How to Use Pea Gravel With Flagstone

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Things You'll Need

  • Landscape paint or wooden stakes and string

  • Shovel

  • Landscape fabric

  • Metal spikes

  • Crushed rock

  • Crushed limestone

  • Flagstones

  • Level

  • Pea gravel

  • Low-growing plants

Place pea gravel between flagstones for a textural contrast.

Flagstone is a strong, attractive hardscape material used for laying walkways, patios and edging gardens. You can use pea gravel between flagstones to inhibit weeds, and provide a comfortable walking surface between the larger stones. Pea gravel adds a subtle textural contrast and the same long-lasting strength and durability as flagstones. It comes in shades of gray, white and neutral color and blends seamlessly into a landscape.

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Step 1

Outline the site where you want to lay flagstones with landscape paint or wooden stakes and a string. Measure the dimensions of the outline to make sure it's wide enough to serve its purpose. If you're installing a walkway, the width should be at least 4 feet to accommodate outdoor equipment and multiple people.

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Step 2

Excavate the site to a depth of 8 inches and flatten the soil with a hand tamper. Lay landscape fabric over the soil and insert metal spikes every 4 feet to prevent weeds from growing through the pea gravel.

Step 3

Fill the site with crushed rock until the top is 2 inches from the surface. Tamp the surface down with the hand tamper and spread crushed limestone over the top.

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Step 4

Place flagstones into the limestone according to your chosen pattern, in straight rows for a formal look or fitted like puzzle pieces for a more natural look. Set a water level on the flagstones and add more limestone beneath the stones to raise the level if necessary. Lay the largest flagstones first, and place smaller stones between large gaps.

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Step 5

Pour pea gravel over the flagstone surface and press it into the spaces between the stones with a shop broom.

Step 6

Dig out the area along the flagstone walkway if you want to add a border of pea gravel or plants. Place landscape fabric over the surface and pour pea gravel over the fabric, or plant low-growing planys along the edge. Fill in holes around the roots with soil, and spread pea gravel around the plants instead of mulch.

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