How To Remove Rocks from the Soil in Your Yard

Rocky soil can create a multitude of problems for your yard. Not only can they damage equipment, but rocks can also make it difficult for deep-rooted plants to grow and can also interfere with building a new addition. Clearing your yard of these objects can be tedious when done by hand, and it isn’t always easy to find an alternative.

You can remove rocks from your soil with manual techniques like picking and sifting, as well as DIY mechanical approaches using specialized equipment. The following methods will greatly reduce the amount of time and effort needed to clear out your lawn, whether you need to dig deep or just clean up the surface.

Surface Rock Removal for Lawns and Gardens

Whether you’re planting a new lawn or preparing a garden, rocks in your soil can become a major problem. Thankfully, removing surface rocks is much easier than having to go deep. The following methods should help prepare your yard for most basic landscaping needs.

Removing Small Rocks

Although grass can grow over rocky soil, the risk of damaging your lawnmower or other equipment makes it necessary to remove the rocks. Planting a garden requires even more stone removal. You can do this with only a rototiller and garden rake before you add any topsoil.

Using a rototiller, slowly loosen the soil. The tiller will break up the dirt and expose large rocks. Place these rocks into a wheelbarrow as they are uncovered.

Once you have finished rototilling the area, use a garden rake or rock rake to pull any smaller rocks from the soil and into a pile or rock bucket. You can then place the stones into the wheelbarrow or save them for lining paths or garden beds, depending on the type and amount of rocks.

Creating a Sieve for Your Wheelbarrow

When working on a larger yard, raking might be too slow of a process. Thankfully, you can build a sieve that fits onto your wheelbarrow, allowing you to sift out larger stones with little effort. For this project, you’ll need:

• Four pieces of treated 2×4 lumber
• Four pieces of treated 1×4 lumber
• Four strips of treated 1.5-inch thick lumber
• Good staple gun
• Hardware cloth

Make sure to measure your wheelbarrow to find the dimensions before beginning. Once you have the required items, take these steps:

1. Cut two of the 2×4 pieces to the length of your wheelbarrow or the width of your hardware cloth if the latter is shorter. The other two should be cut 3 inches shorter than the width of your wheelbarrow. In the event your wheelbarrow tapers, use the larger width.
2. Create a box frame by driving nails or screws through the ends of the side boards into the tips of the shorter boards.
3. Starting in one corner, staple down one side of the hardware cloth to the underside of the frame. You can drive in a screw or small nail on the opposite corner to pull the cloth tight. This will help keep the cloth taught as you staple that corner down.
4. Nail the 1.5-inch lumber to the underside to further secure the hardware cloth and help prevent breakage.
5. Finally, nail the 1×4 boards along the sides, allowing them to overhang on the bottom to hold the sieve in place. In the event your wheelbarrow is longer than the frame, you may cut the board from that side into two smaller pieces to fit more securely on the front of the wheelbarrow.
6. Place the sieve on the wheelbarrow and shovel dirt onto it, allowing the hardware cloth to catch any larger stones, while the soil and smaller aerating pebbles fall into the wheelbarrow.

Removing Excess Pebbles or Gravel

In the event you’re removing an old gravel path, river rock beds, or large amounts of debris, you can finish up with a landscape rake or backhoe to separate small pebbles from the soil. As these pebbles normally help with drainage, leave them in a new garden or landscaped area under normal circumstances.

Note that removing all pebbles from an area will allow the soil to pack down and may create flooding risks over time.

Removing Boulders

Removing boulders can be a lot more difficult than simply loosening and raking the soil for homeowners. You’ll need several pieces of equipment and some elbow grease to complete the task.

Removing Small and Medium-Sized Boulders

Gather all the necessary tools before starting. These include:

• Feathers and wedges (Feathers are hooked metal pieces that you place a wedge between. As you drive the wedge in, it pushes the feathers apart, allowing you to split rocks.)
• Hammer drill
• Mallet
• Pointed Shovel
• Wheelbarrow

Once you have everything you need, take a deep breath and dig in — literally.

1. Using a pointed shovel, excavate around the boulder until it is completely uncovered. Place it into the wheelbarrow if you can.
2. For larger boulders, you’ll need to drill holes using the hammer drill and insert the feathers and wedges. You can then drive the latter using a mallet to split the boulders into smaller stones.

Removing Large Boulders

Some boulders are too big to easily split. You’ll have to shift these using a leverage system. For this, you’ll need:

• Chain or 4-inch nylon straps
• Iron pipe
• Piece of 6×6-inch lumber
• Piece of 2×6-inch lumber
• Pry bar

Moving a large boulder takes some time, and you should take breaks as needed to avoid over-exertion. You have three ways to move the boulder, depending on the circumstances:

1. Begin by sticking a pry bar under the boulder and wedging a piece of 6×6 lumber under the bar to create a fulcrum. Pull the bar back against the lumber to dislodge the boulder. You will have to repeat these two steps several times to shift the boulder across your yard.
2. Lay a piece of 2×6 lumber on top of several sturdy iron pipes beside the boulder. Using the previous method, shift the boulder onto this platform. Slowly move the platform out of the yard, although you should pause frequently as the platform clears a pipe so that you can put the pipe in front of your makeshift sled.
3. If the opportunity arises, it’s best to get a truck or tractor involved. Shift the boulder as mentioned in step 1 until you are able to wrap a chain or some 4-inch nylon straps around it. Attach the other end of your chain or nylon to the tow hitch of your vehicle and use its horsepower to tow the boulder out of the way.

Use Larger Boulders as Landscaping

Not all rocks need to be removed from your property. You can incorporate your larger boulders into your landscape design as striking focal points or natural borders. When you strategically place them, these landscape rocks can add visual interest, create definition in your garden, and even serve as natural seating areas.

Consider working with the terrain and using existing large rocks to enhance your outdoor space rather than removing them.

Can You Grow Grass With Rocks in the Soil?

While it’s possible to grow grass in rocky soil, it’s far from ideal. Rocks can impede root growth, reduce water retention, and make it difficult for grass to establish a strong foundation. If your yard doesn’t have very many rocks, you shouldn’t have a problem.

Still, for the best results, I recommend removing as many rocks as possible before adding garden soil, seeding, or laying sod. It’s hard work, but this will create a more hospitable environment for your grass, promoting healthier growth and a lush, even lawn.

Consider Hiring a Landscaping Company

If you’re dealing with a large area or particularly rocky terrain, it might be worth considering professional help. Landscaping companies have specialized equipment and expertise to efficiently remove rocks and prepare your soil with the proper nutrients and organic material for planting.

They can also offer valuable advice on soil amendment and landscape design. While it’s an additional expense, hiring professionals can save you time and ensure the job is done thoroughly and effectively.

Final Thoughts

Removing rocks from soil is a challenging but essential task for creating a healthy garden or lawn. Through my years of experience, I’ve found that a combination of methods often works best. Start with manual picking for larger rocks, use a soil sieve for smaller stones, and consider renting mechanical equipment for extensive areas.

Don’t forget to repurpose larger rocks in your landscape design when possible. Remember, the effort you put into removing rocks from your soil will pay off in the long run with healthier plants and easier lawn maintenance. With patience and the right techniques, you can transform even the rockiest soil into a fertile foundation for your dream garden or lawn.