How to Make and Lay Concrete Garden Stepping Stones

Making and laying concrete garden stepping stones is easy, all the materials that are required are readily available at most hardware and home improvement stores.

All the tools and materials required for making your own garden stepping stones are as follows.

Large bucket

Mason's trowel

Float

Edger

Shovel

Rubber gloves

Dust mask

Molding forms

(* no less than 1 1/2 inches deep).

Vegetable oil

Fast-setting concrete mix

Sand

Polished stones, broken pottery, decorative stamps

1 x 4 inch piece of wood 3 inches longer than molding forms

Select a container for your garden stepping stone that is no less than 1 1/2 inches and no more than 2 inches thick. The thickness of your stepping stone is important to assure the stone is capable of supporting the weight of the person stepping on it in the garden.

Houseplant drainage trays are great molds for making garden stepping stones; the bottoms have elevated sections, which assist in providing a tight connection between the ground base and the stepping stone.

Cardboard boxes may be used as molds for garden stepping stones. If the cardboard is not very heavy, the corners of the box may be reinforced with silver water resistant tape to assure durability for the molding process. Trim box down prior to filling with concrete.

Fast-setting concrete mix can be tinted any color, one 40 lb bag of concrete mix will make one 18 x 18 inch garden stepping stone.

When mixing concrete, follow all manufactures instructions. Concrete mix is capable of burning, wearing a dust mask and rubber gloves is the recommended safety equipment when mixing, pouring and handling the material. If contact occurs, wash all residues from skin with a mild detergent as soon as possible to avoid injury.

The concrete for your garden stepping stone setting time is 20 to 40 minutes. The drying process can be slowed down lightly misting the surface with water, do not over saturate mix.

Concrete weakens when it is overworked. To avoid weakening the concrete stepping stone arrange all patterns before mixing the concrete for your stone.

Before you begin to pour any concrete, coat the molds with a heavy dose of vegetable oil, cover the corners and edges of your garden stepping stone mold generously.

Fill the garden stone forms with the mixed concrete and using the1 x 4 inch piece of wood 3 inches longer than mold, drag it across the top of the form to fill in gaps and remove excess concrete.

Let the concrete for your garden stepping stone set up, as the concrete sets all the heavy materials in the mix settle to the bottom of the form forcing the water to raise to the top. It is important that you do not smooth the finish of the concrete until all water is dry.

To smooth the finish, glide a clean smooth piece of wood with gentle pressure across the top of your garden stepping stone. If a les polished finish is desired, a stiff paintbrush may be used to give the concrete stone a textured surface.

Decorate your garden stepping stone using polished stones, worn pieces of glass, pottery or any ornamental item; press them into the molded concrete until firmly set. Smooth the concrete around the edges of the ornaments as desired. Large rubber stamps pressed into the concrete will embed an image or pattern into your garden stepping stone.

Let the cement dry overnight, and remove the garden stepping stones from the molds. A concrete sealer can be used to protect your stepping stones, follow all the manufacturer instructions when using a sealer.

Place the concrete stepping stone in desired location and dig out the ground below the stone. The hole must be at least 2 inches deeper than the thickness of the stone.

Example: 2 inch stone equals a 4 inch hole.

Pour a 2 inch layer of sand into each hole to compensate for the thickness of the stepping stone. Extra sand may be added to bring the garden stepping stone flush with the ground level or higher if desired.

The possibilities are endless in creating these wonderful personalized concrete garden stepping stones.