Creating a Stepping Stone Path
A path made of garden stepping stones can be constructed in a couple days’ time with some simple tool. While stepping stones vary in material and size, they are generally quite cost effective. Material selection includes: interlocking plastic resin, solar powered illuminating stones, rubber, cast iron, concrete, sandstone and many more. Stepping stones are pre-formed into shapes like circles, squares and hexagons which fit snugly side-by-side. A freestyle path can be created by breaking the stone apart and orienting the smaller pieces. The following steps show you how to create a path of your own:
Suggested Tools:
Long shovel, hand shovel, gloves, tarp, level, hand trowel, garden stepping stones and builder’s sand
Step 1: Marking the Path
The width of the path-to-be should be clearly marked using two pieces of string. Curved paths can be created by first eyeballing the curve and then measuring with yardstick to create equal spacing along the path. Straight paths are fairly self-explanatory. You should ask yourself, “How wide should the path be to comfortably walk?”.
Step 2: Initial Layout
A conventional stepping stone layout places a single stone at a comfortable stride distance. The typical walking stride is 18 inches between steps. Another option is to create a wider path with stepping stones filling up the entire walkway, leaving a small space between each stone. The downside to the full-path method is that more material and labor is needed.
Step 3: Marking the Ground
Using a sharp ended trowel, outline the edges of each stone into the ground. Be careful not to disturb the position of the stones, but make the markings deep enough to see clearly. Once every stone has been outlined, you move them to the side.
Step 4: Digging
Use your shovel to remove the outlined area of soil/sod. The depth of the hole should be shallow enough to pour 1 inch of sand into it while letting about 1 inch of stone stick out above the soil line after being placed in.
Step 5: Adding the Stones
Now you can pour your builder’s sand into each hole to a depth of 1 inch. Fit the stones into their respective holes and use your level to check for levelness. Press down on the stone with your hand or foot to check for instability. Add or remove sand as needed until each stone is set perfectly. Pack soil around the edges of the garden stepping stones and tap firmly.
Step 6: Maintenance
Stepping stones have a tendency to shift and tilt over time. Since they are not permanent, you can easily lift them up and adjust their position with sand. Following installation, give them a good sweep and/or spray-down.
Tip: Splitting Stones
Solid rock and concrete stepping stones can be split by hand for a freestyle approach and to create end-stones. Here are the steps:
- Lay the stone onto the lawn or other soft surface.
- Wet the stone front and back with water from the hose.
- After applying safety wear, use a chisel and hammer to etch out a line across the stone’s face. The chisel should point in the direction which you want the stone to split. Gentle tapping is all that is needed.
- Wet the stone once more.
- Position the chisel back at the starting point and give it a good hit. The stepping stone should begin to split.
- Follow the path of the line, propagating the crack from one end to the other until the stone becomes two.
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