How to Build a Stone Path (page 2 of 2)

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Installation and Tips

Use Steps and Low Walls to Manage Sloping Sites
You can lay a stone path like this almost anywhere that’s not too steep for comfortable walking. If after laying out your path, you notice a section that seems too steep, plan on building in a step to break the path into sections that are more level. You’ll have to buy a few stones about 6 in. thick and the right length to form the step. Then level them on a bed of packed gravel and fill behind them with sand before you continue laying path stones.

If your path runs along the edge of a slope like ours, level it by digging it into the slope and building a low retaining wall. We simply stacked wall stones on a compacted gravel bed for our retaining wall, but if it’s more than a foot tall, consider stronger construction techniques.

A Sand Bed Makes It Easy to Level the Stones
Laying the stone is like assembling a big, heavy jigsaw puzzle. Spread the stones out on the ground so you can pick shapes and colors that fit. Use a wheelbarrow or a two-wheel dolly to move heavy stones, and always lift with your legs, not your back. Don’t worry about tight fits. The path will look more natural if you leave a few irregular spaces and an occasional stone jutting out into the yard.

Start laying stones against walls, steps or other established borders. Then work out and along the path. Loosely assemble a half dozen stones and stand back to take a look at the arrangement. Reposition the stones if you like, and then set these stones before moving on.

The goal for placing the stones is to keep all the tops even. Adjust the height of each stone by scooping out or adding sand. As you gain experience, you’ll be able to look at the thickness of the stone and judge how much sand to leave. We staked up string as a rough guide so that instead of waving up and down, our path dips gradually over its length to follow the natural terrain.

Complete the path by filling the joints between stones with soil mix and planting a durable ground cover. We planted creeping thyme in the larger spaces. Eventually the thyme will spread and fill the cracks for a lowmaintenance, fragrant path. Check with your local nursery for advice on durable, spreading plants for your climate. If you’d rather not grow plants, fill the spaces with mulch or finely shredded bark.