Installation of a Stepping-Stone

Purchase stepping-stones from your local hardware store or garden supply company. There are many different options to choose from, making these stones adaptable to any type of landscaping. Measure the thickness of the stepping-stone with a tape measure.

Lay the stepping-stone on the ground where you intend to place it. If you are installing more than one, do this with the other stones so you'll know what the finished product will look like.

Cut around each stepping-stone into the sod with a trowel or shovel, outlining the shape of the stone. If you are placing the stone in dirt, mark the outline with marking paint.

Move the stone out of the way, and dig out the sod or dirt inside of the guide marks you have created.

Dig down into the area, making sure you remove all the sod until the hole equals the thickness of the stepping-stone.

Lay out a small amount of sand, if the area where the stone will rest has large rocks. This will help provide the stepping-stone with an even foundation and prevent it from moving when walked on. Depending on how rocky the soil is, you may have to dig a little deeper than the thickness of the stepping-stone to make up for the sand layer. In general, ¼-inch to ½-inch of sand will suffice.

Place the stone back in the hole, making sure it is level with the surrounding ground. If it is too high, remove the stone and dig out a little more dirt. If it's too low, remove the stone and replace some of the dirt. Making sure the stepping-stone is level with the surrounding area will help ensure the stone does not wobble if too high or become overgrown with grass or weeds if too low.

Repeat this process with any additional stones, making sure each one is level.