Knowing how to separate rocks from dirt keeps your backyard aesthetically pleasing and helps streamline the planting process in your garden. Fortunately, separating rocks from the soil isn’t a complicated process, and there are many ways to manage this task effectively.
Rocks can occur commonly in gardens. You can come across them while lying on the ground while digging or watering. They are usually of different sizes and shapes. These rocks obstruct plant growth which is the main issue. We need to remove them to maintain a healthy garden from time to time.
Separating rocks from dirt not only helps with plant growth, but it also makes it easier to plant seeds and maintain a healthy garden in the long run.
Garden enthusiasts also use decorative rocks for aesthetic purposes. These rocks get mixed into the soil as time goes by and become well-instilled. Later on, it creates a huge problem, causing soil erosion and uneven land. Hence, for this reason, you should learn how to separate rocks from dirt.
We’ve pulled out some exciting details for you to learn how to separate rocks from dirt.
How to Separate Rocks From Dirt
There are many reasons why rocks and soil should not mix. One of them is lawnmowers, and automatic gardening tools are damaged when they encounter rocks in the soil. Using the methods below, you can separate anything from the soil, from pebbles to stones.
The most commonly used methods are to:
- Pick using hands
- Winnowing in the wind
- Sifting or sieving using soil sifter
- Racking the rocks
- Using Screen or soil-blocking cloth
Though some plants do good in rocky soil, not all plants can survive as they cannot get enough nutrients. It is challenging to plant in gravelly soil. The rocks can stub your toes and damage your costly power tools.
Power-washing is best if you want to remove soil from the gravel. However, if you are trying to separate stones from garden soil or potting soil, using your hands is better.
Also, we do have some excellent tools to do this job if the area you need to cover is large. These tools save both time and energy required for separating the rocks from the dirt.
1. Picking
Handpicking is the oldest known method and does not require any tools to act. Wearing gloves protects your hands from cuts and bruises when searching for stones. This method is the most effective when looking for stones in the potting soil.
2. Winnowing
By winnowing, you can separate the rocks from the soil. It works using wind and gravity, separating the heavy rocks from the lighter soil. A strong breeze blows away the soil, and the rocks fall right below where you are winnowing.
The key here is to let the soil fall from a certain height slowly enough for the wind to blow through and separate the rocks. Loosen the soil by breaking down the clumps for best results.
3. Sieving and sifting
Sieving the soil using a large sieve works well to quickly separate vast piles of rocks and soil. The gravity pulls down the soil from the small holes and traps the rocks above it as you throw the dirt on the sieve.
You will need to set its far end at a steep angle for the dirt to fall through it and the rocks to roll over it. Unenclosed frames at the bottom allow the stones to roll away effortlessly. You will need to lift the frame for enclosed ones to dump the stones.
Or you can shake the mesh-like you sift the floor. If you are shaking this mesh, then it is called sifting. If you have different rocks to separate, you can use various-sized sieves in stages.
Don’t enclose the frame at the lower end to roll out and away from the stones. You’ll have to lift the frame to dump out the stones if you do. Also, make sure to pick the rocks lodged in the sieve after a few rounds for effective sieving.
4. Raking
Rock rakes are made using durable and heavy metal. They are also known as rock wind rower, gravel rake, and landscaping rake. Its tines can pull out stones from the topsoil by digging them.
Most rakes can penetrate up to 2 inches into the soil surface. Even deeper penetrating rakes are available, which are made of heavy-duty metal. It can pull up debris, roots, and rocks from the soil. However, the soil stays in place because of the significant gaps between the tines.
When used with a rototiller, it is easier to loosen the soil. You can efficiently gather rocks when the stones are turned up in the broken-up mud. Investing in a suitable metal rake is not a bad idea.
A metal rake more than 13-inches wide is durable and useful for several other gardening jobs. A leaf rake cannot perform the same duties as it is weak and designed for light duties.
You can find rakes attachable to a wheeled vehicle such as a tractor for faster jobs in large areas. For smaller areas, you can try a golf cart.
5. Screen or soil-blocking cloth
Separate the soil from the landscaping rocks for easy cleaning or removal of the rocks. It is known as geotextile or landscaping fabric.
Learn more from another post: How To Remove Rocks From The Yard
Summary
If you have a large area of the garden, then using attachments or machines is ideal for separating the rocks from the dirt. Big machine with attachments, rototiller, power broom, snow plower, nut gatherer, or a vacuum are a few such examples.
However, if you have moderate to small garden areas, the methods mentioned above are enough to get your work done.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to use a vacuum to separate the rocks from the dirt?
When gravel gets on the grass from the driveway, it is harder to pick them up. They are usually thrown there by a snowblower while shoveling the snow. However, it becomes an obstruction when you need to mow the grass.
If you have a powerful shop vacuum, you can easily pick up the gravel from the grass. It is quicker than picking the gravel with the hand.
Can you use a snowplow to separate the rocks from the dirt?
A snowplow can overturn the stubborn rocks and buried stones from the soil without effort. All you need to do is to drive it. If you have one already, you can put it to use and get the job done in no time.
Are rocks bad for plants?
Not all rocks are bad and not for all plants. Few rocks have minerals that aid in plant growth. They provide aeration and good drainage. Also, some plants grow only in rocky soil. However, when they are arranged predictably, we get better results. Otherwise, you end up damaging the garden tools.
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
