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John F Dean
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As with most here,  I have worn paths to the barn , garden,  and corrals.  Now, if course, they are pretty muddy.  What is a better way to surface these.  I have considered wood chips, gravel, etc.

I learn from the mistakes of others who take my advice.

 
Michael Cox
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Definitely woodchips if you have a reliable long term supply. We get a few loads a year dropped off by friendly tree surgeons. Does all our paths and garden beds.

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Kc Simmons
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I usually use wood chips, as well, for the paths going from the house to the barn, greenhouse, poultry yard, etc. Since I live in a fairly dry area, I don't usually have to keep them covered all year, but when it does rain, it usually happens over several days, which makes the ground waterlogged & muddy.
Sometimes, if the mud is especially deep, I will lay a paper feed sack down, first, and then cover with the chips. This just helps keep them from getting pushed down under the surface, so I don't have to use more to re-cover the surface. If the weeds/grass gets too tall that I can't see the path well enough to see any copperheads napping, I will chop/pull them and add to the surface of the path.

In the gardens I tried alfalfa in the paths, which has worked well as long as it hasn't gotten too tall (then it gets your pant legs wet). If that happens, I just cut/tear the top of the plant off & toss in the garden beds where the mulch is getting thin. It seems to grow back pretty fast if it's been getting enough rain.
 
wayne fajkus
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If they will be roads,  use gravel. If you want to heal it then any kind of mulch (chips, hay, etc)

I had a real issue with woodchips. Held the moisture so well that trucks were spinning wheels trying to drive over it. It was a real testament to their effectiveness.

Sometimes the answer is nothing

 
D Nikolls
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Another vote for woodchips if you have a free source.

My parents had a source of hazelnut shells for a while, they were fantastic path material. Unless you like to be barefoot on your paths.

'Theoretically this level of creeping Orwellian dynamics should ramp up our awareness, but what happens instead is that each alert becomes less and less effective because we're incredibly stupid.' - Jerry Holkins

 
John F Dean
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These are walking paths.  I have a supply of gravel and chips.  One concern I had was accidentally taking a mower across a gravel path. Yes, there is a low spot by the garden that will get the gravel.

I learn from the mistakes of others who take my advice.

 
Trace Oswald
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Wood chips work well as well as sawdust.  Both are generally free.

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Juniper Zen
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I once visited a small farm where the owners used pallets and other reclaimed wood to make raised paths over the mud. Looked nice and easy to traverse.

Zone 9b

 
John F Dean
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I have found that pallets quickly grow a covering of slick fungi in my area.  We have had excessive rain and indirect lighting.

I learn from the mistakes of others who take my advice.

 
John C Daley
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I am surprised you dont use gravel, large diameter at the bottom and finer at the top, for a long lasting job. Or bricks and even concrete

John Daley Bendigo, Australia The Enemy of progress is the hope of a perfect plan
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John F Dean
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We are talking about a total of 100 yards of path or more. Cost wise, concrete is out of the question.  I have a supply of gravel and
Woodchips. I am certainly willing to consider other options.

I learn from the mistakes of others who take my advice.

 
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What did you ever end up doing John? Have you found a solution?

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John F Dean
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I went with wood chips.  The ground was built up enough over the past few years  that mud is no longer a problem on the pathways.  

I learn from the mistakes of others who take my advice.

 
Anne Miller
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We have white pea gravel all around the house that provides for most of our walkways.

Elsewhere, like in the garden we use wood chips.

The good news about using wood chips is that they are also working to put nutrients back into the soil.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

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