How to create garden path with stepping stones and pebbles?

Question

Heya. I am hoping to make some garden paths in our back yard. Our border collie decided where they need to go, and I am going with the "if you can't beat them, join them" attitude. (See first pic, an example of what she has already made). I also have quite a bit of black pebbles (around 100kg I think), collected from aroundthe pool area, as we will be grassing that. So, ideally I would be using them between the stepping stones, as I already have so many of them. I originally wanted to create a mosaic sort of path out of them and white pebbles, but they are not uniform in size and might not be fun to step on. My questions are: should I concrete the whole thing in? And, should I edge? Really don't like the plastic edging, and metal seems harsh to accidentally step on… Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

MitchellMc · Answer

Not a newbie question at all — it’s exactly the right thing to be asking, @AnyaKarma.

For compacting the base, you have two main options:

For a small garden path, a hand tamper is perfectly fine. It’s a heavy flat steel plate on a handle that you lift and drop repeatedly to compact the crushed rock or road base. It’s slower and more physical, but for stepping stone paths it’s usually more than adequate.

If the path is longer or you’re going to be widening the area, you can hire a plate compactor. It compacts much more efficiently and gives a very solid base.

Mitchell

AnyaKarma · Answer

thanks again! Final (?) question- to compact the base, do I need a special tool? (I’m envisioning a smaller version of a road “roller”). I know it’s a very newbie question, but I haven’t tackled a project like this before…

MitchellMc · Answer

Yes, you would still set each stepping stone individually on its own mortar bed, @AnyaKarma. Even if you’re doing a continuous base underneath, it’s best practice to lay a small mortar pad for each stone so you can tap and level them properly. Aim for roughly 20–30mm of mortar thickness under each stone, adjusting as needed to get them level and stable. Make sure you’re working over a compacted base (road base or crusher dust) so everything has proper support underneath.

For the pebbles, you don’t need a thick mortar layer. You’re not “burying” them — just locking them in. A 10–15mm layer of mortar is usually enough. Spread it between the stones, then press the pebbles into the surface so about half to two-thirds of each pebble is embedded, leaving the tops exposed for texture. You want them seated firmly but still visually prominent.

A couple of helpful tips:

* Work in small sections so the mortar doesn’t skin over before you press the pebbles in.
* Keep the mortar slightly recessed below the top of the stepping stones so water doesn’t pool.
* Gently sponge excess mortar off pebble faces before it fully sets.

That approach will give you a stable surface without loose stones migrating into the lawn.

Mitchell