Can I remove gravel?

[WoodChuckDad]

I have an excavator. I could probably stack the teeth thru the soil to loosen the rock up. I really don't want to remove too much soil if I can avoid it. I guess I will just have to toy with it and see what happens.

 

[JRobyn]

If you figure it out, please update us. There's an area about 30x50ft in our "front yard" where the house framing contractors spread a yard or two of largish gravel in the mud where they had their construction trailer. Now it's well-submerged in the soil and makes it hard for grass to grow. No way I can figure to remove the gravel without digging down 4-6" inches in the dirt, leaving a hole to become a new mudpit. I don't really have a source of clean fill dirt to replace it with. And no good way to dig it. Front loader or box blade (both with teeth/rippers) have difficulty getting down in it.

 

[sixdogs]

Actually, I grow grass over lots of sites like this--as long as not TOO much gravel. Sometimes I chisel plow first but I rototill, pack and then seed. The rototilling at a slow speed with the lid down will bury all the gravel and rocks and you'll never know it was there. You must pack to press any visible rocks flat with a packer, however. Grass grows fine and never a problem.

I have also picked it up and there is no easy way for that. The above does work, however and I've done it many times. I usually bury rocks softball size and down.

 

[Egon]

Chances are good the tractor and bucket will work fine. If the area is wet the excavator may have to be used.

 

[MossRoad]

Tooth bar on a bucket will work way better than a straight edge. I'd dig it out, pile it up on a hard surface if possible, and wash it out to get the dirt out. Then I'd stock-pile it for later use. Or run it through a screen to separate the large from the small and dirt. Or I'd just stockpile it dirt and all, and only take the time to sort/wash it if and when I ever was actually going to use it.

 

[TractorGuy]

What about covering it with top soil?

 

[Rustyiron]

Wait till it's bone dry in the summer and use your excavator.

 

[s219]

You can move #3 with a box blade -- I have done it. Easier when loose (in fact, box blade spreads it rather nicely) but doable after it's settled.

Rail ballast is the next size up from #3 and I haven't attempted to move that stuff. It's a little beefier than I think a box can handle smoothly.