MisterPondSince 2000
The pond / Projects

The garden path

A stone-look garden path poured in place with a reusable plastic form, with Bill's step-by-step instructions.

The finished garden path
Pouring with the form, next to finished blocks
How-to

How to build it

Built with a plastic path form about 18 x 18 x 1.5 in. The edges look irregular but the blocks interlock side by side.

  1. Dig out the path so the top of the form sits level with the soil, or a little higher. In sandy soil that is all the prep it needs.
  2. Mix 2 bags of sand and cement mix in a wheelbarrow, then add the dye and mix well. Keep it stiff, not soupy.
  3. Fill the form, work the mix into every edge, and let it stand 5 to 10 minutes, until the form lifts off without the cement drooping.
  4. Move the form next to the blocks you just poured and repeat.
  5. About 2 days later, sweep a light dirt and sand mix into the gaps. It looks like it has been there for years.
2 bags mix = 3 fills of the form Dye: Terra Cotta, 1/3 bottle per 2 bag batch Tip: the full dose on the bottle comes out flower pot orange