Stone Walkway | Create Stone Path | Easy Garden Path Project: Gardening

Helping You Become a More Successful Gardener

Natural stone walkways are an appealing addition to any shade setting. They invite visitors to stroll through the shade garden, and they provide easy access for maintenance. Simple stone-on-sand paths are easily installed in a weekend and require few tools and skills. You can soften your new path by planting a spreading groundcover between the stones and allow it to fill in the spaces. Follow the steps shown in the pictures and described in their captions to create an attractive walkway that leads to garden greatness.

Stone Path - Step 1

After laying all the stones, sweep sand into the spaces between them using a push broom. Soak the area with misted water to settle the stones, then with a little soil, plant groundcovers in the joints between the stones.

Stone Path - Step 2

Stone Path - Step 3

At the margins of your path, prepare the soil for planting by adding amendments and organic compost. Loosen and rake the bed.

Stone Path - Step 4

Set taller plants to the rear, away from your path, and place shorter species near the edges. Depending on the effect desired, plants may overgrow on the path or create a distinct path edge along the border.

Facts

Hostas make fine counterpoints to ferns and mosses, and midsize varieties mound beautifully along path edges.

Tips

Make sure that the stone chosen for your walkway has adequate texture to avoid becoming slippery when wet, and that it drains sufficiently to prevent moss from forming on the tread. Shade pathways will often remain damp for extended periods compared with those in full or partial sun.
As you might imagine, water evaporates at a much slower rate in a shade garden than in a sunny one. Falling leaves from overhead trees, when properly composted, can often act as water-retentive mulch and further increase the water retention of a shade garden.
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On the Path of Shady Greatness – Quick and Easy Stone Walkways