How to Design and Make Your Own Garden Stepping Stones

Round stepping stones are easy to make.

Are you tired of stepping in the mud in your garden, lawn or landscaping areas but you don't particularly like those ugly stepping stones from the retail garden nursery and home stores? Then design and make your own stepping stones to fit in with your gardening, lawn and landscaping themes. Use special features in your stepping stone designs to make them truly unique. Here's the best part: you can use the money you save to buy more perennials, shrubs --- whatever you choose!

Things You'll Need

• Stepping stone ideas that match your garden
• Grid paper sketch pad and pencil
• Measuring tape
• Scrap 3/4 inch thick plywood
• Scrap plastic, scrap galvanized 28 gauge flashing metal or heavy cardboard for edging forms
• Strong nylon string, bungee cords or plastic tape to secure forms
• Plastic bucket for mixing
• Fast-setting concrete and powdered earth tones color additive (if desired)
• Hose and water

Instructions

1. 

   Mow grass where you want the stepping stone path to go.

   Decide where you want to put your stepping stones in your lawn, garden or landscaping. If on grass, try mowing a few possible locations to help decide which path looks best. The landscape features near or adjacent to your proposed path should figure in to your stepping stone design. Simple round or square stones, for example, may be the best match for your landscaping, garden or planting bed. Or you may choose an irregular-shaped design because you want contrast. It's up to you.

2. 

   Sketch your unique design on grid paper to scale first.

   Design and sketch your ideas for the type(s) of stepping stone you want. Use grid paper and sketch to scale, meaning drawn at a specific ratio relative to the actual size of the stone. Measure the area to make sure your scale and actual size are correct.

3. 

   Use irregular-shaped stepping stone designs for interest and a natural stone look.

   Cut the edging for your stepping stone shapes from heavy cardboard, plastic sheeting, galvanized metal sheets, 1/8-inch-thick plywood or a round plastic bucket or tub. Your design determines the shape of your edge forms. Make more than one mold to save time in fabrication and quicken the process. Cut your edging material two to three inches high. This is the thickness of your stepping stone. Allow a 1/8-inch extra height at the top of the form for potential shrinkage of concrete. Be sure form edges are straight and even so they rest flat on the plywood. This helps prevent concrete seepage.

4. 

   Cut bottoms out of several cheap plastic buckets like this one for uniformly round stepping-stone forms.

   Lay out a piece of 3/4-inch scrap plywood that is larger than your stepping stone design. Place it in a sunny area on a flat surface, such as a concrete driveway, patio or walkway. Place your stepping-stone forms in the center of the plywood. Make sure form edges are flush with the plywood surface, with no gaps. Secure end edges of form together with heavy-duty nylon string and/or bungee cords --- wrap the string/cords around forms at least twice. When placed in forms, the weight of the concrete puts slight pressure on the form pieces. Test the form strength by pulling opposite sides of the form away from each other. If the ends stay secure and the form holds its shape, you are ready for step 5. If they pull apart, consider using a stronger edging material or tying the ends more securely.

5. 

   Large plant leafs will give a dramatic design effect to your stepping stones.

   Place special surface features like twig impressions on the plywood before placing concrete in forms; this will be the exposed surface of your stepping stone once it has dried. Pebbles, stones and large plant leafs can also add character to your stepping stones. Anything organic from your landscaping environment could tie in your stepping-stone design with your garden. Use double-stick tape to attach materials to the plywood form. Gather extra items in case some are lost in the mold-making process. Add colored pebbles to the top of the form by simply sticking them into freshly poured concrete. Use clear strong glue on stones that fall out when forms are removed.

6. 

   Your stepping-stone design might include a colored pebble surface like this.

   Mix concrete and water in the plastic bucket per the concrete manufacturer's instructions. Make sure it is just fluid enough to pour from the bucket. Add a color dye to the concrete during mixing for another special design effect. Then pour concrete carefully so you do not disturb any features like twigs, leaves or pebbles you have placed on the wood form. After 48 hours, when concrete has set properly, remove the mold. Place in location and enjoy!

7. 

8. 

Tips & Warnings

• Make more than one form to save time.

• Check the weather forecast and wait for a three-day period for sunshine.

• In colder climates, cover newly placed stepping stones with layers of burlap to protect against frost and freezing until concrete sets, which takes about a week. Option: Use hardener additive in concrete mix to hasten the concrete curing. Ask your supplier of concrete mix for recommendations on what to use.

• Clean up concrete spillage or residue in forms (if any) prior to starting next form and wash out bucket before mixing.

References

• How to make garden stepping stones
• Making garden stepping stones
• Step-by-step directions for making stepping stones

Resources

• Custom pavers and stepping stones