How to Lay Garden Steppers

Lay out two lengths of rope to indicate your pathway, from beginning to end. Adjust the ropes in the places where you want the pathway to curve or turn.

Place the stepping stones on the ground, using the ropes as a guideline. Position the stones side by side, or leave a small space between them. Drive a flat shovel around the perimeter of each stone to create an outline.

Remove the stepping stones. Dig out the marked area for each stone, using the shovel. Make the depression deep enough for the stone to fit, with 1 inch of the stone sitting aboveground. Add a small amount of sand around the perimeter of each depression to create a border for each stone.

Fill the holes with a small amount of sand. Smooth the sand with your hands to make the area flat. Set the stepping stones on top of the sand and stand on each one. Check for rocking or signs that the stones are moving. Add more sand to level the stones if needed.

Test the strength of the garden steppers by walking across each one. Add more sand to even out any spots that aren't level. Sweep the stones with a broom to remove any traces of sand on the surface.