If your front of back yard area lacks a definitive sidewalk or designated walkway area, it can wreak havoc on your lawn. Over time, people treading through the same areas day after day with inhibit grass growth and give your yard unsightly bare spots. In order to provide a more cohesive and natural look to your yard, consider installing a stone pathway. In addition to giving people more direction when walking in and out of your home, a walkway can also add character to your outdoor living space.

Here is how you can add a stone pathway in a few easy steps.

1) Firstly, plan out the design. Some people prefer a curved path while others want their pathway straight. Decide on a shape and begin taking measurements. Once you have calculated the exact square footage of your pathway, you can begin investing in materials.

2) Secondly, choose a style. You may want a solid pathway, or you may prefer stepping stones. Some may opt for flagstone while others may prefer limestone or some other variant. Whatever you choose, make sure you invest in enough material to cover the space.

3) Thirdly, lay out the walkway to decide where you want each stone to be placed. If you want grass between each stone, like stepping stones, use a trowel to outline each stone and uproot the grass to place the stone.

4) Lastly, if you would like, add a border to create a more cohesive design. Replant any uprooted grass around the stones and clean up the area of any loose clumps of grass, soil and construction debris.

Generally this is a simple project – but it can be very time consuming if you have a particularly large yard. If at any point during the process you find you have bit off more than you can chew, however, you may want to get in touch with a landscaping professional.