How to Make a Stone Walkway

A stone walkway is a beautiful accessory to your backyard that also serves a purpose. When the winter weather sets in the rain, ice and snow can be very messy. It’s difficult to not track mud and debris into your home this time of year but a stone walkway can make a difference. By building a walkway, you’ll create a stone pathway to the areas you travel the most and reduce the amount of debris that gets tracked into your home.

Making a stone walkway is not very difficult but it does require some planning and physical work. The steps below will help you get started:

• Determine where you want the walkway to be. Consider this very carefully because once the walkway is finished, you don’t want to have to make changes.
• Once you determine the path the walkway will follow, use stakes and string to mark it out. Then take a look at the outline to determine if it looks the way you want it too and if this is truly where you want the walkway to be. If you like the way it looks, use a ruler to determine how many feet the path will cover.
• Decide what type of stones you want to use and determine how many you’ll need by dividing the size of the stone into how many feet you need to cover.
• Use a spade, shovel and any other tools needed to level out the ground where the stones will be placed and to dig down far enough to make the walkway level.
• Placing landscape fabric down before laying the stone will help to reduce weed growth later.
• Start laying the stones and use a carpenter’s level to make sure they’re flat and easy to walk on.

Buy a few extra stones in case one gets cracked when putting them down and so you’ll have them later if needed. A stone walkway will greatly enhance your backyard, help keep the mud out of your home and add to the value of your property.

Beautiful Backyard Walkways

Your backyard is a haven for you to relax and enjoy life.  Beautiful backyard walkways can add even more to your yard and make it more special.  You can use these ideas for inspiration of what you can do in your own yard.

If you’re like many people then you’re more of a visual learner.  One of the best ways to find the right kind of walkways to fit your style is to actually see them.  Suddenly the inspiration will hit and you’ll say, “that’s it!”  You can find plenty of ideas in the various landscaping publications that are out there.

Another way to find great looks for your walkway is to browse through real life yards.  Since you don’t want to be caught looking through random people’s backyards, you’re safest to visit the homes of friends and family for ideas.

There are also pictures of walkways online.  You’d be surprised at the number of people who post proud pictures of their own backyards on message boards and websites.  This is a great way to get inspired.

You have a couple of choices for the actual creation of your walkway.  Your first is to hire a professional landscaper.  Feel free to show them pictures of what you want and to ask them for their opinion about what your yard and budget can handle.

Another option is to do it yourself.  Many people feel a sense of pride in doing their own landscaping.  You can also save money this way, but keep in mind that you’ll be trading the expertise.  It’s still something you can on your own with the right planning.

As with most things you build or put together, you need to come up with a blueprint.  Always take exact measurements of the area you have and the walkway you want to put in.  This definitely isn’t as complicated as it sounds!  You just want to be sure everything will fit properly and look nice.

The materials are also an essential part of the planning.  If you’re putting the backyard walkway in yourself you’ll have to order it all from a garden center or specialty shop.  Pay close attention in choosing materials that will stand the test of time.  If you’re using a landscaper they may take care of ordering the materials on their end.

Beautiful backyard walkways are must haves.  Getting inspiration is half the battle.  Then you can have one for your own yard and watch the compliments pour in.