Specialty Gardening: So what makes a Cottage Garden, well, "Cottagey"?, 0 by ohsusanna

ohsusanna wrote:
Hope you don't mind if I jump in here. Most of my paths are pea gravel. I used landscape fabric under some of them and others I used cardboard. I have preferred the cardboard paths covered with gravel. I was surprised, but I haven't fought grass growing through the cardboard as much as with landscape fabric. Both have worked well for me and weeds are easily pulled from either, but bermuda grass is the biggest problem I have.

I've done the same thing with mulch paths, laying cardboard down, wetting it thoroughly and covering with mulch. I've used the shredded cypress mulch because it is easier to walk on than the bigger hardwood pieces. I replenish the mulch as it breaks down. This fits the style of my cottage (humble dwelling) and I've been very pleased over the past three years of using this method.

The gravel is a lot of work, but I made myself be patient and paced myself so that I wasn't overwhelmed. I don't have a picture of the mulch paths, but will try to get out there and take a couple. It always helps me if I can see something.