best way to get gravel out of grass

The Best Way to Get Gravel Out of Grass
Having gravel in your lawn can be a real eyesore. Not only does it look unsightly, but it can also damage your grass and lead to dead patches if left unchecked. Gravel finds its way into lawns in a variety of ways – it may get kicked out from a nearby gravel driveway or path, deposited by heavy rainfall, or tracked in unintentionally by people or animals walking across your yard. Whatever the cause, it needs to be removed promptly to avoid harming your turf.

In this article we’ll explore the negative impacts of gravel in lawns and discuss the most effective methods for getting those pesky stones out of your grass quickly and efficiently.

Why You Should Remove Gravel from Your Lawn

There are a few key reasons why gravel doesn’t belong in your lawn

• It blocks sunlight and air from reaching the grass blades. Gravel covering the soil surface prevents proper photosynthesis, leading to thin, patchy turf.

• It hinders water, nutrient, and oxygen absorption into the soil. Gravel creates a barrier, making it harder for grass roots to access the moisture and nutrients they need.

• It causes soil compaction. Gravel’s weight presses down on the soil, compacting it over time. This makes it even more difficult for roots to penetrate and thrive.

• It damages lawn care equipment. Hard stones can dull mower blades and cause damage to other landscaping tools. Removing gravel helps prolong their lifespan.

• It looks bad. Scattered gravel simply doesn’t look nice in an otherwise lush, green lawn. It detracts from the aesthetic appeal.

The longer gravel sits on your lawn, the more problems it will cause. That’s why it’s important to remove it as soon as possible.

Hand Removal – The Most Thorough Method

Manually picking up gravel with your hands is the most precise and gentle way to remove rocks from your lawn. It ensures no damage is done to the grass blades or plant crown. However, it is also an extremely tedious, back-breaking process only feasible for very small areas or quantities of gravel.

To manually remove gravel:

1. Put on thick gardening gloves to protect your hands.

2. Kneel in the area with gravel and pick up stones individually.

3. Place removed rocks into a bucket or wheelbarrow nearby.

4. Work slowly and carefully to get every last piece out of the grass. Check soil surface for any remaining.

5. Discard gravel pile or return stones to their intended area (e.g. gravel driveway).

Hand removal works great for a few scattered stones but cannot efficiently tackle large quantities covering big portions of your yard. For that, you’ll need to utilize some tools.

Power Broom – Quick Removal for Large Areas

For removing gravel and debris from expansive lawn spaces, a power broom is the ideal tool. The stiff rotating bristles whisk away gravel, depositing it in piles or rows for easy clean-up. Power brooms attach to your lawn tractor or skid steer, making quick work of this tedious task.

Here is the power broom removal process:

1. Survey the lawn and develop a systematic sweeping plan.

2. Attach power broom to your mower or skid steer following instructions.

3. Adjust bristle height just above grass blades to avoid scalping lawn.

4. Start on perimeter and work inwards, making overlapping passes across gravel area.

5. Sweep up piles of gravel and deposit in bucket, wheelbarrow or trailer.

6. Make multiple passes over area to lift all gravel from grass.

7. Check for any remaining gravel specks and hand remove those.

Power brooms provide an efficient gravel extraction solution for residential and commercial lawns alike. Rental rates are around $65-$100 per day.

Specialized Gravel Vacuum – For Medium-Large Areas

For medium to large gravel removal jobs, a specialized gravel vacuum is ideal. This gasoline-powered tool sports a wide front intake nozzle with a large diameter hose attaching to a collection drum or trailer. The powerful suction lifts gravel right off the grass into the receptacle. Comb the nozzle slowly over affected areas until all rocks are gone.

Here is how to operate a gravel vacuum on your lawn:

1. Roll vacuum to gravel site and position near area to be cleaned.

2. Start gasoline engine per instructions and allow machine to warm up.

3. Lower front intake nozzle just above grass height.

4. Move nozzle side to side slowly, methodically over gravel.

5. Once drum/trailer is full, empty contents in desired location.

6. Repeat process until all gravel is extracted from lawn.

Specialized gravel vacuums make quick work of medium to large gravel removal jobs. They can be rented at most equipment rental outlets for $100-$200 daily.

Bow Rake – For Heavy Gravel Deposits

For heavy gravel deposits, a bow rake (also called a landscape rake) is an efficient extraction tool. The curved, tined head scoops up gravel while the screen bars allow dirt and grass to sift through. Bow rakes easily loosen and move gravel into piles for pick up.

Here is the proper technique for using a bow rake on gravel:

1. Stand on the side of the gravel area, holding rake tines perpendicular and flat to the ground.

2. Thrust rake forward and tilt tines downward to dig into gravel deposit.

3. Lift up rake and pull back towards you, dragging gravel together into a pile.

4. Repeat, making progressive passes across area to consolidate gravel.

5. Use square shovel to transfer piles into a wheelbarrow or trailer.

6. Work systematically across space until all gravel is removed from lawn.

For deep gravel deposits, a bow rake is the best manual removal method. It quickly gathers and piles loose gravel for easy transfer off the grass.

Leaf Rake/Broom – For Small Quantities

For minor gravel spot clean-ups, a basic leaf rake or stiff broom can work well. The fine tines of a leaf rake smoothly comb through the grass, pulling out gravel. For brooms, stiff poly or wire bristles are best. Make sure to use a sweeping motion and avoid excessive downward pressure.

Here are steps for quick gravel clean-up with a rake or broom:

1. Start on the perimeter of affected area and rake or sweep debris toward the center.

2. Make narrow, overlapping passes to gather all gravel out of grass.

3. Transfer gathered gravel to a dustpan or directly into a trash bag.

4. Discard or reuse gravel as desired.

5. Visually inspect lawn and hand pick any remaining pieces.

Leaf rakes and brooms take more work than power equipment but are cheap, readily available options for minor gravel intrusions in your lawn.

Shop Vacuum – For Small Areas

A regular shop vacuum with a nozzle extension makes quick work of small gravel deposits. Simply pass the vacuum nozzle over the area, sucking up gravel immediately into the collection tank. Dump the gravel out and resume vacuuming until the area is clean. Avoid excessive downward pressure; let the suction do the work. This method removes gravel safely without damaging the grass. For larger areas, opt for a more heavy-duty wet/dry vac.

Here is how to use a shop vac to remove gravel from lawns:

1. Survey area to understand breadth of gravel coverage. Shop vacs work best for small regions.

2. Plug in vacuum and attach hose extension nozzle.

3. Turn on vac and slowly comb nozzle over gravel at a height just above grass blades.

4. Make multiple overlapping passes until all gravel is gone.

5. Turn off vac, empty tank, and continue as needed until area is clean.

A regular shop vacuum provides a quick, affordable gravel clean-up solution for containing small deposits to your lawn.

Tractor/Loader Bucket – For Clearing Large Volumes

For extremely heavy gravel coverage blanketing a sizable portion of lawn, a tractor loader is the most efficient removal method. Front end buckets easily scoop up copious amounts of gravel in one pass. Have a trailer nearby to deposit buckets loads for disposal or reuse. Work systematically across the space, removing all gravel down to soil level. Avoid digging into the turf.

Follow this process to remove gravel with a tractor loader:

1. Use tractor to push/flatten gravel into uniform coverage for easy extraction.

2. Position bucket flat, with bottom 1 inch above grass. Skim over area, filling bucket.

3. Lift bucket, rotate to trailer, and dump load.

4. Return and repeat, making progressive passes across gravel zone.

5. When gravel is removed, inspect soil and hand pick any remaining pieces.

Tractor loader buckets make fast work of huge volumes of gravel. Rental rates start around $165 per day for a 70HP tractor with loader.

Professional Gravel Removal Services

For those lacking the proper tools or physical capability, hiring a professional landscape company to remove gravel is wise. Experienced crews will possess powerful equipment to expedite removal and dispose of the gravel for you. Expect to pay around $35-$55 per hour for a 2-3 person crew, plus any disposal fees. Be sure to get an estimate before authorizing work.

Key Takeaways

• Gravel left in lawns damages grass and poses problems over time so remove it promptly.
• Hands work for tiny amounts but are impractical for large expanses.
• Power brooms provide efficient removal across big areas.
• Specialized gravel vacuums are ideal for medium to large deposits.
• Bow rakes work well on heavy gravel concentrations.
• Leaf rakes, brooms, or shop vacs take on minor amounts.
• Tractor loader buckets handle huge volumes fast.
• Consider hiring professionals if lacking tools or physical ability.

The best, most efficient way to extract gravel from your lawn depends primarily on the sheer amount deposited. With smaller volumes under 25-50 lbs., manual tools like leaf rakes, brooms and vacuums suffice. For larger areas blanketed with over 50 lbs. of gravel, power equipment like power brooms, vacuums, and tractor loaders are necessities. Match your removal method to the intensity of the gravel invasion, and act fast to restore your lawn’s health and beauty.