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path covering for under fruit trees
jsp
Posts: 59
in Fruit & veg
Hi,
I am looking for a path covering to go between lines of slabs and under fruit trees. Ideally I'd like to use bark, but I can't think of how to pick up the 6 wheelbarrow loads of pears that are dropped every year without picking up the bark too. I usually pick up the pears using a bit plastic snow shovel. I don't want to use grass because of allergies. I already have black weed suppressing membrane down and really just want something to put on top.
Any ideas very much appreciated.
Thanks!
JSP
0
Posts
Are you mulching your fruit trees each year? Replacing the nutrients in the soil they are using up with a top dressing of well rotted manure or compost?
When I moved into my house the previous owner had put thick weed membrane down covered in crushed rocks (most larger than a 50p in diameter). I plan to pull it up when I get around to it, so I can mulch and let the windfall apples rot down in situ. In the mean time, it's pretty easy to pick up the apples by hand.. and the leaves are all blown off in the winter winds. So rocks might be a good solution. Otherwise, large chunk bark over a thick layer of newspaper will work.. and just bury the hard to get pears under a fresh layer in the spring. Eventually the newspaper will rot down, along with the older bark. If you have serious trouble with weeds, just scrape back the large bits of bark and put down a new layer of newspaper. It should suppress weeds for a year or two, or more. Five or six sheets stacked together and overlapping. Soak it down as you spread them out, to keep the wind from blowing them away.
Thanks, that's a useful thought. I had also considered barley straw, but I'm not sure if it would smell and cause allergies the way bedding straw in a guinea pig cage can. Have you ever tried that?
Thanks!