Spike56
Gold Member
After a few years of continuous weeding, I decided to create a buffer zone around my entire house. These "flower beds" extend 8-10' all the way around. I chose to use landscape cloth and top this with "small" washed rock. The rocks are say 3" down to .5" washed gravel that I can get locally. The entire area is separated from the yard using steel edging. This has worked very well compared to landscape cloth and mulching or just mulching. The mulch was a dismal failure at keeping weeds from growing.
After a couple of years however, the rocks accumulate dirt / debris. To clean the rocks I have, with limited success used a leaf blower, and home-made sifter (feed tub with holes) to clean out areas. I have searched on the web and see several ideas with home made rock tumblers / screens. The tumblers are beyond practical for me to build. A couple of the DYI sifter ideas are better than what I have now, but I could really use something that could process the rocks with less effort.
My only idea at the moment is a cement mixer with correct size holes to allow dirt, "junk", and water to fall out. But, I think the mixers might run too fast. So just looking to see if I am missing anything. I would not mind purchasing something rather than trying to build some gizmo.
Any experience with this would be helpful.
Thanks !
After a couple of years however, the rocks accumulate dirt / debris. To clean the rocks I have, with limited success used a leaf blower, and home-made sifter (feed tub with holes) to clean out areas. I have searched on the web and see several ideas with home made rock tumblers / screens. The tumblers are beyond practical for me to build. A couple of the DYI sifter ideas are better than what I have now, but I could really use something that could process the rocks with less effort.
My only idea at the moment is a cement mixer with correct size holes to allow dirt, "junk", and water to fall out. But, I think the mixers might run too fast. So just looking to see if I am missing anything. I would not mind purchasing something rather than trying to build some gizmo.
Any experience with this would be helpful.
Thanks !