How to Landscape the Backyard by Using Stepping Stones
A stepping-stone pathway is a moderately easy way to add beauty, interest and function to your current landscape. Best of all, you can lay the stepping stones in a single afternoon. This project works well if you have an additional set of hands so recruit your spouse or neighbor to help. Then gather some tools and get started. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 1 pair of heavy gloves for lifting stones
- 1 shovel
- 1 trowel
- 1 spade with a long handle
- 12 stepping stones (purchase more if needed)
- 1 bag of dirt, gravel, mulch, sand or wood chips
- 1 tarp
Instructions
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Visualize your pathway because the first step in landscaping a stepping-stone pathway is to make sure you know where you are going. Consider where the path should begin, wind and end. A stone walkway's appeal is in how it adds interest to a landscape. Consider where you want the path to lead your guests, whether to your front door, through your herb garden or somewhere else.
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Test your pathway's stride. Walk along your imaginary path with a normal stride. At each place your foot lands, place a rock or other marker on the ground. Ask someone with an average height to do this for you if you are especially short or tall.
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Place and trace the stepping stones. Make sure to put on your heavy work gloves and lift the stones properly. Do not bend over, but lift with your legs and keep your back straight. This would be a good time to ask someone to help you. Then lay out the stepping stones at each spot where you placed a marker. Take a step back to make sure the pathway flows. Use a spade to etch around the circumference of the cement stone. Push deeply enough with the spade around each stone so an indentation is left in the soil.
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Replace, adjust and level the stepping stones. Slide each stone to the side of the cavity with two hands. Remove any surface grass, dirt or roots and relocate to a tarp. Return the stone to cavity and add dirt or sand around the stone. As the stones need to settle, add enough dirt or sand so they sit slightly above the ground. Eventually, the stones will settle flush with the ground. Moisten with water.
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Spread decorative covering between the stepping stones. You also can fill in the spaces between the stepping stones with dirt, gravel, mulch, sand or wood chips. Use a trowel to spread and smooth your decorative covering.
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Tips & Warnings
Buy stepping stones at your local home and garden store. Survey the stones available and consider yard decor and colors. Stepping stones can cost as little as $1 per stone.
