How to Do Stone Landscaping on a Patio

Measure the patio site with a tape measure to determine if it's large enough to accommodate your outdoor furniture and family, and small enough to be intimate and cozy. Trace the borders of the intended patio with landscape paint.

Dig up 6 inches of dirt from the site, using a shovel, and make the bottom of the area completely flat. Pack the loose dirt at the bottom with a hand tamper to stabilize the subsoil.

Pour 3/4-inch crushed recycled concrete or aggregate over the site. Compact it with the tamper until it is 4 inches thick and the irregular rocks are wedged into a solid surface.

Line the inner edges with metal or timber edge restraints, and secure them with 12-inch nail spikes. Edging keeps stones from sliding around by applying constant horizontal resistance.

Rake 1-1/2 inches of coarse-grit sand over the tamped base. The sand bedding levels the surface and causes friction against the stones.

Place the stones on the sand bedding without pressing them into the sand. Begin at the center on one side and work out to the edges, following your chosen pattern. If you're using cut rectangular pieces, leave consistent spaces of about 1/8 inch in between. For snapped stones, fit the medium-sized pieces into the spaces between the larger ones until the gaps are minimal.

Pour fine-grain sand or stone dust onto the patio and sweep it over the stones with a broom to fill the joints.