"peterlsutton" wrote in message
...

"Broadback" wrote in message
...
I am about to make quite a lot of path round my raised beds. I intend
laying weed suppressing fabric then pebbles on top. Apart from being
clear for walking it will (I trust) stop the weeds from the area
surrounding the beds migrating into the beds themselves. However
pebbles specifically for paths seems to me rather expensive, can I use
ordinary builders pebbles successfully? Also any ideas on quantity
required, for, say, a square meter?


Yes you can, its excellent. I went through this exercise a couple of
years
ago. Builders usually supply 10 mm gravel for adding to concrete and a
larger 20 mm gravel. You will probably want the larger, but go and have a
look. You can buy it by the ton, which is not as much as it sounds. It
comes in a non returnable bag (big!) and should be delivered free if you
are
not too far away. The cost will be £26 or just over.

This is sound advice. We did exactly the same. I use the 10mm around the
ponds and beds as mulch and 20mm for paths around the beds. Once it is
rinsed it looks just great. Bagged aggregate from DIY centres is a huge
rip-off.
The "Hag Bag" that it's delivered in makes a useful compost bin since it
both contain the compost yet drains and breathes a little. We also use them
to make leaf mould and collect horse muck from the local stables. (In a
trailer, not the car ;o) )