On the Path of Shady Greatness – Quick and Easy Stone Walkways

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Carol A. Crotta

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Mounding groundcovers provide a spot of softness between the stones of a natural stone pathway.

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.

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Step 1: Mark the path and excavate it to a depth of 8 inches. Fill it with 4-6 inches of loose sand. Level and rake until smooth. Bed the stones into the sand, and tap them down gently, using a rubber mason’s mallet.

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Step 2: 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.

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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Come to The Garden Party and share your shaded outdoor living space with the rest of our Learn2Grow community! Post some pictures of your finished project, create a blog, or learn from our experts and other home gardeners some more ways to bring shaded beauty into your yard.

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