Choose the location for the walkway or patio, and determine its intended size and shape. Lay ropes or garden hoses to mark the borders of the site. Walk the chosen site or path of the surface to ensure that you're happy with the location and size of the surface.
Unearth the soil to dig a hole 7 inches deep across the intended site using a standard shovel. Compact remaining loose dirt with a hand tamper until the ground feels hard under your feet.
Fill 4 inches of the foundation with 3/4-inch aggregate base. Spread the aggregate with a rake and tamp it to wedge the stones together. The gravel base improves the site's drainage and keeps the surface from sinking.
Rake a 3-inch layer of decomposed granite over the gravel base. Tamp the decomposed granite until the pieces don't shift under your feet. Add another 2-inch layer of decomposed granite down the center of the surface. Slope the sides so the center of the walkway or patio is the highest point of the surface for drainage, and tamp it down.