Removing Rocks
Shovel gravel into a wheelbarrow to move it around your yard. Gravel or pebbles can get caught in a lawn mower, so it’s important to be thorough when you remove these. Start by shoveling as much gravel as you can into a wheelbarrow or waste container. Use a rake to gather stones the shovel missed. If your gravel path or garden has a geotextile cloth underneath, just lift it up after you’ve shoveled away some gravel to cleanly remove any stragglers.
Loosen soil and expose larger rocks with a rototiller. First, slowly and carefully push the rototiller to break up the top few inches of soil. As stones turn up, pick them up and place them in a wheelbarrow to keep them out of the way. To dispose of them, wheel them to a dumpster (or put them directly into one). Rototillers can be bought or rented at most home improvement stores or online.
Rake through the loosened soil to gather small rocks you missed. A sturdy, metal rake works best. Rake the stones into a pile and shovel them into a wheelbarrow, dumpster, or separate pile to use or clean later. It's tempting to leave rocks in the soil since grass will grow over them, but removing them makes planting a garden easier (and protects your lawn mower and other equipment).
Drive a tractor plow to scoop rocks from a large area of soil with less labor. This method can be expensive, but saves a lot of elbow grease. Rent a tractor with a plow attachment. Drive over the area you want to clear, using the plow to collect loose rocks. Sift the dirt away from the rocks and spread it back on the ground. Go over the ground in sections rather than doing the entire area all at once. This works best for rocks that are bigger than gravel but smaller than boulders. In landscaping, boulders are rocks bigger than 16 inches (41 cm) in diameter.
Roll large rocks and boulders out of your yard with a pry bar. Use a flat stone or other hardy object as a fulcrum and place it near the boulder so they’re almost touching. Take a long pry bar and stick the end between the fulcrum and boulder. Push down on the high end of the bar to leverage the boulder forward. Repeat this motion until you’ve moved the boulder to its final destination. If the boulder is light, place it on a wooden board with parallel metal rods underneath. Roll the board over the rods, moving the rear rod to the front as you go. If the boulder is partially buried, dig around it with a shovel until the entire rock is exposed. Lift it into a wheelbarrow or onto a rolling board.
Dispose of your landscaping rocks with a trailer or junk removal service. The easiest way to get rid of the rocks is to place them in a dumpster and call a junk removal company to take them away. You can also rent a truck and trailer to drive them yourself to a yard waste disposal place that accepts gravel and rock. Post photos of your rocks online or put a sign in your yard that says “Free!” Anyone interested in using them will be happy to take a few off your hands.
Cleaning Rocks
Separate dirt and gravel with a metal sifter. First, shovel the gravel on top of the sifter and move the rocks around with your hands or a garden hoe to shake loose dirt and leaves away. Put the cleaned gravel in a wheelbarrow or separate pile to reinstall later and shovel up the dirt that fell under the sifter. If you don’t own a sifter, build one by nailing together a wooden frame and laying hardware cloth fencing (with 0.5 inches (1.3 cm) spacing) over it.
Spray your gravel with water to remove stubborn dirt. Do this while your gravel is still on the sifter to get the maximum clean. Beware that the water will mix with the dirt underneath the sifter and make mud (consider doing this over a tarp for easy cleanup or in a driveway where you can spray the mud away). Let the gravel dry completely before reinstalling (dirt will cling to wet rocks). Place landscaping fabric down before reinstalling your gravel. It will block weed growth and help keep dirt from mixing with your gravel again.
Use a pressure washer to blast stubborn dirt off larger rocks. If you have one available, it saves you the trouble of scrubbing mold or fungus on your rocks by hand. Stand away so the tip of the washer is about 2 feet (0.61 m) away from the rock. Spray at an angle to prevent debris from blowing back at you. Spray with a sweeping motion, like you’re using a broom. If the dirt isn’t blowing away, try moving closer.
Treat stubborn dirt, mold, or fungus on large rocks with vinegar. After rinsing your rock with water, spray the remaining dirty spots with a spray bottle full of vinegar. Let it sit for a few minutes to penetrate the organic material and then use a scrub brush to manually remove the debris. Rinse with water afterwards.
Use bleach to clean the most stubborn stains on your larger rocks. If a pressure washer or vinegar doesn’t work, combine 2 gallons (7.6 L) of water with 0.25 cups (59 ml) of bleach in a bucket. Scrub the stain with this mixture until you stop seeing mold, fungus, or dirt. Rinse the rock with water when you’re done. Repeat this method until all traces of the stain are gone.
Decorate or seal your rocks after you clean them. Clean rocks look pleasing on their own, but there are a variety of ways to make them shine and give your rock landscaping a refined look. Make sure your rocks have thoroughly dried before trying some of these methods to customize them: Polish stones with a heavy fabric (like denim) until they start to shine. You can leave them like this or seal them with mineral oil or commercial rock polish. Use rock stain to change your stones’ colors or try stone enhancers to bring out the rocks’ natural sheen. Spray paint your rocks to be whatever color you like! Wait for the paint to dry completely and then apply a clear sealant all over. Apply a water seal to make your rocks look shiny, wet, and clean all year long.
Repurposing Old Rocks
Use your leftover or unwanted rocks to build a firepit in your yard. First, stake out the shape and size of your pit with marking paint. Inside the outline, dig up 8 inches (20 cm) of dirt and replace it with sand. Lay a base layer of stones that fit tightly together around the rim of the pit. Continue building the walls of your pit, filling in any gaps with small stones or mortar. Add a layer of gravel on top of the sand inside the pit. Double check your local ordinances and make sure you have a safe spot to build a firepit before you start construction.
Build a retaining wall to manage soil and rain runoff. Dig a trench for the base of your wall (about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep for every 8 inches (20 cm) of wall height) and fill it with compact, angular rocks. Add a 1 inch (2.5 cm) layer of sand on top and begin laying the rows of your wall, making sure all rocks have their edges touching. Use a rubber mallet to tap stones into place and use crushed gravel to fill in gaps in your blocks. Take your time as you lay the stones—a stable, sturdy, straight wall is worth the extra time. Sweep the top of each row before adding a new layer to get rid of small particles that can weather your wall.
Create a garden walkway with gravel or pebbles. First, outline your path and dig up the top 2 inches (5.1 cm) of soil to eliminate weeds and ensure the path is level. Then place thick landscaping fabric over the path, leaving a few inches of fabric hanging over the edges. Lastly, wheelbarrow or shovel your gravel on top and voilà! Use enough gravel to make a layer about 2 inches (5.1 cm) thick. Use a rake or shovel to distribute the gravel evenly over the fabric. Trim any overhanging landscaping fabric from the edges of your new path. Try adding large, flat flagstone or trowel concrete pavers to your path to use as decorative stepping stones.
Move unwanted gravel underneath your deck or patio. This is an aesthetically pleasing look and a convenient way to remove gravel from your proper landscaping. Use a shovel and wheelbarrow to transport the gravel underneath your deck. Then use a metal rake to distribute the gravel evenly over the ground (you want a layer about 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) thick). To prevent weed growth, lay a thick landscaping fabric on the ground before you transport the gravel.
Redesign or build a new rock garden. First, choose a location and make a sketch of what you want your garden to look like. Place your larger rocks first (they’re the most difficult to move), then add an assortment of smaller stones to complement them. Leave room for beautiful plants too! Succulents and hardy seaside plants do well in rock gardens. Consider adding a water feature, like a small fountain or waterfall, for added interest.
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