stepping stones & new lawn

[Roger Taylor]

The following is a value judgement on stepping stones: Whether you install them before or after sodding, lawns have a way of overgrowing stepping stones and they are hell to trim around, tilt and rock over time, get mossy, and are easy to trip on, albeit quaint and rustic looking. Have you considered putting in flagstone walkways, with close-fitted puzzle pieces style, proper curving edging, and compacted baserock and sand base? Put in that way, they last for years, are easy to trim around, drain properly, and do not tilt. There are lots of how-to books on pathways in the big box stores, and I heartily advise you learn well what is needed, so even if you farm it out, you will know how to specify and supervise the work.

[Jim Beaver]

I'm getting ready to get a new lawn put in (sod, that is.) I also want to use a lot of flagstones for stepping stone walkways. Which should I put down first, the sod or the stones? I.e., lay the sod around the stones, or lay the sod and then cut holes for the stones? Just curiosity, since somebody smart is probably going to do it for me. But I thought I'd ask.

Jim Beaver

[Chris Carruth]

Put the sod down first, lay the stone in position, cut around the stone, remove stone, dig out shape, apply sand as base, tamp down stone and sod, and your done.