Using broken twigs for the surface of a pathway

Hi All from Sunny Spain (Europe)!

My forest garden is growing well, and I'm moving into the next area for development.  

Last year we had our enormous carob cut right back.  We have lots of logs for the wood burner, branches for building things, and a big hill of small(ish) twigs and sticks which I want to clear so I can use the space.

At the same time I'm adding in some more pathways.   The main path is gravel, but I'd rather move away from using that as it's heavy to move, and I'd prefer to use something I already have, as is the permaculture way!

I'm wondering if I can use my huge pile of twigs and sticks, has anyone ever tried that?  I do own a shredder, but I'm thinking that if I reduce the sticks too much, the paths will quickly need topping up and woodchip could be messy.

Would the twigs, as they are, form a 'forest floor' that would be comfortable to walk on, would suppress plant growth on the pathways, and would use up a resource for good purpose?

I'd love your thoughts and expertise!

Helen Siddall-Butchers wrote:Hi All from Sunny Spain (Europe)!

My forest garden is growing well, and I'm moving into the next area for development.  

Last year we had our enormous carob cut right back.  We have lots of logs for the wood burner, branches for building things, and a big hill of small(ish) twigs and sticks which I want to clear so I can use the space.

At the same time I'm adding in some more pathways.   The main path is gravel, but I'd rather move away from using that as it's heavy to move, and I'd prefer to use something I already have, as is the permaculture way!

I'm wondering if I can use my huge pile of twigs and sticks, has anyone ever tried that?  I do own a shredder, but I'm thinking that if I reduce the sticks too much, the paths will quickly need topping up and woodchip could be messy.

Would the twigs, as they are, form a 'forest floor' that would be comfortable to walk on, would suppress plant growth on the pathways, and would use up a resource for good purpose?

I'd love your thoughts and expertise!

I think it's an excellent idea.  They will still break down of course, but being on the surface and somewhat larger, it will take longer.  I think they will make a very pleasant walkway.

My mum used to cut up all the twiggy bits and put them on the paths in her garden in Oxfordshire UK. Over time it built up in to a springy forest floor path. I think she got some germination of her garden plants in there (it was a shady garden - not a permie forest garden), but they were easy to transplant to somewhere else or put in the compost. I'm trying to do the same in my front garden, with twiggy bits, prunings and any sawdust etc. It's taking a while to build up, but if you have a good amount to start with I'd say go for it.

It's a great idea! I want to try it in my new garden.

I love the idea of using broken twigs for the surface of a pathway.

Usually, when I trim hedges and other plants in the spring, I cut or break the trimming for dumping right on the paths.

This makes it so I don't have to haul the trimmings off somewhere.

I do this in my terraced front yard.
My paths are lower than my beds, but not cut off from them with any barrier.
I lay the branches lengthwise in the paths/trenches and then I use my weight to stomp them down and a pair of hand pruners to cut anything that is sticking out too much.

I think it's an excellent idea.  They will still break down of course, but being on the surface and somewhat larger, it will take longer.  I think they will make a very pleasant walkway.

Thank you!  I like the idea of them lasting longer, as I'm doing this project alone, so I prefer the 'one and done' ethos.  I'm looking forward to seeing how it feels to walk on!  I'll update on my progress.

William Bronson wrote: I do this in my terraced front yard.
My paths are lower than my beds, but not cut off from them with any barrier.
I lay the branches lengthwise in the paths/trenches and then I use my weight to stomp them down and a pair of hand pruners to cut anything that is sticking out too much.

Thats great to know William!  I had intended to break or cut the twigs and branches before laying them down, but your idea is even easier!  Thank you!

Anne Miller wrote:I love the idea of using broken twigs for the surface of a pathway.

Usually, when I trim hedges and other plants in the spring, I cut or break the trimming for dumping right on the paths.

This makes it so I don't have to haul the trimmings off somewhere.

It sounds like we're coming from the same place Anne!  I'm trying to get my workload reduced as much as possible, as I'm doing this project on my own, and there's only so much one person can do!  Thank you!

Jane Mulberry wrote:It's a great idea! I want to try it in my new garden.

Great!  I might start a new thread with update pictures; I'd love to see yours too, perhaps we can join pictures of all of the twig paths on there as a resource?

Nancy Reading wrote:My mum used to cut up all the twiggy bits and put them on the paths in her garden in Oxfordshire UK. Over time it built up in to a springy forest floor path. I think she got some germination of her garden plants in there (it was a shady garden - not a permie forest garden), but they were easy to transplant to somewhere else or put in the compost. I'm trying to do the same in my front garden, with twiggy bits, prunings and any sawdust etc. It's taking a while to build up, but if you have a good amount to start with I'd say go for it.

I love that 'springy forest floor path' idea, that's just what I'm hoping for!  It's also good to know that the plant growth through it wasn't crazy, I certainly don't want extra work in that department!  I have suggested that I make a new thread with update photos, so that we can all share our 'twig paths' as a resource, I'd love to see yours!

Quick update!

I've started on my path, at first I just put the twigs onto the ground, but then thought about weed growth, so now I'm layering thick, wet newspaper underneath.  I'm aiming for a thinnish covering to start with, until I've got the structure of the whole path, and then I'll be topping it up with prunings as I go along.

I'll add more pictures as I continue, I'd love to see your twig paths!

Helen

It looks like you have a great plan for your sticks. I did a similar thing in my garden paths, but I found that it was not sufficient coverage to stop weeds from growing in my case. I am now using a bottom layer of cardboard topped with home-made woodchips and similar seed free mulch like leaves and long grass clippings.

If you're looking for more ideas, I made a brain-storming thread about ways to use smaller sticks accrued in a forest garden situation: https://permies.com/t/155855/pile-sticks

L. Johnson wrote:It looks like you have a great plan for your sticks. I did a similar thing in my garden paths, but I found that it was not sufficient coverage to stop weeds from growing in my case. I am now using a bottom layer of cardboard topped with home-made woodchips and similar seed free mulch like leaves and long grass clippings.

If you're looking for more ideas, I made a brain-storming thread about ways to use smaller sticks accrued in a forest garden situation: https://permies.com/t/155855/pile-sticks

Thanks Lew!  I'm already regretting putting the first section down without anything underneath, but might go back and put the thick newspaper down on that bit once I've finished.  I find the newspaper works better than cardboard here as a weed suppressant, so I'm hoping the growth will be kept back long enough to get the path broken down a bit.  We only have around 600ml of rain a year, so it takes a while for things to rot down, but on the plus side, it's so hot and dry in summer that nothing grows, including the weeds!

I love some of the ideas in your thread!  I'll definitely be using some of them (if there are any sticks left!) in the creation of my next bed... Where the path bends left, up to the wall, is going to be a tear-shaped bed, which I'm hoping to build into a herb spiral, so I can definitely use excess wood to build the layers, and might even try your wattle fencing, which looks great!  Thank you for the inspiration 😊

Great! Use what works.

In my case I was worried about the ink in the newspaper here. I can't find the information from the newspaper company about what they use, so I just opted for the clearest cardboard I could find.

Helen, your paths look really great.

Consider growing some mushrooms on those paths and let them take care of what might transfer into the soil from the newspaper ink, if that is a concern.

Paths would be less of a concern rather than in a vegetable garden.

Here are some threads for others that might have some concerns:

https://permies.com/t/18887/paper-poisoning-permaculture-produce-soil

https://permies.com/t/2157/concerns-cardboard-newspaper-mulch

It looks good, Helen!

Jane Mulberry wrote:It looks good, Helen!

Thanks Jane!  😊

Anne Miller wrote:Helen, your paths look really great.

Consider growing some mushrooms on those paths and let them take care of what might transfer into the soil from the newspaper ink, if that is a concern.

Paths would be less of a concern rather than in a vegetable garden.

Here are some threads for others that might have some concerns:

https://permies.com/t/18887/paper-poisoning-permaculture-produce-soil

https://permies.com/t/2157/concerns-cardboard-newspaper-mulch

Hmm!  Lots to consider here!  I thought that the ink in Europe was soy based and *relatively* safe, but I will definitely read those threads and educate myself more on the subject.  

I'm hoping there won't be too much impact from paths, but love the idea of mushrooms growing...

I'll report back!

L. Johnson wrote:Great! Use what works.

In my case I was worried about the ink in the newspaper here. I can't find the information from the newspaper company about what they use, so I just opted for the clearest cardboard I could find.

Thank you so much for bringing this up, I'm certainly going to be reading up on the subject.  

I wonder if cardboard would work better if I watered it more often.  When I tried it before it was so rigid, because of the heat and drought, that the weeds merrily found their way between the joints.  

It's a constant learning curve!