AMF Mixed Topics
If I were you Fred, I would stick with beds for veg - whether raised or just bordered off from the rest of the garden. The bits in-between then just need a good shot of weedkiller every month or so during the growing season to provide a solid walkway. None of that strimming lark. It's what our French neighbours do and seems to work really well.
Breathable membrane is a good idea but it must be the real deal breathable stuff. Get it from England - it's cheaper.
We have loads of it down in the garden and were going to cover with wood chip until I realised it eventually rotted down leaving a rather unpleasant mulch on top of the membrane. So we went for the gravel option and I must say over the years it has worked very well.
You will still get wind blown weeds happily growing in the gravel but these are easily removed by hand or a quick squirt of weedklller. Or employ a young, slim-hipped girl called Nicole to do the work for you.
The gravel came from the Irribarron (spelling ?) quarry on the road between Lathus and Montmorillon. The gravel starts at between €10 to €15 a tonne. I made the mistake of taking Madame Admiral with me (never do this) and she chose the most expensive bits of stone in the shop.
By-the-by, set aside an entire morning if you're thinking of going to this quarry. You can happily wander around but finding a bloke to serve you with your desired gravel is a mysterious art-form that takes considerable time and patience.
Bonne chance.
PS: Don't go to the giant quarry on the way to L'Isle Jourdain. Public access was banned a few years ago after wandering would-be purchasers found themselves engulfed under several tonnes of assorted stones, mud & etc.
Breathable membrane is a good idea but it must be the real deal breathable stuff. Get it from England - it's cheaper.
We have loads of it down in the garden and were going to cover with wood chip until I realised it eventually rotted down leaving a rather unpleasant mulch on top of the membrane. So we went for the gravel option and I must say over the years it has worked very well.
You will still get wind blown weeds happily growing in the gravel but these are easily removed by hand or a quick squirt of weedklller. Or employ a young, slim-hipped girl called Nicole to do the work for you.
The gravel came from the Irribarron (spelling ?) quarry on the road between Lathus and Montmorillon. The gravel starts at between €10 to €15 a tonne. I made the mistake of taking Madame Admiral with me (never do this) and she chose the most expensive bits of stone in the shop.
By-the-by, set aside an entire morning if you're thinking of going to this quarry. You can happily wander around but finding a bloke to serve you with your desired gravel is a mysterious art-form that takes considerable time and patience.
Bonne chance.
PS: Don't go to the giant quarry on the way to L'Isle Jourdain. Public access was banned a few years ago after wandering would-be purchasers found themselves engulfed under several tonnes of assorted stones, mud & etc.