What can I do to my garden?

[Scarlett]

I need a low maintenance and cheap solution. I have two small patios and the rest is borders/shrubs and gravel, laid on a sheet. Grass and weeds have grown on the gravel and now the whole lot needs chucking out as weed killer makes no difference!
What would be cheaper- more paving slabs, concrete or just turn the gravel bits into dirt and plant a whole load of shrubs instead? Thanks!

[Whoever]

I don't think more paving is a good idea. It could make your garden vulnerable to flooding in periods of heavy rainfall because there will be nowhere for the water to drain away. The moment you put soil down and plant more shrubs, you will immediately put yourself into an endless cycle of weeding and pruning. Have you thought about removing the gravel and covering it with forest bark. This is a substance that will enable drainage, it won't get dirty like gravel and in due course it will slowly decompose and you can top it up with more. If you think this will look stark on its own, invest in two or three very large decorative pots and plant them with some variegated evergreen shrubs to add all year round colour and interest. . Also if you ever have to move house and somebody else wants to do something with the garden, the area covered by forest bark will be easily deal with, without large areas of paving stones or concrete having to be dug up and removed.

[Scarlett]

This is a great idea, but my problem is all the weeds and grass that grow in the gravel, and I imagine the same would happen with bark bits?

[pug100]

Best thing to stop weeds in this case is to use weed suppressing membrane available from diy stores and garden centres. It'll stop weeds coming through the gravel or bark but allows water to drain away no problem.
This is an example of the stuff

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?acti on=detail&fh_secondid=9219232&fh_view_size=6&f h_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB&fh_search=w eed&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_refview=search&ts=1209747 278205&isSearch=true

[Scarlett]

Yep, had one of those put down before the gravel. 4 years on and grass and plants are growing ON the membrane!

[Marymint]

Make up a strong solution of weed killer in your watering can, and douse the gravel. Repeat as necessary. Marymint.