We just moved into a new home and want to start a lawn around out home. The problem is the soil is very rocky. What can we do to remove all the rocks other that getting a metal rake and going to town? We want to do this ourselves to save some money.
2007-03-25 03:05:05 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
do you have a fairly flat property ? there are machines you can rent that attach to the front of a bobcat that dig up the yard and sift out the rocks . you then dump them into the back of your truck or place you have designated for them . then u start all over with seed or sod your choice your expence account .
2007-03-25 03:25:26 · answer #1 · answered by gands4ever 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You will have some work to start. hand pick any obvious big rocks, raking will only cause more to work to the surface. Once you've picked the worst rent a lawn roller. Its a big drum full of sand or water. roll tis back and forth ontil the worst of the rocks are compressed into the soil. If its really rocky you wil probably have to repeat this a few times . If you live where it freezes in the winter you may have a few springs of more rocks as they work to the surface with the frost. Good luck
2007-03-25 03:18:46 · answer #2 · answered by evilalfie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just rebuilt my front lawn with a Bull Dozer 3 years ago and the topsoil I pushed was very rocky with slate and never could get grass to grow until I laid down some seed real thick then spread straw all over it and in the real naked spots I also spread bags of potting soil and top soil over and in with the straw, that was last year now this year I have a beautiful lawn, can't tell there are any rocks there at all.
I used tall fescue grass seed, it germinates with the wet straw and after a few times of mowing will build up a turf over all rocks and be soft to walk on.
2007-03-29 09:55:19 · answer #3 · answered by puddog57 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If there are rocks there, it's either natural or from fill. Either way, you can rake for the next 15 years and not get significant amounts of rock out.
If you really want to keep yourselves busy for a season or so, you can use a big frame sieve and screen all your existing soil with a shovel and wheelbarrow. That'd be some good exercise. Of course, then you have to get rid of all the rock you sieve out - maybe make a gravel driveway.
I think you have two options. One is to get someone to come in with a tractor rototiller to just turn it all over and get it aerated before you plant. This won't get rid of the rocks, but at least it will loosen up the soil and distribute things evenly. The other is to get someone to bring in a few truckloads of decent topsoil (one with no weeds/seeds in it) to lay on top of the existing soil - then you wheelbarrow it around and rake it out level. Either one of these should be relatively affordable.
2007-03-25 03:26:23 · answer #4 · answered by mattzcoz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For your grass to take root you have to give it enough room among the rocks to root. Yes take the Metal Rake and loosen the soil and then add your seed and fertilizer. Keep it watered well and you should have a Lawn in a few weeks. My yard is rocky also and I had to do this same thing..
2007-03-30 14:43:56 · answer #5 · answered by donna_honeycutt47 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rather than removing the rocks, why not simply add top soil and compost? Then you could add your grass, and not worry about the rocky soil below.
If you think it could be tilled, you might do that yourself, level it out with rakes, and incorporate the compost mulch, topping the amended soil with a couple inches of compost or other good soil.
There is not really any easy solution to rocky soil. I have found (in a past life, when I lived in north central Texas) that grass will grow just about anywhere, rocky or not. How healthy it is depends on what you add to it.
Happy Yardening!
2007-03-25 03:34:17 · answer #6 · answered by bec_ker6 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got a metal rake and went to town. I also rented a tiller from Home Depot. I'm an avid lawn/gardener but it was agonizing. This may be worth paying $200 to some landscapers and let them do it. To me its money WELL spent.
2007-03-25 03:23:46 · answer #7 · answered by Ade 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the rocks are there because a contractor used bad fill, you could bring in a big load of topsoil and dump it on. But if you have glacial soil, you'll always have rocks working their way up to the top. In that case, why not forgo the golf course and work with what's there? Maybe you could do raised beds, and wherever there is to be a walkway, just leave it as it is.
2007-03-25 03:14:16 · answer #8 · answered by Kacky 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need a small rototiller to dig up the soil. Then rake it out. You can either rent it or invest in one. As long as you own a home, you will have a need for it. A Mantis (mail order) is a must our hose. It is a woman rototiller, which means you both can use.
2007-04-01 12:06:09 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
get a rake and go to town.
2007-03-25 03:08:48 · answer #10 · answered by Always Right 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋