Has anyone used builders paper as the base for paths between raised beds?
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @HappyPlace . It's wonderful to have you join us and many thanks for your question.
Just to clarify, are you referring to builder's plastic?
If so, I wouldn't recommend using it as a base for pathways between raised beds. Since it's waterproof, any rain or irrigation water that lands on the path can't drain through it, which can lead to puddling and water being directed where you don't want it.
A more typical approach is to lay a permeable weed mat or geotextile fabric, then cover it with your chosen path material, such as gravel, decomposed granite or pavers. This helps suppress weeds while still allowing water to drain into the soil below. Here's a helpful guide: How to lay paving for a path.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
no I mean Builders Paper
Hi @HappyPlace,
Thanks for clarifying. Yes, builder's paper can be used as a weed suppressant beneath garden paths, and some people do use it for that purpose.
The main thing to keep in mind is that it will only provide short-term weed suppression. Being a paper product, it will gradually break down in the soil, unlike weed matting or geotextile fabric, which can last for many years.
So it really depends on what you're hoping to achieve. If you're after a temporary, biodegradable barrier while the path becomes established, builder's paper could be a suitable option. However, if you're looking for a longer-term solution with minimal maintenance, I'd recommend using a quality weed mat beneath your path instead.
@HappyPlace My 2 cents (unpopular opinion)... most weeds in gravel paths inevitably grow from seeds that land in the gravel, not from underneath. Once enough dirt and organic matter builds up between the stones, the weed mat becomes irrelevant. Then the roots grow through the fabric and you've turned a weed that's easy to pull, into one that's impossible and established its roots and you only pull the top of it.
I have a lot of kikuyu grass in my garden that I want to suppress
That certainly changes things. If you're specifically trying to suppress kikuyu, then builder's paper is unlikely to last long enough to make a significant difference. Kikuyu is extremely vigorous and will readily push through or around it once the paper begins to break down.
For a long-term solution, I'd recommend using a heavy-duty woven weed mat or geotextile fabric beneath your path material. While no barrier is completely foolproof against kikuyu, it will provide much better suppression than builder's paper and give you a far more manageable path over time.
If the kikuyu is particularly well established, it's also worth removing as much of the runners and root mass as possible before laying the weed mat.
