Such rigid standards are not appropriate to most landscapes-nor, many would argue, are they realistic for agriculture or golf courses, given the large amounts of pesticides, fertilizers, water and other resources required to maintain such standards. The bottom line is to recognize that the presence of some weeds is not only inevitable, but actually good for the garden. Designing to minimize weed growth can be as simple as installing permanent barriers over the soil or as complex as configuring a planting plan based on ecological relationships among plants to prevent weeds from dominating. Paths and walkways can also serve as mow strips. One important design tip regarding mow strips is to use curves whenever feasible and avoid right angles.
Curves allow mowers to navigate easily along mow strips, and saves both labor time and fuel costs.
Roofing paper can also serve as a weed barrier. Dig pathways about six inches deep, then add the sawdust. Not only is it usually available free for the hauling, but microorganisms attempting to decompose the sawdust tie up soil nitrogen, rendering it unavailable for weed growth. In this sense, sawdust acts as an herbicide. Therefore, remember to use it only on paths, not as a mulch on planting beds.