How to Lay Pavers Around Plant Beds

Browse the different types of pavers available. The color of pavers can complement the color of your home or provide a contrast to the color of your flowers. Consider large pavers for a large plant bed or a garden with oversize shrubs.

Use wood stakes to outline the shape of the border. Place a stake at each corner, a few inches farther from the plant bed than the width of your pavers. For instance, if your pavers are 6 inches wide, space the wood stakes about 8 inches from the plant bed to ensure your border is wide enough.

Dig out 4 inches of grass and soil from the area between the string and the plant bed.

Compact the ground with a compacting tool such as a hand tamper. This prevents pavers from sinking and ensures that your border will be level.

Spread 1 inch of sand over the trench. Use the flat side of a rake to spread the sand evenly.

Place the pavers in the trench as closely as possible along the perimeter. Tap each paver with a rubber mallet to press it firmly into the sand. Use a level as you go to keep them even with one another.

Lay a second layer of pavers on top of the first if you want to raise the level of the plant bed more. Place each second-layer paver so it overlaps two beneath it.

Add additional layers of pavers until you reach the desired height. Refer to the manufacturer's instructions on maximum recommended height if you plan to build more than four layers.

Fill in any gaps between the existing plant bed and the pavers with native top soil. The height of the soil should not be more than 2 inches higher than the pavers.