How Do You Get Driveway Gravel Out of Grassy Areas?

[SnagDump]

As others have noted keeping the gravel on the driveway is the key - but easier said than done it seems. I use a plow on the skid steer for Nov and Dec and then put on the blower when it gets deep. (159 inches so far this season and it's snowing now March 22). I had this guard built (see pics) so the cutting edge doesn't dig in so much and it helps some.

It's the first couple plowings that are the killers. If the ground isn't frozen, the first snows are usually wet slop and even with shoes and the guard a blob of heavy sticky snow is sliding well ahead of the blade peeling off gravel just by its weight. If the ground has frozen hard at the first snow the frost has lifted up the top layer of gravel and it gets peeled off when plowing that first snow even if it's pretty dry stuff.

Aside from the looks of lost gravel I'm battling invasive annual grasses which are far more trouble for me than weeds. That extra gravel on the shoulder causes problems for the good grass that's there and makes a happy spot for the invasive stuff. So, I'm usually trying to get the lost gravel back. When it goes down over the fill slope it's pretty hopeless. I've done the rake and puke method that somebody mentioned and the glamour goes out of that pretty fast. I hadn't thought about the blower so I'll give that a shot.

 

[tmajor]

I slit a piece of 2-1/2 inch pipe, to go over the cutting edge. It didn't push much gravel into the yard. I was very pleased with the results!

 

[SnagDump]

I slit a piece of 2-1/2 inch pipe, to go over the cutting edge. It didn't push much gravel into the yard. I was very pleased with the results!

Mine is 1 1/2" pipe and if I was doing it again I'd go larger diameter like yours.

 

[the old grind]

My 'lip accessory' is three edge tamers on a FEL bucket. It works more like a pusher than like a blade and lets me dump compacted snow where I want for best runoff when it melt. I'm not about to push snow back & forth or handle any of it more than once. And I haven't had to mess with gravel in the lawn for years. I can also clear a large turn-around area in front of the barn for UPS in mere minutes w/o disturbing the grass beneath it.

 

[chief1950]

I mark the drive with O.St. orange stakes, plow to just missing, 1-1/2 high to build up ice pack. It's a mess when it melts, causes potholes I fill in annually (8-16 hours). If I get gravel (my top dressing is 3/4" max processed gravel or stone so its small). When I get some on my house lawn, I rake it with a hand rake while using an old 8hp giant vac blower. I rake into the air stream so they don't hit me in the face. Area is 75' x 10 for lawn. The rest is 2,000ft plus a wrap around parking/ driveway for a 30x50 barn/ garage. I rigged up the blower to tow with a lawn tractor, using scrap from a dead Brinley 120# spreader tow bar. Originally, the blower setup was for the long driveway but it keeps it from rolling down a hill when raking because it weigh a ton coming back up the hill. I wish new equip. ran as well. It's so old I can't get part for it (except the engine). Over 30 years now. Starts one or two pulls.

 

[Kubotafan]

I've used a shop vac in the past. I have a Stihl power head, looks like I need a new attachment.

I have a gas Echo PAS 260 power head and the ProPaddle, which is like the finned Stihl attachment you were using. I have been very impressed with how well it flips out stone. I have thought about making a wheel attachment for it, thinking it would make it easier to use. Who makes the wheel kit you used, and would it attach to my Echo attachment? Maybe the name and address of the maker could be added. With my Echo I can rotate the attachment where it shoves in the shaft 180 degrees, and it will pull instead of push. If I have an area with a lot of stone I will reverse it and pull off the heaviest, and then rotate it and go back over the area pushing the remainder out. I haven't had anyone watch me use it or try it themselves without being impressed with how well it works. I find it is very easy on the turf and doesn't damage it. I have never tried a bristle attachment.

 

[JimR]

How about putting feet on your plow and plow snow instead of the gravel in your driveway.

 

[LouNY]

I've rented a paddle type unit in the past when I've moved a lot of gravel on muddy areas of the driveway.
It worked quite well, I have been thinking about the 2 wheel powered brooms to try.
I haven't looked real close this year to see how much gravel I need to remove from the lawn,
I don't believe that a lot got pushed out this year the driveway got froze and stayed froze most of the winter.

 

[Kubotafan]

I have an Echo PAS 260 and the ProPaddle attachment. I have been impressed with how well it works. I can rotate it 180 degrees when installed on the shaft and then it will pull. If I have an area with a lot of stone I will pull the heavy off, and then rotate it and go back over the same area pushing the remainder out. Anyone who has seen me use it or tried it themselves have been impressed with how well it works. I have wondered about making a wheel attachment, thinking it would take some of the weight off my arms and be easier to use. I have never used a bristle attachment but don't find the ProPaddle damages the turf. The ProPaddle is Echo's name for the Stihl attachment seen in the video.

 

[Kubotafan]

Nobody intentionally blows stones on their lawn, but if the gravel isn't frozen and you have wet snow the gravel will stick to the snow and come up with it. Once the driveway is frozen it isn't as big of a problem.