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Best ground covering for plant bord

jackpjackp Posts: 43
in Problem solving
I’ve been digging over a very large plant border which has taken about 5 days to get all the weeds and unwanted plants out .

Im unsure what ground covering would work best as i don’t think the area will be maintained very much after I’ve finished so needs to prevent weed growth and it’s a public area so gets a bit dug over with dogs sometimes.  I’ve found composted stable manure seems to have weed seeds in the bags ,bark seems to just dry up and get windblown and look untidy .what about wood chips ? .in the meantime I’m weed spraying off  any new regrowth from bindweed set. 
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Posts

  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    If you’re not going to plant it up why not cover it with pea gravel .You could stand pots on it and the rain will go through so it won’t get all mucky and boggy .
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @jackp Are you able to post a photo of the site? There are some shrubs that are tough.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    edited June 2022
    If it's a public area and not going to be maintained, I'd agree with @bcpathome and use a hard mulch like gravel, granite or limestone chips, depending on your budget.  It's best to lay a geotextile membrane down on top of the area first to deter weeds.  If you use small gravel or chips, detritus will build up over time and provide a growing medium for weeds -  I'd choose larger gravel or chips to reduce this occurrence.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • jackpjackp Posts: 43
    So the plan is to add some evergreen shrubs but it will still be a large area of mostly bare ground ,I did think about the  20mm shingle but it wouldn’t be particularly easy to fit the weed membrane neatly around all the plants and the dogs could likely move the stones onto the lawn causing a new problem 

    The area must be around 14x2M, possibly I should just suggest it’s turfed over (about 70%) as the whole exercise seems pointless if it’s left for the weeds to take over 



  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    I hadn’t realised it was a public area  so my idea is not much use especially if you’re putting trees in .
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I have a small public area that I am involved in. What I would say is ask yourself just how much time you can devote to it as it often fall to just one person over time
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • jackpjackp Posts: 43
    GardenerSuze said:
    I have a small public area that I am involved in. What I would say is ask yourself just how much time you can devote to it as it often fall to just one person over time

    That’s true ,It was suggested I could take over the running of it but I’m not sure I’d want the responsibility .


  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    If you do use gravel, try and avoid pea shingle - it rolls around and gets everywhere. Stone chippings are easier to walk on and stay put.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Who owns the area?
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    @jackp - do you have the permission of whoever owns this piece of land to plant on it? You say it's a public area, which suggests it belongs to the council or similar. If so, you can't just take it over without them allowing it. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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