Can I remove gravel?

[WoodChuckDad]

When they were logging my land, the timber company spread grave in two areas. One area was very muddy and they spread out 4 inch stone. Would it be a waste of time to try to lossen it up with the boxblade and scarifiers and move it with FEL?

 

[Birdhunter1]

Not necessarily a waste of time to pick it up and move it, but where they put it they needed it to move equipment that likely someday you will be glad it is there as you might want to drive over it as well.

 

[rekees4300]

It's difficult to move stones that large with a FEL because the stones block the edge. I had to move a pile of rip-rap (5-6 inch) and that all had to be placed by hand one stone at a time into the bucket ... PITA

 

[jack707]

I would leave it if it's not in your way

 

[sixdogs]

It's difficult to move stones that large with a FEL because the stones block the edge. I had to move a pile of rip-rap (5-6 inch) and that all had to be placed by hand one stone at a time into the bucket ... PITA

Yup, one at a time. Been there and done that.

Anyone who has this done in the future should make sure they first put down that heavy fabric and that will prevent the stones from mixing with the mud. Utility companies around here put down the fabric, dump the stone, drive over it and then mechanically pick it up with no hand work that I am aware of.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

A layer of 4" stones?

Or a 4" layer of gravel?

Your thread title says gravel, and your post seems to say 4 inch stone. 4" stone is not gravel.

Which is it?

 

[teg]

If the question is do you own the stone or the logging company, you can do with it what you want to do with it.

Do you need (or have a use for) the stone in another location? What do you plan to do with the area where the stone is now? Do you want to let it go back to nature?

 

[WoodChuckDad]

I believe that what they put down was #3 stone also called rail ballast. It is crushed stone from 2-4 inches. The bulk of what I can see is about 3-4 inches and flattish. I could yawning elsewhere. I would like to clear it from where it is because I will be fencing that area in as part of my orchard. Since it is in the corner of the ford itnwould just be grass and the edge. I want to do it up so I can get the soil conditioned and grass and clover growing there. The area where trees will be planted probably don't have much gravel in them at all.

 

[rekees4300]

Are there any tool rental places near you to get a mini backhoe/excavator for a day? That would be the right tool for the job.

 

[Ford850]

I would remove it since you have plans for that area. Even if you dig out a lot of soil with it, I would remove most of the stone and either use it as fill or stock pile it. I've piled stone/soil mix and was surprised how much of the soil washed out of the upper half of the pile over a year or so.

 

[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.