Getting gravel back on my lane

[ShenandoahJoe]

I was out raking gravel back onto the drive yesterday. It occurred to me that next month, I'm going to be raking similar-sized rocks out of the vegetable garden. (They grow there every winter.) Is there some way to cross-circuit the drive and the garden, so the rocks will spontaneously come up where they're wanted?

 

[Mechanos]

I spent a while raking gravel back onto my parking area the other day. The piles of gravel left behind from the plow were the easiest areas to rake.... all the gravel was in dense piles right of the the edge of the parking area. I still have a large area to do in the yard between the barn and the house and this is going to be a pain. The gravel and rocks in this area are all from snow blower and looks like a driving range that hasn't had the balls picked up for several days! I need do some work on the skid shoes on the blower to keep it from picking up so many rocks.

 

[Jackfr]

This would be perfect:

Agrimetal - Leader in golf and debris equipment

Anyone tried one of these? Any idea how much?

 

[RoyJackson]

Anyone tried one of these? Any idea how much?

That does look interesting. The website doesn't even list dealers or where they can be purchased though.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I have found that if the gravel is only a thin coating you will bring more leaves and topsoil than it is worth if you use a tractor. You do not want to intrduce organic matter into a gravel drive as that then grows weeds and grass. I hand rake about 700' of drive. You need to go and purchase a quality rake and spend some quality time hand raking the shoulders before the grass starts growing. I try to get to mine just before the snow melts down to the green grass.
Happy Raking

Craig Clayton

Here's a paradigm breaker.

You know, I've often considered taking my drive, rolling the gravel,sand, and clay mixture flat, and then planting with a tough, low-growing weed or grass and just mowing it frequently during the summer to keep it neat. That way I wouldn't have the **** erosion problems I get every year, and the gravel would stay in place better during plowing or blowing. Anyone else deliberately try something like that?

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Here's a paradigm breaker.

You know, I've often considered taking my drive, rolling the gravel,sand, and clay mixture flat, and then planting with a tough, low-growing weed or grass and just mowing it frequently during the summer to keep it neat. That way I wouldn't have the **** erosion problems I get every year, and the gravel would stay in place better during plowing or blowing. Anyone else deliberately try something like that?

Excellent thought.!!.....Here in Maine I do occasionally see a "grass driveway." They never appear to be in bad shape.

It's something that would work perfect here at my place. Doubt I would actually do it although it makes a lot of sense.

Fact is, nothing looks as good as a gravel driveway when it's in place. The challenge is keeping it there.:confused2:

 

[CompactTractorFan]

That does look interesting. The website doesn't even list dealers or where they can be purchased though.

I know Everything Attachments sells some of their products.

 

[955Lincoln]

Here's a paradigm breaker.

You know, I've often considered taking my drive, rolling the gravel,sand, and clay mixture flat, and then planting with a tough, low-growing weed or grass and just mowing it frequently during the summer to keep it neat. That way I wouldn't have the **** erosion problems I get every year, and the gravel would stay in place better during plowing or blowing. Anyone else deliberately try something like that?

Not totally grass, but close. I like the natural look also. No problems blowing it this year.

 

[coobie]

Anyone tried one of these? Any idea how much?

I seen new one listed for $1450,I just bought(2/21/11) a used 2008 model that was only used 3 times for $750.Got to hoof it 3 hours to pick it up though.There was a demo model in Wi.for $1099 on ebay.coobie

 

[beenthere]

I used the power broom for my JD.

But bottom line is that the gravel that comes back onto the drive won't stay there unless it is stirred and mixed with the existing gravel to get the fines. Then respread, and tamped to make a good solid knit-together bed. Rolling the "marbles" back on the drive and doing nothing else will just see them "roll" right back off again. IMO.

But the asphalt topping now takes care of those problems too.