Dirt Moving Clearing a dirt pile in the cold

   / Clearing a dirt pile in the cold #11  
You need to do smaller bites.

No different than when I chunk up and move ice.
 
   / Clearing a dirt pile in the cold
  • Thread Starter
#12  
You need to do smaller bites.

No different than when I chunk up and move ice.

Yes I tried to attack if from the top. Not much success. Small chips only. Left a smooth surface showing how hard the dirt was.

I guess I'll attack it again end of April.

Thanks for the comments/feedback.
 
   / Clearing a dirt pile in the cold #13  
I am two hours north of you. I have two stock piles of limestone and "A" gravel, that is inaccessible to me, before spring, using my small wheel loader. And, soil is much worse still. If I had to, I would hack away at it with the backhoe, but then it would just be in chunks.

Even a 4X4 lying on the ground used to support something cannot be broken loose without taking a huge chunk of earth with it!
 
   / Clearing a dirt pile in the cold #14  
The problem with waiting for spring is then the ground in your neighbor's lawn will be really soft. Unless it warms up really slowly the ground will thaw from the top down, which means all the moisture will be trapped until it thaws completely and can drain. You don't want to drive on that.

When the grass breaks dormancy it sucks an enormous amount of water out of the soil. You want to wait until the grass has grown enough to be mowed.
 
   / Clearing a dirt pile in the cold #15  
So fine, what's the answer? Rent a hi flow skid steer and an ashalt planer.
 
   / Clearing a dirt pile in the cold #16  
So fine, what's the answer? Rent a hi flow skid steer and an ashalt planer.

Buy 10 bags of charcoal briquettes , light them, and when hot, spread them out over the pile.
Cover with some pine needles, damp leaves, or old fibreglass insulation if available.
 
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   / Clearing a dirt pile in the cold #17  
Or an excavator with a frost bucket.

Or a party tent and rental heaters.

Three bus loads of Menonnites with pickaxes would work too.
 
   / Clearing a dirt pile in the cold #18  
Least you gave it shot :thumbsup: like others said warmer temps.
 
   / Clearing a dirt pile in the cold #19  
Or an excavator with a frost bucket.

Or a party tent and rental heaters.

Three bus loads of Menonnites with pickaxes would work too.

The party tent and rental heaters would still be necessary to house the Mennonites.
Three bus loads of Mennonites,... means piles of groceries also.
 
   / Clearing a dirt pile in the cold #20  
Offer them FREE WIFI and they would probably come for free! Although kind of hard to swing a pick with a smart phone in each hand.
 

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