What do I need to place stepping stones?

Roots.

Grass isn’t laid like carpet, even though on the best-looking lawns that’s what it might appear to be. You need something – and a mattock is a good tool for the purpose – to cut the roots of all of the individual plants that you’ll be digging up in that piece of sod. And since you’re not digging “a hole”, you only want to scrape the roots at the bottom of that piece of sod, so “a spade” isn’t right, either. Though a flat, square-bladed shovel might work well, too.

I have mini-maddock that looks like a small pick-ax that I love. It is lighter than a traditional pick-ax and looks like the ice-ax that climbers use.

Here’s one example. Any good garden supply center will carry them. You may well be young and strong enough to wield a full-sized pick-ax.

What’s your soil like? You might need a little foundation for the stones. Maybe a little gravel or sand.

I like the entrenching tools that the military uses to dig foxholes. They fold up very compact and they have two sharp cutting edges with one being serrated. and since they are of a military nature they can be used to really pretty much kill someone with, in a pinch with a chopping action so plant roots will be easily handled. They will last forever. http://www.supplydump.com/us-military-tri-fold-shovel

Yaay! I knew I could go away and come back to some useful ideas and information. Thanks, all of you.

All I ever use is my shovel (long handled digging style). I’m currently cutting out another large mulch bed. After this, I’ll also be placing stepping stones. I just dig out the area with my shovel. Then make certain to level it well so I can still safely mow.