Using blocks for garden beds etc

[digerjones]

the gravel boards seem like a good idea. you aint never going to stop weeds. most gardens are green deserts, wildlife needs all sorts of plant life not just a fruit tree and some grass. i like a more wild garden myself.

[mickavalon]

Agree Diger, but I get plenty of people asking for maintenance free gardens, so I tell them to sell it!!:D

[3ps]

I completely understand about the weeds etc.

I have quite alot going on in the garden.15-20 raised beds with pathways around them for veggie & fruit garden, hens, bees, greenhouse, grass(moss) etc.

I am just looking for a way to ensure that I don't have to weed in around around the pathways to save me some hassle. The grass areas just creep under the wooden joist borders I have now and every year or two I feel like I have to lift it all out to clear it properly. I have better things to be doing!

[Trevski]

I used Grade 3 hardwood, non treated sleepers (A bit battered, rustic looking). Got them off Ebay for about £20 a go for 8 foot x 10 inch x 5 inch. They are garden, kiddie and plant friendly and will last for donkeys years.

Chucked straight down onto the soil, side on and then screwed together with Timberlock screws (must pre drill the holes in hardwood to 1mm smaller than the thread width or the screws will not cut their own way through).

In between the beds I put some weed control fabric down and covered in 20 mm chippings, works a treat and no weed problems at all.

Hope that helps

[mickavalon]

3ps, why not pin the weed fabric under and behind the Timbers/slabs/blocks,(which ever) and lay between the beds, covered with your mulch/gravel (which ever). Should help keep the little perishers at bay. For any that manage to grow get either a weed flame torch or direct application weed killer, just don't spray it on yer spuds mate.

[3ps]

I do lay the weed fabric under what I have. I do not use weed killer of any kind in the garden. Weed torches I find useless/timeconsuming.

The problem is coming across worse that is is, I think. There are sections where the weeds are more or less at bay, but the joists are starting to deteriorate. Other sections where there is grass creeping no matter what way I lay it.

I really just had a question on laying the blocks on a slope!

[GB_Groundworks]

stepped footing are easier to lay on harder to dig

sloping footings easer to dig etc harder to lay on.

id step it into 2 or 3 steps if i remember its not very steep,