What is under the stones?
this post was submitted on 24 Apr 2026
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Last year I laid out cardboard to clear the underlying grass and weeds. This year I tilled that up and flattened the earth, added about 1.5" (3.81 cm) of levelling sand and tamped that down to compact it. On top of the sand I did a layer of pine bark mulch to doubly prevent weeds and promote moss growth between the stones (moss likes acidic surfaces). I think I'll put some more mulch and sand down and sweep it into the cracks when I have the rocks all fitted together a little tighter.
"..about 3.81 cm" is amusingly contradictory - that's an oddly specific measurement. Still, I genuinely appreciate you doing the conversion for us.
Good catch! haha
I refuse to believe that OP was not down there with a ruler and magnifying glass to ensure accuracy.
This got me laughing way more than it should
I’m going to try mulching between our stones to promote moss growth
My partner has been collecting rocks and we’ve been building fun garden rock paths.
I wanted to use cedar for the smell but it seems the oils in cedar prevent moss growth. Pine does double duty in weed prevention and raising acidity. You could use sphagnum moss but that might end up encouraging mold.
Of course one could trest it like a terrarium/paludarium and put springtails in your greenhouse.
Uh-oh. I might have just added a lot more work to my plate. We were already planning on a container pond but maybe now we'll make it a full on mini-ecosystem in there.
GIANT ISOPOD TERRARIUM
Want.
Nice
Thanks. We'll see in a year or so how well my plan works.
I’m also curious about this. I have a lot of outdoor projects similar to this coming up later this summer and I’ve never done pavers!
Did the same a few years back:
If you happened to buy a similar greenhouse from Amazon, I would suggest also purchasing these: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07P7VZV2C - that way the vents open as the greenhouse heats up. They have worked perfectly for years.
Wow those are amazing! Thanks for the tip.
Your greenhouse looks great! That actually looks very similar to the one I'll be putting up.
Thanks! Some tips:
- Glue/seal the panels, it'll help with strong winds.
- We're in Canada, so ymmv, but the first year, heavy snows collapsed some of the roof panels into the greenhouse. Resolved by adding 1x2 strapping across the roof. We recently added some inside as well.
- It took me and a 10-year-old helper the better part of a day to get it done. You will need a second set of hands at various stages, so ensure your partner/kid/friend can help.
Enjoy! My wife loves hers.
This was a present for my wife as well.
Had not considered the gluing of panels. What kind of glue did you use?
Our son needs to work off car repair money so I'll have another pair of hands.
We're in the midwest US so we can get heavy snow. What is the strapping you reinforced it with?
Oh, and already ordered those automatic hinges.
Thanks for all the tips!
I used something like this, externally, once the panels were in place: https://www.homedepot.ca/product/dap-kwik-seal-ultra-advanced-sealant-for-kitchen-bath-clear-162-ml-squeeze-tube-/1001000752 - it wasn't this exact product; I think I found something that said outdoor on it. Honestly any clear outdoor caulk would probably do.
Strapping I used these: https://www.homedepot.ca/product/1000173739 - might be overkill, but I had a bunch in stock so I just used what I had. Used self-tapping screws to secure them to the metal frame. You can sorta see them on the outside of the roof in my first picture.
Awesome, much appreciated. Long days and pleasant nights to you!
Sir, this is a dull mens club. Please see yourself out.
Is it level? Or supposed to be?
The beams that the greenhouse will attach to are level, well the one in back needs another support in the middle to level it out. The floor is more like cobblestone; mostly level but the asymmetry of the stone I used (English cottage stone) is irregular so and so it isn't level level.
Roger Roger
Wait whose driveway OP? Whose driveway?!?
Hahaha mine. They were sitting there on a pallet for the better part of a year waiting for me to get to it. Amazed the city didn't cite me for some nonsense.
Looking great! I'm guessing you know this, having read the thread, but in case not - it's a little ridiculous how much tamping can be needed to lay out a stone floor like this so you remain happy with it over time. Human-level "seems pretty solid to me!", lacking experience, has no bearing whatsoever on the big and slow forces involved lol.
Edit: mulch over the sand under the rocks sounds sus, but I may have misunderstood. And to be clear, I'm far from an expert, learned how to do it "right" nearly a million years ago from an opinionated man (pops) who was legitimately excellent at things like this, and little else lol
It might end up not working out, but the mulch is meant to break down and become a medium for moss to grow on top of, so it's not structural. It wasn't a thick layer, either. If it does end up being an issue, well I suppose it's a good thing the floor isn't mortared in place.
Nah that sounds lovely, I had the wrong framing in my head in the first place, got hung up on some old ish in my brain.
It's not a thing that has to be installed once and be ~perfect forever, like those client jobs were, this thing is yours, entirely different set of requirements and goals. And anyway, probably it will be staying perfect regardless lol!
My bad for any seed of doubt in other words, I like what you've done a lot, moss between sounds 🤌, cuz you've fit the stones very well, I know how time-consumimg (also satisfying 🤤) that is.
Anyway, great post, wish that whole shebang was at my spot :) cheers!
Not dull at all! This is very cool!
Thanks!
Moving rocks is an under recognized part of gardening, great work!
We have literal tons of rocks we've added. 12 or so boulders ranging from 50 to 1,200 lbs (22.6796 - 544.3108 kg) and besides thr pallet I used here we've had 3 others of different flagstones and several cubic yards (same imperial and metric, wow) of various sized gravel/river rocks.
We love our rocks.
I know it's simple. But getting things level or straight has always been hard for me. I did get a laser level for hanging pictures, and I think that is relatively idiot proof. However you have to get a good stand for it - holding it in your hand in a wall just gives wobbly lines.
I used a line level to get the paver supports level, then a 48" (121.92 cm) level on the beams to make adjustments. Still some minor spots to shore up but the beams being level is the main thing as that is what the greenhouse will attach to.
Fill in the cracks with dirt and seed with clover!
Thanks!
Lookin sweet!