You will probably need to dig down into the ground a bit to make your patio. The depth you need to dig usually depends on whether you want a level or raised patio. For a patio that you would like to be raised up a bit, you will just need to dig down about four inches. For a patio that you would like to make level with the ground, you will need to dig about eight inches. You may need to compact the ground down as you are doing this process. If you plan to have something heavy on the patio, such as a brick barbecue or smoker, you may need to add the concrete foundation first. This can provide additional stability that can help keep your patio level. This may require you to dig a little deeper.