The above comments illustrate that there is no perfect solution that fits all. There are some fantastic gravel gardens, where the plants are planted into the ground, and where there may or not be a membrane. There are lots of mulching options (manure, compost, bark, etc), with or without a membrane. It's best to find what works for you, and just because something was successful for one of us, doesn't mean that is right for you.
We have a mixture of various systems in different bits of the garden. We keep our gravel to paths and unplanted areas, with a membrane below. It gets much fewer weeds than open ground (but that doesn't mean no weeds). We have bark chips on bare soil in some areas where there is minimal planting, basically just a few trees and shrubs.
Where we have fairly densely planted flower beds, we mulch with manure or compost. The birds do throw it around, but that's a minor inconvenience. If cost is an issue, then longer term I would say gravel is best. Any organic mulch (bark, manure, etc), will only break down and need to be replaced.
We use pea shingle (usually 10mm, but 20mm is also quite attractive), but that's personal taste. We pay £60 for a dumpy bag, but that's London, so may be cheaper where you are.
Thanks for all your help guys, I did in fact use gravel on top of soil on one flower bed and it has worked a treat, there are still bits of weeds popping through but not so many and i just go through every few weeks and pull them, they are small and its much easier than open ground. I guess it helps my other plants are more established now too.
I also took up my weed membrane from the bed with bark chippings so the goodness can go into the soil and again this works great, some weeds come through but not many and it is so much easier for planting and better that i can actually mulch.
I only use membrane on paths or gravel areas with no planting now. Basically like @ke@KeenOnGreen said, there isn't one way and each seems to work OK here for me. Also i avoid plants which earwigs like in the bark bed now, thats just easier than trying to stop them.
We have gravel around our raised veg beds,with weed suppression membrane,you still get weeds,and every couple of years you have to renew,it some how disappears. Ours was about £50 a bag,it doesn't go far. It looks great in a Dry garden like Beth Chattoes, planted with grasses and the like. The ground has to be completely level,and a really thick layer. I plant densely, still have to weed in spring,and night slug patrol
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We have a mixture of various systems in different bits of the garden. We keep our gravel to paths and unplanted areas, with a membrane below. It gets much fewer weeds than open ground (but that doesn't mean no weeds). We have bark chips on bare soil in some areas where there is minimal planting, basically just a few trees and shrubs.
Where we have fairly densely planted flower beds, we mulch with manure or compost. The birds do throw it around, but that's a minor inconvenience. If cost is an issue, then longer term I would say gravel is best. Any organic mulch (bark, manure, etc), will only break down and need to be replaced.
We use pea shingle (usually 10mm, but 20mm is also quite attractive), but that's personal taste. We pay £60 for a dumpy bag, but that's London, so may be cheaper where you are.