By creating bed paths, you can create practical access points and add structure to your beds – and that’s how it works!
24.01.2025
The way in which bed paths are created depends on the surface used. For example, if you want to create bed paths with bark mulch, you should first mark the edges of the path, dig out the path, press it down, add a weed barrier and bark mulch, and then smooth and press the mulch layer down.
The width of the paths between the beds depends on whether they are main or secondary paths.
In principle, a width of 60 to 80 centimetres is suitable for main paths, a width of 30 to 40 centimetres for secondary paths and 15 to 20 centimetres is sufficient for maintenance paths.
Paving or grid stones, gravel, bark mulch, roof tiles or old wooden planks are recommended as a surface. For a particularly resource-efficient garden path, simply reuse old material leftovers from the garage or workshop – and it’s also inexpensive.
When you create paths between beds in your kitchen garden, you not only improve accessibility, but also make garden planning and work easier. In addition, a garden path can also serve as a decorative element for framing beds.
Firstly, you should consider whether you want to create permanent or variable paths. Permanent garden paths can be paved with bricks or natural stones, for example. If you want to change the paths more often and design them variably, you should do without a fixed floor covering. Bark mulch or wood chippings are a sustainable and water-permeable natural material and have the advantage as a path surface that no areas are sealed.
A distinction is made between different types of bed paths, which you should be familiar with:
STIHL tip
When creating and designing a bed, it is worth drawing a plan of where the main and secondary paths should run. Of course, this also applies to paths between raised beds. This ensures that you end up with good access and a coherent overall picture.
Before you start creating bed paths with mulch, you should get the necessary material and tools and have suitable protective equipment ready. The following list gives you a quick overview:
Working with high-performance power tools is fun and allows you to broaden your skills, which is great if you can rely on effective and safe protective clothing.
Always wear your personal protective equipment when working with STIHL power tools. Find out more in the owners manuals for your products. Before using your power tool for the first time, fully familiarise yourself with it and ensure that it is in flawless condition before each use.
On request, your STIHL dealer will be happy to prepare your power tool for its first job, and will also advise you on models and sizes of protective clothing that you can try on at your leisure. Please remember that personal protective equipment is no substitute for safe working.
The following instructions explain in 6 simple steps how to create bark mulch bed paths in your garden.
First mark the two sides of the planned main path with stakes and planting string and ensure that there is sufficient path width between the beds. Here we have chosen a path width of 40 centimetres, but your path can also be wider.
Use the spade to mark the course of the main path 10 to 15 centimetres deep. This step is also carried out for any secondary paths at the same time: A branching secondary path that is approximately 30 centimetres wide should be excavated at a depth of approximately 15 centimetres.
To make the bed paths stable, you should press firmly on the soil with your feet.
Now lay out the weed control fabric along your bed paths. To do this, you should first cut it to the appropriate size (for example 40 x 300 centimetres for the main path) using scissors. The weed control fabric prevents weeds from spreading on paths in the bed and should be replaced every three years.
Use the spade to spread out a layer of approx. 10 cm of bark mulch along the path. At the end, the mulched path should be approximately at the same height as the top layer of soil in the bed. Remember to replace the bark mulch layer as required, because it will rot over time. Here you can find out more about how to mulch lawns and beds correctly.
STIHL tip
To create a path through the bed, you can easily make the mulch yourself by shredding shrub or tree cuttings with a garden shredder.
Finally, use the rake to smooth out the bark mulch layer and press it down with your feet to ensure an even path.
Below you will find some tips and suggestions for creating individual bed paths. Feel free to choose a style that suits your taste and garden, so that the bed paths blend harmoniously into the overall look of your garden.
For neatly framed paths, you can make your own bed edgingto give your paths in the bed structure – for example, with a wooden bed edging, a stone edging or a natural bed border made of plants.
If you build a wooden walkway yourself, for example from roof battens placed next to each other, you can walk quickly through your vegetable patch without trampling plants. It is also advantageous that wood can be easily moved and removed.
Bed paths with lawn lattice stones are not only robust and resilient, but also quite environmentally friendly because no areas are sealed – rainwater can still run off and weeds can thrive between the stones, which benefits a bee-friendly garden.
