The Clever Hack That Makes Cleaning And Edging Stepping Stones So Much Easier

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Running stepping stones across a lawn, whether in a straight line or as a snaking path, is a great way to provide access to different parts of the yard without risking damage to the grass from heavy foot traffic. It's one of a number of DIY paver projects that can instantly elevate your yard, and if you set the top of the stepping stones at the same level as the surrounding lawn, you can usually mow straight over the top of them.

However, over time, the surrounding grass will tend to grow out over the edges of the stepping stones, ruining the clean, sharp appearance. There are a number of ways you can deal with this, and over on TikTok, robertbuilders2 has a simple but clever hack that makes cleaning and edging stepping stones a whole lot easier.

The thing that really speeds the process up is to have a long, straight board you can use as a cutting guide. In the video, the TikToker uses a wooden plank. A spare fence board would do, or a length of metal. It has to be wide enough to stand on so you can keep it in place and thick enough to guide whatever tool you're using to cut the turf. An inch or so should do. Half-moon tools, like the Colwelt Saw-Tooth Edger, are popular for the actual cutting, but there's also an essential kitchen tool you can use in a pinch.

Once the vertical cuts have been made, you may be able to pull the overlapping turf away, but some might still cling to the stepping stones. In the video, a joint scraper or a Japanese hand hoe is suggested to trim this off, but anything with a relatively sharp blade will do. Once all the grass is removed (the TikToker uses a leaf blower to finish off), the stepping stones are ready to be cleaned.

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In the video, a broom with nylon bristles is used. Any stiff scrubbing brush is okay, as long as the bristles aren't metal, because that can cause damage. As for the actual cleaning liquid, a mixture of warm water and mild dish soap is safest. Vinegar or baking soda can be used for tough stains, but they need to be diluted, as both will kill the grass if used neat.

There are lots of stepping stone ideas that can transform your garden. Choosing random-shaped pavers can look nice in a rustic setting, but keeping them edged and clean is quite time-consuming. If you choose square or rectangular ones, the job still needs to be done from time to time, but this hack makes it so much easier.