How to Build a Stone Walk Around Pine Tree Roots

Lay a rope border around the base and exposed roots of the pine tree. The ring should cover an area about half the size of the tree's canopy, or about a 4 foot diameter from the trunk.

Lay down a second rope, spaced at least 4 feet from the first rope, making a path. The path should run around the tree. It can then veer off towards the garden or some other end point.

Unearth 8 inches of soil from the walkway site using a shovel. Dig the base so it is flat and even, then tamp it down with a tamping tool.

Cover 5 inches of the foundation with ¾ inch aggregate fill. Spread it level with the shovel and tamp the aggregate down. In addition to supporting the stones, the base allows excess water to drain beneath the walkway, preventing the area around the tree from flooding.

Line the inner sides of the foundation with metal or wood edge restraints to hold the stones in place. Sink lawn spikes through the edging with a hammer to secure it. The edging will double as a tree border, and will contain the mulch within the ring.

Pour 1 1/2 inches of bedding sand over the aggregate and rake it.

Place stones on the sand beginning at one end of the walkway. Use fieldstones, flagstones, slate or other flat paving stones. Set the larger stones first and fill in gaps with smaller stones leaving as small of a gap as possible between them. Adjust the stones until they don't wobble and lay even to adjacent stones.

Pour fine masonry sand over the stone walkway and brush it into the spaces between stones with a broom. Sand the joints help hold the stones still and block debris from building up in the cracks.

Remove any patches of grass within the tree border with a spade. Cover the area within the tree border with organic mulch. Bark, pine straw and shredded wood mulch are a few examples that will prevent erosion, stabilize ground temperature, retain moisture and add nutrients to the soil.