that is directly in the ground. With my current garden bed, I can mow around the perimeter, as long as I set the mower to direct the flow of cut grass away from the garden bed all the way around. but I have no way to mow the walkways between beds in this garden, without spraying the cut grass all over one of the beds and winding up with it sprouting and giving me even more weeding to do.

What about using a grass catcher?

 

[HEChicken]

Its a zero turn ride-on. I don't think they make catchers for those but if they do, mine didn't come with one...

 

[catjac1975]

Its a zero turn ride-on. I don't think they make catchers for those but if they do, mine didn't come with one...

I could not control my weeds without using all of my grass clippings for mulch.