A stone walkway has rustic charm that is ideal for a cottage garden design but is equally suitable for any natural landscape plan. (By contrast, a brick path is better suited to formal landscaping.) While stone paths sometimes are laid in mortar, this requires a concrete foundation and experience with stone masonry. A simple sandset path is much easier and is perfect for DIY installation. With this technique, the stones are simply laid onto a bed of sand, which keeps the stones stable and makes it easy to get everything level. When you're done, you can fill the spaces between the stones with sand or gravel or even plants that can tolerate foot traffic.

Plant care can be simple when you know what to look for. Below are a few key care tips for maintaining Choosing stone for a walkway is mostly a matter of taste, as any wide, flat stones will do. Most walkways are made with flagstone, which describes a shape of stone rather than a specific type of rock. It's usually best to choose a type that is locally available, as this keeps the cost down, both for the rock and the delivery. Make sure any stone you use has a natural surface and is thick enough to be strong (don't use polished stone, which is very slippery when wet). Most flagstone that is 2 to 3 inches thick is ideal. Thicker stones are stronger and heavier than thinner pieces; they're also often less expensive, due to their weight.a vibrant and healthy garden:

What You'll Need

Equipment / Tools

Stakes and string or 2 garden hoses
Flat spade
Shovel
Wheelbarrow
Hand tamp
Small sledgehammer (as needed for edging)
Utility knife
Scrap 2x4 board
Carpenter's level

Materials

Edging material (optional)
Landscape fabric and staples
Sand
Large, flat stones
Gravel, potting mix, plants (optional)

Lay Out the Walkway

Mark the path of your walkway, using stakes and string (for a straight path) or two garden hoses (for a curving path). If the walkway will be used for frequent traffic, such as a path between a driveway and a front door, make sure it is wide enough for two people to pass by each other comfortably. Small garden paths or those leading to secret nooks in the landscape can be sized for a single person. Set up strings or hoses on both sides of the path.

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