Paths Treat your walkways with respect if you want to put your best foot forward

MOST of us want weed-free paths, but some are easier to maintain than others. Slabs set in cement are easy to brush and may only need an occasional environmentally-friendly treatment to kill algae. But slabs, bricks and blocks set in sand, or bordered by gravel, as well as gravel and woodchip paths all sprout plenty of weeds after a couple of years.

When tackling weedy paths, gardeners must choose between using chemical or environmentally-friendly methods.

Too many people forget paths are as much part of the garden’s ecosystem as cultivated areas, so they need the same care. As I’ve often said, synthetic pesticides seriously damage soil and animal life. And though there is little life in a path, there is life in the soil below and rain washes the chemicals into nearby ground.

Some herbicides are more damaging to the environment than others, but the fact that manufacturers must list the active ingredients means you can check to see whether you want to use the likes of diflufenican, flufenacet or diquat. You’ll certainly find glyphosate on most lists.

Herbicides are tested by the European Chemicals Agency (ECA) on behalf of the European Union. The ECA sets strict environmental standards but if member states don’t agree to ban a particular chemical they can decide whether or not to implement a ban. Glyphosate has been under investigation since 2012 and the European Commission has agreed it can be used until the ECA presents its final review. In the meantime, the commission recommends minimal use of the herbicide in public parks, playgrounds and gardens. It should also be used as little as possible immediately before harvesting a crop.

Opinions vary on whether glyphosate is safe to use, but it’s well established that it can damage aquatic life and shouldn’t be used where there’s run-off into streams or ponds. Glyphosate acid and IPA salt of glyphosate also acidify the soil, which greatly reduces the worm population. You may want to steer clear of the chemical.

Co-formulants are added to the active chemicals in a pesticide to improve the chemical’s efficiency. Studies have shown that some co-formulants can be as damaging as the active chemical and that they significantly increase the chemical’s toxicity. The European Commission recognised this problem by proposing that the co-formulant, POE-tallowamine, should not be used. It’s designed to break down the wax cuticle on leaves, and this, in turn, makes it easier for the glyphosate to enter a plant and destroy the root system.

When I read the precautions you need to take when using herbicides, I’d sooner not run the risk. The safest solution is to don a space suit, but failing that wear goggles, a face mask, long sleeves, trousers and gloves, and be sure not to touch any plants wet with glyphosate. Frankly, I find “safe” weeding more appealing, if time-consuming.

Weeding a gravel path can be enough to put you off gardening for life. And using a traditional hoe is nearly as bad – pushing a broad blade through gravel is agonising. There are tools designed for the job, though. The pointed blade of Burgon & Ball’s Weed Slice easily cuts through gravel and weeds and is effective when drawn backwards. Alternatively, De Wit makes a diamond-shaped hoe. A flame weeder is another possibility and modern versions are easy to use. Although they do damage soil organisms in the upper levels of a path, this doesn’t affect the rest of the garden and it’s an acceptable organic technique.

PHOTOGRAPH: SHUTTERSTOCK Applying synthetic chemicals to rid paths of weeds might be less effort but the potential for damage is far greater than if you were to use a hoe and elbow grease Growing crops in different beds each year ensures better yields and healthy soil. Each...