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Gravel Path Landscape Fabric

IHateWeedingIHateWeeding Posts: 49
in Tools and techniques
I am like many much more concerned about what I'm putting into the environment.

Planning a Gravel path made up with something like 5cm MOT 1 Sub Base followed by 2.5cm Gravel.

I can see info online where people suggest adding a layer of weed control landscape fabric before the sub base.

Surely weeds won't grow up through all this material at this time of year?  What do you think?

Also, some people suppress weeds with cardboard, anyone got any experience of using this below subbase on a path to suppress weeds?    


Posts

  • PalustrisPalustris Posts: 4,307
    Sorry, but Weed suppressant fabric is misnamed substance. It doesn't, at least in the long term. Even the very expensive stuff does not work and all of them very quickly disintegrate. We used it in our poly tunnel and had to change it on a regular basis as it fell to pieces. Save your money.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    You'll find more weeds in the gravel growing from windblown seeds than come up thru a weed suppressing fabric.   Cardboard is biodegradeable so is used on beds for blocking light to weeds and seeds in the soil.  You then cover it with compost or manure to enrich the soil before planting and it breaks down in the moisture.  It's not for paths.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    We have, in the past, used weed suppressant membrane under gravel but it wasn't really that successful. Bits of it come up the edge and you start to get unravelling threads which are both untidy and it's easy to catch a heel and go flying. The shingle also slides around and exposes patches of membrane.

    As Palustris said it's also not 100% effective. Really tough weeds can still push through it and (you will find) a gravel path eventually makes a rather efficient seed bed and seeds just germinate on top of the membrane.

    We (well - the landscaper😉🤭) now do the following: Hard core - compacted, followed by a layer of hoggin - compacted, followed by the gravel / shingle - also compacted or rollered.

    The hard core and hogging suppress weeds from below and running a roller or whacker plate over the shingle helps to embed the shingle in the hoggin slightly so it stays in place better.

    Still get weeds seeding in it - but a good push-me-pull-you hoe sees to them.
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
  • IHateWeedingIHateWeeding Posts: 49
    Thanks all... I will not use the weed-suppressing membrane for my path.

    @Topbird how deep would each layer typically be?
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,355
    Not sure @info 445 - I don't 'do' hard landscaping - employ a man who does 🤭

    If I had to guess I'd say between 10 and 15cm of hardcore and about 3-5cm of hoggin. But that's for a heavily used driveway and patio.  If yours is just a small footpath you  wouldn't need that much hardcore. 
    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
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