How to Get Rid of Landscape Rocks

Rocks are a natural addition to many lawns and most of the time homeowners really enjoy having rocks and gravel as part of their landscape. It creates variety and character in the layout.

But rocks can stop the water flow from getting to important plants and flower beds and also stop nutrients from getting to the roots. After a while, many homeowners decide to get rid of the rocks. But, the problem is, how do we get rid of them?

Well, you can either sell off the rocks to your local landscaping company or donate them to your neighbors. There are definitely many other ways of getting rid of landscape rocks. 

Let’s get into it.

3 Steps to Getting Rid of Landscaping Rocks

Okay, so, we are not just going to tell you to throw your rocks away. Sure, you don’t need them anymore but that doesn’t mean they are completely useless. You can earn a pretty penny through your discarded rocks, you can even exchange them with other gardening materials that you were needing. 

But, to get to that we need to first go through the three steps to properly get rid of landscape rocks. We will walk you through the extraction, the hauling, and all the ways of getting the rocks off of your hands. Ready?

The Extraction

The first step is to extract all the rocks from the lawn soil. You may have smaller, finer rocks, or even large boulders that need removing. Bigger rocks can kill nearby plants as they reduce nutrients from getting to the roots. So getting them out of the way is essential to ensure a lush healthy garden.

Things You Will Need:

• Shovel
• Garden Rake
• Gardening Gloves
• Soil Sifter

For larger rocks, use your shovel to dig around the rock until it is about 90% visible. Then shove your shovel down to the base of the rock and push upwards. Once the rock comes loose, move it to the side. 

For smaller rocks that are mixed finely with the soil and land of your lawn, it can be much harder. For that kind of texture, you are going to put your garden rake and soil sifter to use.

Run your rake through the soil to loosen up the rocks and then go ahead and shake it on the soil sifter. The end result would be beautifully separated rocks.

The Hauling Away

Now that you have extracted all the rocks you want to get rid of, it’s time to set them to the side carefully. If you are to make money off of these rocks you need to handle them with care.

You can also use heavy-duty wood planks to lift the larger rocks. Get help from other people to lift bigger rocks into the wheelbarrow. Once, everything is cleared out and you have a  good haul, it’s time to decide what to do with them.

Getting Rid of the Landscape Rocks

And, yes, finally, we are discussing the different ways of getting rid of landscape rocks. Rocks and gravel can be a thing of beauty in any garden or lawn but with time you may want to replace them. And, when that happens you need to know how to get rid of the old rocks.

Here’s how-

Earn a Penny from Your Rocks

Like we have mentioned before, just because the rocks and gravel are not needed on your lawn anymore doesn’t mean they are entirely useless. You can sell the rocks. Or, even exchange them for mulch for your garden. Either way, it adds monetary value.

Local Landscaping Company

Contact your local landscaping company if they want to buy off your rocks from you. Landscaping companies have a huge clientele and usually always need rocks and gravel for projects.

Keep in mind, many companies may not be willing to pay money for some rocks. But, they might negotiate in trading things. So, if you need mulch or sand for your garden, this might be a good time to get some supplies in exchange for the rocks.

Local Gravel Dealers

The next best thing is contacting your local gravel sellers. Gravel is a very important part of landscaping and lawn design. It’s used in driveways, walkways, and so much more. Bigger rocks can be crushed and made into finer gravel and asphalt.

There is a good chance you will earn a few bucks from a gravel seller if you can give them a considerable load of clean rocks.

The No-Money Way

Let’s say you could not get a hold of your local gravel company or any landscapers nearby. Or you just don’t want to go through all that hassle of setting up a call and meeting to get a scant few bucks.

But, the problem remains. You still need to get rid of your landscaping rocks. Well, here are the best solutions available for you. Have a look.

Upcycle

• Build A Retaining Wall
  A retaining wall is a very modern-looking design element that can look gorgeous and add more character to your garden.
  People end up buying bricks and fancy rocks for their retaining walls. But you can do it yourself if you just put your mind to it. And older rocks that were in the soil for so long will add more uniqueness to the look.
  You can use these rocks to mend and fix a retaining wall as well.
• Build A Walkway
  There is nothing more classic than a stone walkaway. Get out your gear and build the most beautiful and authentic-looking walkway to your garden. 
  You can alternate between different shades and sizes of the rock to make the end result look more organic.
• Use for Barriers Under Fences
  Have you ever faced the trouble of grass growing under and around your fences? Or really around any flower bed? It is a very common problem amongst people who are trying to keep a clean and tidy lawn space.
  A good sturdy solution for grass growing under fence is building a brick barrier. Many people use salvaged bricks to make it look more rustic and vintage. You can do the same thing with old lawn and landscape rocks. 

Give it Away

And the easiest solution is to give it away. Look for anyone who is wanting to get their hands on some rocks. You can post it in your local Facebook group, list it as “free” on the Facebook marketplace, or even hang some printouts by the street.

You can also offer the rocks in homeowner’s meetings to see if anyone has a use for them.

Paid Methods of Getting Rid of Landscape Rocks

You really don’t need to be paying any money to get rid of rocks. But, let’s say you find yourself in a pinch for time, or you really need the extra space in your lawn cleared up for your next big project.

There definitely are ways of getting rid of landscape rocks fast, if you are willing to pay.

Landfill

You can hire professionals to come and collect your rocks and dump them in a landfill. In this case, you won’t have to deal with the extraction either. This is a good option for rocks that are much larger and need drilling around them.

Roll-off Dumpster

Rent a roll-off dumpster from a local company. You will get a reasonably sized bin that will most likely fit all of the rocks and gravel that you want to dispose of. And once you are done, you can just give them a call and they will come and collect the bin for disposal.

Final Verdict

Well, that brings us to the very end of our article. We have listed all the ways of getting rid of landscape rocks that one could possibly need. We hope you found something that is useful to you. Have a great time revamping your lawn by getting rid of landscaping rocks. Good Luck!

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