Crushed Stone Path (page 2 of 2)

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Step-by-Step Photos and Instructions

1. Lay out the path perimeter with non-kinking garden hose or rope. Make your curves gentle and natural looking. The overall width of our path varies from 30 to 38 in., including the edging. The end of the path flares out to about 4-1/2 ft.


2. Drive stakes into the ground along the perimeter -- wood shims work well -- keeping them close enough to each other to maintain smooth-flowing curves.


3. Dig out the soil 6 in. deep between the stakes. Use a square-nose spade to trim the edges neatly. Dig a deeper trench bed for the edging stones to a depth of 1 in. less than the width of your edging stones.


4. Place all the edging stones loosely in the dug trenches. Select stones with end shapes that more or less fit together. The stones come in random lengths; use the shorter lengths on the curves.


5. Dig out or fill in the trench bottom to fine-tune the leveling of each stone as you final-fit the stones end-to-end. A 4-ft. level helps you get an overall feel for the leveling, but because the stones are so irregular, you'll have to rely mostly on your own eye.


6. Anchor each stone in place by mounding a ridge of supporting dirt about 2 in. up against the inside bottom edges. Dig dirt out from the middle of the pathway for this as you need it. Stamp the dirt tight along the bottom of the stones with your feet. Then fill in with dirt behind the stones, as shown. Work the dirt tight behind the stones with the shovel edge, but don't overfill to the point of dislodging the stones.


7. Dump crushed limestone or gravel in the pathway. Level the material with a rake as you go so that you can wheel each succeeding wheelbarrow load over it.


8. Fill and level the entire path to within about 1-1/2 in. from the tops of the edging stones. Continue using a garden rake to spread and even out the material.


9. Tamp the crushed limestone or gravel with a power plate compactor. Make three or four passes. Use your feet to stamp down spots the compactor can't reach. Next, spread another layer over the already compacted layer, leveling it to about 1 in. below the tops of the edging. Then make another series of passes with the compactor.

Cutting stone

Cut the stones only where necessary to get an approximate fit. Score the stones with a wide masonry chisel and a sledgehammer on all four sides, then continue to strike along the width with the chisel until the stone cracks. Wear full-surround safety glasses and gloves.


Chip off small irregularities or protuberances as necessary for end-to-end fit. Don't get too fussy about this.

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