5 Comments

  1. Hey Darren

    I have been using heaps of grass clippings on my garden paths for about 2.5 years now. It has been immensely successfully. I do not trench the paths, as my policy is to continually build up the garden beds. Thus the inherent soil building means that my paths also need to keep up. After a few months I have black humus rich compost from all the worm activity. The worms do not mind being walk over as they are just under the top bit of mulch (about 3 mm down). The other benefit to using your garden paths as compost generators, is that they provide additional nutrients to your more adventurous and hungry plants such as tomatoes, watermelons, etc.
    I also add Greenstone rock dust (similar to basalt) to the paths while piling on new mulch. This helps make the compost even more nutrient rich.
    This is the ultimate cheap and simple composting method!
    These days I have also been trailing using Hessian sacks on the top of the path, to speed up the process. As I acquire these for free, the cost of my path compost is still pennies a path.

    • @Jason: That’s interesting, I didn’t realise you were doing that. I’ve been throwing all my grass clippings in to the chickens and pigs, but I might have to cut back their rations :-). Do you find the grass gets gloopy when it rains? I was planning to use wood chip/mulch for the drainage.

  2. Paths well advanced in the composting can get a bit squishy with lots of rain, but then so does other ground not stabilised by a multitude of plant roots. Early on in the process, they are quite stable even with lots of rain. Mind you I do use lots of grass clippings in each section (at least 30cm deep along the path), so there is plenty of drainage.
    I really need to document this (along with heaps of other things) on my blog. It is horribly out of date.

    • Sounds like a good system. I’ll give it a go if it stops raining long enough for me to mow the lawn! I’d love to see some more photos on your blog :-).

  3. The trench path idea is intriguing. I’ve started mulching my paths, more for my personal benefit and my hatred of bare clay soil. But actually digging down would allow a greater volume of fresh mulch to be stored. I’ve been toying with the idea of trying to form a relationship with a local tree lopper (so as to obtain free chips and know that they’re from garden safe sources – no privet!) but don’t have room for a giant pile of mulch to age, and don’t want to put it straight on to places I’m growing stuff.

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