Fieldstone Walkway Base Prep: Compacted Soil, Stone Dust, No Organic Matter

Base Layers (Bottom to Top)

1. Subgrade: compacted native soil, sloped 1% for drainage.
2. Base: 4 inches crushed stone (¾-inch minus), compacted in 2-inch lifts.
3. Setting bed: 1 inch stone dust (crusher run), screeded level.
4. Stones: set firmly, tap with rubber mallet. Joints ½–1 inch.
5. Joint fill: sweep stone dust or polymeric sand into joints.

Critical Rule

Never use soil with organic matter (topsoil, compost) under stones—it decays, settles, and stones shift.