Being able to do whatever you want with your yard space is one of the key perks of homeownership. However, having a collection of large boulders or rocks buried on your property can severely limit your options. Before you can install a patio, deck space, or any other amenity, it’s vital that you remove these objects. These are some key tips for removing large rocks from your yard to help you make the most of this process and finish it in a timely manner.
Break Up the Soil Around the Rock
When you have rocks buried deep in your yard, finding a way to loosen them is always the first step to removal. Even if the rock appears to sit mostly above the ground, there may be several inches below the surface, rooting it in place. Breaking up the soil around the entire edge of the rock helps with its moveability significantly. So make sure you take some time to do that. For smaller projects, a shovel will usually do the trick, but you may need a heavy-duty rototiller for larger boulders.
Chip Boulders Into Smaller Pieces
If the rocks you have in your yard are so large that you can’t move them, even with heavy equipment, you’ll want to break them up into smaller pieces. Chisels and hammers are the best methods for this. Chipping away at the rocks in this way ensures that each piece is a more manageable size for you and that you can move them without too much trouble. However, you may need to upgrade to a sledgehammer or drill to make quicker work of large boulders.
Use the Proper Lifting Equipment
Another crucial tip for removing large rocks from your yard is to rent or buy the right equipment for transporting them. Even seemingly small rocks can be heavy, and it’s likely that you won’t be able to lift and move them with your strength alone. As such, you should consider acquiring a heavy-duty grapple bucket skid steer attachment. Capable of lifting thousands of pounds, these devices can pick up large, irregularly shaped sections of rock so that you can easily remove them from your property.
Rent a Roll-Away Dumpster for Debris
Additionally, it’s important that you have the right method for transporting rock debris away from your home. Roll-away dumpsters are incredibly effective options because they are spacious, and a team of dumpster removal specialists will drive them away. So once you load up the container, all you need to do is call them, and they’ll take care of the rest.
Rocks can be a major obstruction in your yard, but they don’t have to be. With these tips, you can remove them in no time and move on with your landscaping and construction plans.
