How to Lay a Fieldstone Path

Mark out the path on your grass, using spray paint. A path should be 48 inches wide for two people to walk side by side. Less traveled paths are narrower, at 36 inches. Paths which are used to transport yard machinery need to be 4 to 5 feet.

Dig out the outlined path. Use a square spade. Dig down at least 4 inches. Keep the sides as straight as possible by digging straight down.

Use a rake to smooth out the path. Make sure there are no holes or bumps and that the ground is as level as possible.

Edge your path if you want to keep it looking straight. If you want a more natural look, you may skip this step. Lay a treated 1-by-4 tight against the edges of the path. Pound a 1 foot stake into the ground, directly in front of the board, every 4 feet. For paths that curve, place 3 pieces of 1/4-inch bender board tight against the edge. Hammer in stakes in appropriate locations to maintain the curve.

Spread a layer of gravel over the entire path. The gravel needs to be approximately 2 inches thick.

Place pieces of fieldstone onto the path in the desired pattern. Vary the color, texture and placement of each stone to create a pleasant and natural-looking path. Make sure the stones are smooth on the top, to avoid tripping hazards, if the path will have high traffic. Keep the stones 3 to 4 inches apart to grow grass between them.

Fill in the gaps between the stones. To grow grass, you will need to fill these gaps with soil. Other filler options are gravel, bark or sand.