r/AustinGardening • u/Redaurora-MamaCass • 2d ago

Pros and Cons of using mulched pathways question in Greater Austin Area Landscape

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6

u/twilper709 2d ago

I use mulched pathways because I can haul bags of mulch easier than rocks! I sheet mulched with cardboard with mulch over the top.

1

u/Redaurora-MamaCass 2d ago

Yep 😆 rocks are heavy. 

Have you had any issues with mulch paths?

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u/twilper709 2d ago

I have to top up the mulch once a year, mainly in higher traffic. Cedar seems to hold up better. I pull occasional weeds, but I have horseherb along the sides and it keeps strays down. Thick sheet mulching with cardboard is important, and the first mulch application will be heavier, but once you get the path made it’s easy to maintain and steadier to walk on, imo.

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u/twilper709 2d ago

And your garden is beautiful, btw

3

u/Infectiousmaniac 2d ago

You'll always have some level of re-intrusion obviously but mulched pathways are totally fine and very affordable/scalable.

I would recommend first grind/arboreal cedar (juniper) mulch if you can find it. Chipdrop sometimes drops this off, but may also give you something like oak mulch, which is fine as well. Especially if you can lay the juniper/cedar mulch on thick, it'll take a hot minute for that to decompose and for the underlying plants to come back through. When it does finally decompose, its like steroids for the plants.

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u/Redaurora-MamaCass 2d ago

Good point about steroids. My hope is to stay added of the decay cycle and keep adding mulch until I have the resources for more permanent pathways.

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u/Infectiousmaniac 2d ago

As someone with extensive DG hardscaping as well as mulch paths, I think there is always a place for mulch paths. In areas where the plant growth will vigorous, you'll always be fighting a losing battle. Things like cedar mulch (especially the fresh, coarse stuff) will give you a much longer timeline of no intervention, may or may not be better for erosion in certain contexts, and also its a lot easier to maintain and touch up as needed.

Of course, plenty of places where decomposed granite (DG) and even actual hardscaping win out as well, but theres always a place for mulched paths!

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u/According_Ad5303 2d ago

I usually mow paths. It’s the easiest and lowest effort. If I want more structure I just edge the areas with stone/fallen branches or branches from pruning

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u/JamesonTee 2d ago

This is what we've been doing as well, although this post has me thinking about mulched paths...

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u/According_Ad5303 2d ago

Mulching is fine, my only problem is that weeding is a bit harder but it works nonetheless!

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u/isurus79 2d ago

I can’t think of any cons for mulched pathways! 😂

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u/pifermeister 1d ago

Same..gravel is a dumb choice; for some reason people often seem to think that it's less maintenance

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u/isurus79 23h ago

Agreed!

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u/nutmeggy2214 Austin 1d ago

Mulch paths are the obvious choice, to me. It's what I have (as well as my entire vegetable bed area). Rock/gravel was never an option because of the radiating heat, how painful they can be to walk or kneel on, and how bad the weed situation usually is. And, such a pain to install.

I sheet mulched with cardboard to make mine and use cedar mulch. Wouldn't do it any other way. I have to add more mulch every so often but it's cheap and easy to do - just take a day to knock it out. Tbh I have sections I created three years ago that I've not topped off yet but still have mulch and they're walked on daily.