A stone walkway is the perfect complement to any landscape design. Not only does it provide a functional way to traverse your property, but it also lends a rustic charm that is sure to make your landscaping feel like an idyllic country garden. Better yet, you can install a simple stone walkway in your property in just one weekend, making it an easy DIY project that can have a major impact on the appearance of your landscaping. Our experts at Complete Landscaping are here to share their tips for building a stone walkway.
Choose The Right Stone
When choosing the stones for your walkway, be sure to choose stones that are wide enough to step on and flat enough to safely walk across. The stone should have a natural surface that provides a grip for walking. Stones with polished surfaces are not suitable for stone walkways, as they become very slippery when wet and could lead to accidents. Many people find that flagstone is an ideal choice for a stone walkway, and this type of stone is usually easy to find at an affordable rate.
Create Your Path
Once you’ve decided where you want to place your stone walkway, it’s time to plot it out. Using a few stakes and some string, you can easily map out the layout of your walkway. You can make your path as narrow or as wide as you like. Once you’re happy with the layout, you’ll need to excavate the path to create a flat surface for placing the stones. Remove all the grass, vegetation, and other greenery using a spade or sod cutter. Once the plant life has been removed, dig out the soil to a depth of around 5 inches for an even surface.
You can also choose to install an edging material on the side of your new stone walkway. Examples include wood timbers, plastic brick pavers, or even galvanized metal.
Lay Down Your Stones
Before laying down your stones, add a layer of sand and tamp it down using your feet or a shovel (some people choose to use landscaping fabric between the soil and the sand layers). Once the sand is ready, lay out all your stones so you can see which ones will go best in which position. There’s no right or wrong way to arrange your stones, so you can experiment with different shapes to see which one you like best. Make sure each stone is stable and will not rock from side to side when stepped on. You can add extra sand or soil beneath stones that are not totally even to balance them out.
Contact Our Team at Complete Landscaping in Tucson Today!
If you’re looking to add a stone walkway to your landscaping, but you’d rather leave it to the landscaping experts, contact our team at Complete Landscaping today. With years of experience designing and installing stunning landscapes in the Tucson area, we’re the perfect team to add a stunning stone walkway to your property’s outdoor space. Contact us today to learn more about our landscaping services and schedule your consultation!