Mulch, mulch, mulch!
...Mulching your paths, seating and play areas This is a great way to repress weeds, keeps down dust and mud and make your yard look tidy. It is also fundamentally pleasant to walk on a path of mulch. Mulch used in open spaces like this can be applied fairly thickly, say 5″ (13 cm), so you have a solid layer which resists foot disruption and smothers the weeds. There’s no need to put anything under the mulch in these situations–not cardboard or newsp...