Rocks add a rustic kind of aesthetic look to your yard. Also, with rocks, you don’t have to use mulch and they can offer support to growing plants. The problem arises where there are too many rocks, making it necessary to eliminate them.
Removing rocks can be a tedious and back-breaking task, but it’s worth it to improve the health of your soil and the growth of your plants.
Therefore, you need to know how to remove rocks from the yard at a certain point. When the rock-loaded soil loses its porosity, it is harder for water to penetrate.
When enough water cannot make it through the stiff layer of the soil, it becomes harder for the plant to absorb nutrients. If not addressed in time, your plants are affected adversely. You can also remove them simply to change the look or just because you want to.
How To Remove Rocks From The Yard
Stones affect precious plant growing space and obstruct root growth. They also pose a safety issue when using a lawnmower in your yard. Swiftly rotating mower blades sometimes pick pebbles or gravels and throws them out with full force.
Rocks can damage the mower if they get stuck inside. It is ideal for keeping your yard free from unnecessary rocks to prevent all such mishaps. Right tools you use in the process save you a lot of time. For instance, removing large boulders requires different tools than gravel.
So, choose your tools depending on the size of the rocks. If you are a landscapist, you will frequently need to relocate, move or replace rocks as necessary. We will give all your needs covered below.
You can break down the “how to remove rocks from the yard” process into three simple steps – before, during, and after. Followed by the simplified task schedule are a few tips that make your job more accessible than it should be.
Pre-Planning For Removal Of Rocks From The Yard
Tools required for rock removal:
- Rototiller: Loosens the soil by breaking up the dirt. It is helpful to expose large rocks hidden underneath the soil.
- Garden Rake: It makes it easier to gather gravel together.
- Pointed shovel: For scooping up the gathered rocks.
- Soil sifter: To separate soil from the rocks. Some people also make DIY versions of this tool.
- Wheelbarrow: Helps in moving the rocks out of the yard. This tackle comes in a wide variety of sizes and features. When dealing with small rocks, buckets can serve their purpose.
Process Of Removal Of Rocks From Yard
You can directly shovel the small rocks such as gravel or pebbles into a wheelbarrow. Usually, decorative gravel layouts are separated from the soil with a geotextile cloth. If not, you can simply lift a lot of gravel in a go.
A rototiller can loosen it up if the gravel is mixed with soil. Pick the large rocks you encounter in this process with your hand. Use the garden rake for gathering smaller stones. Collect the rocks in the wheelbarrow and haul them away after you are done.
Disposing Of The Rocks Collected From The Yard
Along with the removal process, disposal of the removed rocks requires proper planning. Let us go step by step here. The possibilities are disposing of the rocks or saving them for another use.
Get rid of them by loading them in the truck, which is economical but needs a lot of back bending. Know the rules first as few countries levy dumping yard charges. Else hire a professional service if you wonder how to remove rocks from the yard. They do all the heavy lifting for you but cost you a fortune.
Tips To Getting Rid Of Rocks From The Yard
- Wear gloves for protecting your hands
- Use shovel for unearthing deeply embedded large rocks by loosening the soil around it
- To protect your back, take the help of a second person when lifting heavy rocks
- A shop-vac can suck out the tiny gravel from the lawn grass
Now that you know removing rocks from the yard hopes you can effectively get through this process. The rock removal process is daunting, and these tips can make it a much better experience.
Rock disposal is a tedious and costly process. Either you can give the load to a charity organization or offer them access to the passers-by. These innovative methods of rock disposal are pocket-friendly.
On the contrary, you may also choose to store them for landscaping or future potential use. Always use the designated tools for finishing the job with minimal effort.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Effective Way to Shovel Gravel into the Wheelbarrow?
Most people are accustomed to using their backs for shoveling. Though it might not seem like an issue initially, the back hurts as you work through it. So, the effective way of lifting the gravel gathered from the yard into the wheelbarrow is by using your legs.
Keep your back straight and bend your knees a little in this process. Switch hands frequently as you shovel to keep one side of the body from overstraining. Use your body weight to dig the shovel into the gravel and your knees as a fulcrum to support your hands.
How to Clean Removed Landscape Rocks for Reuse?
Landscape rocks are beautiful, but they do not serve their purpose when mixed with soil. Gather the rocks for cleaning. They are of small size, and the soil gets picked up.
Separate the shoveled rocks from the dirt using a soil sifter. All the dry and loose soil drops down, and you get rocks.
By using a geotextile cloth underneath, you can prevent the mix-up of the soil. Also, the dry debris that covers the top of the rocks is easy to clean using a shop vacuum or a leaf blower.
Are There Any Power Tools for Removing Rocks from the Yard?
Yes, tools such as Stihl Power Sweep can help remove small landscape rocks from the lawn. During the snow season, gravel driveway owners plowing the snow tend to throw gravel into the grass along with the snow.
Snow melts away, but rocks are hard to clean. Such power tools make it easier to do so. However, they do cost a fortune.
Hey, I’m Lisa and I’ve been an avid gardener for over 30 years. I love writing, talking and living in the garden! Feel free to connect with me on my socials below
