If anyone has some experience with cement and cobblestones I'd be
obliged for their thoughts. I want to make part of my garden straight
cobblestones but don't have the knes or energy to lay a concrete or
cement foundation. Neither do I have the money to afford to have it
delivered premixed. What I am wondering is if I lay the stones (between
2 to 4 inches diameter) on the soil and then pour dry cement over them
and brush it between the crevices, will it harden enough to hold the
stones in place if I simply spray water over the area? Has anyone tried
anything like this or have an alternate way to ensure that the stones
are held in place? One person at a garden center suggested using bags
of lime but I couldn't quite understand how the lime would adhere to the
stones or harden enough to hold them.
Any advice welcome.
Thanks
Peter

Respectfully, that's a terrible idea. You need to pre-mix the mortar
beforehand in order to get the right consistency... as well, because you're
not laying down a firm foundation you'll get cracking and upheavel.

Dave

"Peter Ross" wrote in message
...
If anyone has some experience with cement and cobblestones I'd be
obliged for their thoughts. I want to make part of my garden straight
cobblestones but don't have the knes or energy to lay a concrete or
cement foundation. Neither do I have the money to afford to have it
delivered premixed. What I am wondering is if I lay the stones (between
2 to 4 inches diameter) on the soil and then pour dry cement over them
and brush it between the crevices, will it harden enough to hold the
stones in place if I simply spray water over the area? Has anyone tried
anything like this or have an alternate way to ensure that the stones
are held in place? One person at a garden center suggested using bags
of lime but I couldn't quite understand how the lime would adhere to the
stones or harden enough to hold them.
Any advice welcome.
Thanks
Peter

Peter Ross expounded:

If anyone has some experience with cement and cobblestones I'd be
obliged for their thoughts. I want to make part of my garden straight
cobblestones but don't have the knes or energy to lay a concrete or
cement foundation. Neither do I have the money to afford to have it
delivered premixed. What I am wondering is if I lay the stones (between
2 to 4 inches diameter) on the soil and then pour dry cement over them
and brush it between the crevices, will it harden enough to hold the
stones in place if I simply spray water over the area? Has anyone tried
anything like this or have an alternate way to ensure that the stones
are held in place? One person at a garden center suggested using bags
of lime but I couldn't quite understand how the lime would adhere to the
stones or harden enough to hold them.
Any advice welcome.
Thanks
Peter

Are you preparing the bed beneath the cobblestones? Around here, we
dig down 8" or so beneath where the cobbles (or bricks) will be
placed, put in a tamped bed of sand or stonedust (the latter is
preferred), lay the bricks/cobbles, and then spread stonedust over
all, sweeping into the cracks, and then wetting the whole thing down
to settle the dust. Add more if it needs it. No concrete bed needed.
Still quite a bit of work, but it should last for a very long time.

--
Ann, Gardening in zone 6a
Just south of Boston, MA
********************************

Thanks Dave and Ann. I realise now that I've gotten in over my head
here. Perhaps I'll just lay the rocks down loose as they will not be an
actual walkway and they'll most probably look different but just as nice.
All the best
Peter

Peter Ross wrote:
If anyone has some experience with cement and cobblestones I'd be
obliged for their thoughts. I want to make part of my garden straight
cobblestones but don't have the knes or energy to lay a concrete or
cement foundation. Neither do I have the money to afford to have it
delivered premixed. What I am wondering is if I lay the stones (between
2 to 4 inches diameter) on the soil and then pour dry cement over them
and brush it between the crevices, will it harden enough to hold the
stones in place if I simply spray water over the area? Has anyone tried
anything like this or have an alternate way to ensure that the stones
are held in place? One person at a garden center suggested using bags
of lime but I couldn't quite understand how the lime would adhere to the
stones or harden enough to hold them.
Any advice welcome.
Thanks
Peter

Peter, you can probably get by for several years by just
removing the sod.
Lay down a cover of weed blocker landscape fabric.
Lay down your stones and sweep sand into the cracks.
It's a very casual path but not as short lived as you might think.

If your stones are different thickness you can put down a layer
of sand first and then you can easily adjust the height of the
different stones to achieve a fairly level walking surface.

This is a very low skill project!
If you have bad knees and cannot get down in the dirt very easily
I suggest hiring a neighborhood boy to help.

If your path is going to be in your lawn you would need some
sort of edging to help keep the grass from creeping in from
the sides.

Good luck!
Peace!
Dan D. Louisville KY good ole USA