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You may think that creating simple stone patios is far beyond your abilities. This is not true if you have some basic experience working with concrete and have the strength or assistance available to move the stones you wish to use to create your patio. It is necessary to do some careful planning and follow instructions carefully in order to obtain good results when creating your simple stone patio. The whole process is much easier if you have some help from friends or family or hire someone to help you with the more difficult tasks.

Choose Stones:

First, you must choose the type and size of stone you wish to use for your patio. If you are going to be working primarily alone, select stones or pavers which are small enough and light enough in weight for you to move them by yourself. If you wish to use larger stones or pavers, you'll need to enlist reliable help since some of the steps must be completed without stopping for long periods of time.

Planning:

You'll need to know if there are any lines for gas, electric, or telephone under the soil where you plan to lay your patio. You can learn this information by calling your local utility companies. Determine the exact dimensions for the patio, keeping in mind that you do not want to bite off more than you can chew. In the case of do-it-yourself stone patios, it is better to tackle a reasonably sized project so you can be happy with the result rather than trying for a massive project that will be difficult to successfully complete.

The thickness of the stone or pavers you will be using when creating your stone patio will be important to your construction. Be sure to measure the stone thickness so that your bed will allow room for the stone without raising the stone higher than the doorway opening onto the patio.

Prepare the Site:

You'll need to excavate the site to a depth of 6 to 12 inches below the height of the finished patio. This means removing grass or other plants and leveling the soil using a builder's level. If necessary, ask someone to teach you how to use the builder's level to level the soil. Mark stakes at each corner and in several locations along each side so that you know exactly where the finished patio top will be located. The site will need to be compressed with a plate compactor which can be rented at a hardware rental center or a home improvement center.

Create the Bed:

Use a blend of crushed stone and stone dust, called pack, to build a bed on which your patio will rest. This is completed by laying 3-inch thick layers of pack, wetting the pack with water to reduce dust, then compact that layer with a plate compactor. Repeat this process until the top of the bed reaches a point below the finished grade mark which is the thickness of your stone plus one inch (for example, for 2-inch thick stone, the bed should remain 3 inches below the level of the finished patio top.

Spread Setting Bed:

Mix one part dry cement mix with 12 parts stone dust, adding water to create a stiff mix. Start in one corner of the bed and place concrete mix into bed over an area large enough to lay one stone. Level that portion of the bed with a hand trowel. Spread the concrete thicker than the space allowed for the dry bed because stones will settle into the wet concrete when laid. Depending on the size and weight of stones or pavers used, the settling may cause the stones to sink one-half to one inch or even more into the wet concrete. Move on to setting the stone in this concrete before spreading and leveling the concrete for the next stone.

Lay the Stone:

Place your first stone onto the wet concrete, jiggling it into the exact location desired. Place a bubble level on top of the stone. Use a rubber hammer to tap the stone securely into place, checking that it is level. Add or remove concrete as needed to get the stone perfectly level.

Once you have leveled the first stone, spread the setting bed for the next stone and lay that stone. Be sure to leave space between stones to allow for swelling and shrinking due to heat, cold, and moisture. Repeat until you have laid all the stones. Cut stones or pavers to fit those areas which are not large enough for a whole stone.

Fill Joints:

After the concrete has set, spread stone dust over the stones and sweep it into the spaces between stones to fill the joints. Spray the [patio] with water to cause the stone dust to settle and compact in the joints between stones. Spread more stone dust and again sweep it into the joints. This time, use a trowel to tamp the dust into the joints after wetting the dust. This creates a stable fill for the joints.

Finishing Touches:

If desired, you may wish to lay an edge around the stones using bricks, cobblestone, smaller stones, or other material. This is not required but can give a completed look. If using edging material, spread stone dust between the edge of the patio stones and the edge material. Wet the stone dust to settle and compact it.

Sweep off the finished patio or hose away any debris. Bring out the patio furniture, relax and enjoy the fruits of your labors. Now it's time to start planning some fun and easy patio parties for friends and family. You'll love telling them about creating your fun simple stone patio.

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If you love butterflies, you can have fun creating a butterfly garden that will attract butterflies of all species. They’ll rely on your garden as a food source and you’ll enjoy these beautiful creatures through all phases of their lives.

Butterfly Lifecycle and Anatomy

In order to understand how to create a butterfly garden, you should understand butterflies in general. They begin life as an egg which hatches into a caterpillar. The baby caterpillar eats its egg shell as its first meal and then begins feeding on the plant where it hatched. These worm-like caterpillars grow, molting or changing their skin about five times, until they are ready to become pupa and finally become an adult butterfly which emerges from the pupa casing.

Adult butterflies have mouth parts that are like long coiled tubes which, when filled with blood, extends into the flower so the butterfly can drink the nectar or other liquid such as life-sustaining water. Butterflies smell through their antenna and use this as a means of locating food sources.

Planning Your Butterfly Garden

Different species of butterflies perfect different types of nectar from different plants. To attract the most butterflies, plan your garden with an abundance of different blooming plants. Select flowering plants that will bloom at different times of day and different times of the season. Plant the flowers in clumps rather than single plants so the butterflies can easily spot the plants they crave while in flight, helping them locate your garden.

Flowering plants to include in your butterfly garden are aster, black eyed Susan, butterfly weed, day lilies, goldenrod, hibiscus, lilac, lavender, marigold, butterfly bush, daisies of all varieties, phlox, azalea, coneflowers, rosemary and verbena. Plant the flowers in arrangements that please you and that can be easily seen so that you can enjoy watching the butterflies from your window or garden seat.

Because butterflies, like all creatures, require water to survive, provide a water source in your butterfly garden. This can be a bird bath, fountain or another type of water feature. Not only will the butterflies thank you, but the birds and other creatures that have a difficult time locating water sources at some times of year will also thank you.

Sit back and enjoy your accomplishment as you enjoy a cup of your favorite drink and watch the [butterflies]that come to your beautiful garden. You’ll enjoy both the gorgeous flowers and the butterflies, too.

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Landscaping deep slopes or banks may at first seem a daunting task, but most gardeners delight in the contrast between the more traditional flat areas of a yard and the unusual designs laid down by nature. In addition to providing variety, landscaping deep slopes can turn a single space into two or more spaces and make a small area seem larger.

Groundcovers, Shrubs and Trees

Many slopes tend to be extremely dry for the obvious reason: rain falls, then it runs . . . down. The benefit of a deep, penetrating soak is lost here. However, Mother Nature has given us various plants commonly know as groundcovers that provide a “living carpet” of lushness that is low maintenance (no mowing) as well as a helpful preventive of erosion and draining problems. Their deep roots bind the soil, and their branches and leaves prevent water from running down the slope. Trees and shrubs will grow through the groundcover providing a natural mood of beauty and relaxation. Use shredded bark mulch until the groundcover is full to further cut down on weeds and to hold the moisture.

Rock Gardens

Mossy rocks and boulders with low-growing wildflowers, ferns or cactus can turn a barren slope into a picture that is worth a thousand words. Add a fountain and create a space where sights and sounds join together in nature’s most natural way.

Man-made Solutions

Depending on the grade of the grade and the location of the slope, this part of a garden or backyard can be “leveled” with a deck or used to build a staircase to entice nature lovers to venture past the obvious into other areas. Extremely deep slopes can be accented with a retaining wall to hold back soil and create spaces in front and behind it for level terraces.

Decks

Homeowners and gardeners, as well as their visitors and friends need a level space near the house for dining and entertaining or just relaxing. If the house is built on a deep slope that drops away from the house, consider building a deck from the house out over the slope. Plant tall trees around the deck to reduce the feeling of elevation above ground level.

Walk This Way

Stepping stones are a great way to build a path up a deep slope. Follow the natural contours of the slope using large flat stones at least 6-8 inches deep, overlapping the stones a few inches to increase their stability. The steps should be wide, at least two feet, with at minimum of a 20 inch flat area that is clearly visible to insure no one misses a step or trips. These stones are secured into the slope by digging out a flat bed for each, filling it with sand and water before placing the stones in their new homes. A slight sprinkling of sand and water after all stones are in place further secures them and strengthens their stability.

The Wall

Just as with any [landscaping]adventure, building a retaining wall can be something you build yourself or a project that may require professional help. Simple, modular retaining wall kits are available for the do-it-your-self landscaper. These kits contain interlocking blocks that only require a gravel base and gravel backfill with a pipe for water drainage. Trailing plants and vines can be planted on top of the wall and bushy plants, short and tall, can be planted at the base to add dimension. Or add vines between the shrubs and let then grow up the wall, adding a vertical effect to draw the attention away from eye level.

Landscaping deep slopes may require a little more muscle and a little more creativity than your average landscaping escapades, but the results can be breathtaking. Plan and design your desires on paper and watch the magic begin before your hands ever touch the dirt, and remember to retain as much of the natural surroundings as possible. God and Mother Nature are the architects of life’s most beautiful places. All we must do is enhance, nurture and appreciate what has been laid before us. They’ll take care of the rest.

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