Pebble mosaics make for a beautiful garden feature thanks to their unique, intricate patterns. If you have always admired pebble mosaics, but worried such a project would be too complex for you to take on yourself, then there’s good news: pebble mosaics are far more straightforward than you may initially expect. Below, we’ve put together a how-to guide that should allow you to create a pebble mosaic in your own back garden…

You will need:

  • Pebbles of your choosing. You can largely use any type of pebble for this purpose, though a range of different sizes tends to produce the best results. We offer a vast range of pebbles and decorative cobbles, all of which should work very well in your pebble mosaic.
  • Edging
  • Fine sand
  • A sandbox, or wood and a staple gun to assemble a makeshift sandbox with
  • Sub-base and stone dust
  • Concrete mix
  • Cement
  • A block of wood
  • Light hammer
  • Garden hose

To make

#1 - Sort the pebbles

Sort the pebbles into colour and size sections; this will allow you to create a cohesive design.

#2 - Use your sandbox to plan the design

Ideally, you want the sandbox to be as close to the actual site of the mosaic as possible. You can then work out the design in the sand, laying the pebbles until you create a design with which you are happy.

#3 - Prepare the site of the mosaic

Now you have a design in mind, you can measure it and then begin to prepare the site where the finished mosaic will sit. Dig an area that is large enough for your complete design, plus a few extra inches.

You should now have a sufficiently-large trench. With the trench complete, you’ll then need to insert your edging around the circumference, then add around six inches of sub-base and an inch of stone dust to the trench.

With the above in place, you can now pour dry concrete mix into the centre of the space and then flatten it out to the edges of your designated trench. You can then lightly dampen the concrete mix using your garden hose.

#4 - Start assembling the mosaic

Mark out the edges of your intended design, including any concentric circles you have used, in the damp concrete mix. Using this as a guide, you can begin to lay the pebbles, starting with the centrepieces and then moving outwards. When each section is complete, place a block of wood over the pebbles and use the hammer to push the stones firmly into the mix.

#5 - Finish the mosaic

Apply a sand and cement mix to the top of your mosaic, then use a paintbrush to spread the mix over the entire design in order to create a relatively flat surface. When you are sure every inch is covered, add water to the sand/cement mix, cover the mosaic, and wait for at least three weeks for it to dry out.

When the three weeks have passed, you should be able to peel back the cover and enjoy the delights of your very own, custom-created pebble mosaic!