How to Lay Flagstone in the Dirt With a Weed Barrier

Mark out the location for the flagstones using lawn flags planted around the perimeter of the area. Cut a line around the perimeter between the flags, using a spade to get through any ground cover.

Remove all ground cover, including any bushes and grass, inside the flagged perimeter. Use a spade to dig a 4-inch foundation for the flagstones within the perimeter. Remove the marker flags from the perimeter.

Compress the soil with a plate compactor to prevent any shifting beneath the flagstones once you install them.

Place a line of steel edging strips along the perimeter. Secure the edging strips by driving steel spikes through the holes along the strips into the dirt. Cut the strips with tin snips if you require a partial strip for the perimeter. The spikes should overlap the top of the edging strips, holding them in place for the flagstone placement.

Lay a layer of the weed barrier along the bottom of the hole. Landscape filter fabric works well as a barrier, preventing all plant growth under the flagstones. Cut the barrier along the edges of the hole using a utility knife.

Place a layer of gravel, 2-inches deep, into the bottom of the hole. Compress the gravel with the plate compactor. The layer of gravel serves as both a stable support surface for the stones, as well as acting to drain water away from the stone bottoms.

Place the flagstones onto the gravel layer, arranging them so that they fit with about 1/4 to 1/3-inches of space between them. Press the flagstones firmly into the gravel layer so that the tops of the stones are level with the surrounding ground and run level to each other.

Fill the spaces between the stones with sand. Sweep the sand over the tops of the stones into place, then clear the excess from the face of the stones to complete the installation.