What can I use to pick small rocks out of dirt?

[Mike_BS_WV]

I live on a ridge in WV that is pretty rocky. I got a 72" rock bucket a few years back to handle rocks 3" and much, much larger.

When I need cleaner soil for my garden, I turned it into a temporary screen by laying some 1x2 wire fencing in the bottom of the bucket and tying it down to the bucket slats with wire. I then scooped from a prepared pile into a clean pile for the garden. I dumped the rocks and debris into a third pile to use for filling potholes an other patching.

I had to work with small bucket fulls at a time since overfilling wouldn't allow it to bounce and shake correctly. The results were not perfect, but good enough for a vegetable garden.

If I was going to do it more frequently or with larger volumes, I'd spring for a fitted piece of expanded wire mesh, with some kind of strip welded to the front for protection and a better way to fasten it down.

 

[jbwilson]

This might help.

 

[oosik]

That's about the only way I know how to do it. Its just a REAL back breaking job but if you don't rototill or disk the cleaned area - it will be good for a while. At least until the big rock have offspring.

 

[powerscol]

This might help.

Nope - if it cant be done with a power tool/tractor, it not worth doing :shocked: :cool2:

However I did get a good laugh out of it.

PS - you need to upgrade and get a landscape rake...4 times the width and twice the effort, but its a good workout (Only used where my tractor would not fit)

 

[PILOON]

I made up a sifter using 1/4 x 1/4 hardware mesh stapled to a wood frame with rear legs to prop that screen at about 45 degrees.
I FEL dump onto the screen and all stones and roots etc tumble out the lower side.
Not super fast but efficient with minimal manual labor.
Works better with dry soil otherwise if wet a shaker would be a must.