Removing Stones from Soil

[Ralph]

We cleared and scraped much more ground that we thought we would and have ended up with quite a lot of bare soil. The quality of it is fine but I have noticed that we have a lot of stones, ranging from 5cm pebbles right up to 20cm+ rocks.

 

Does anyone know of a small machine that could be hired to remove the stones? I don't fancy doing the 1,500 sqm by hand and the farmer's stone picker needs a tractor so is too big.

 

[jack]

You can buy or hire powered rotating sieves: https://www.screwfix.com/p/scheppach-rs350-automatic-rotary-soil-sieve/3213k

 

I hemmed and hawed about this (we have sandy soil with lots of pebbles) and curse the day I ultimately decided it was too much effort. Just last week I was pulling dandelions out of the lawn, and two thirds of the time I had to contend with stones in the way.

Edited to add: just saw 1500m² - that's a LOT of area to process. Any reason not to get the farmer's tractor involved?

[Ralph]

  On 17/05/2021 at 15:00, jack said:

You can buy or hire powered rotating sieves: https://www.screwfix.com/p/scheppach-rs350-automatic-rotary-soil-sieve/3213k

 

I hemmed and hawed about this (we have sandy soil with lots of pebbles) and curse the day I ultimately decided it was too much effort. Just last week I was pulling dandelions out of the lawn, and two thirds of the time I had to contend with stones in the way.

Edited to add: just saw 1500m² - that's a LOT of area to process. Any reason not to get the farmer's tractor involved?

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The farmer could probably do some of it but we also have quite a bit already landscaped as in the picture with terraces and bunds as we have a flood issues with surface water coming off fields. I think a tractor with one of those big stone scanners would trash it. I was hoping there was something more like a rotavator size but can't find anything.

[IanR]

If you don't want to have a full sized tractor on there, find a landscaping company with a Stoneburier and a compact tractor. Blecavator make a range of sizes and are the well known brand.

 

They create a fine tilth and push the stones down, and give a nice flat finish. It would only be a couple of hours work. 

 

Edited to add:

 

Looks like they can be hired too

 

https://www.fthhiregroup.co.uk/hire-products/landscaping-and-groundscare/groundcare-equipment/blecavator-stoneburier-attachment

 

as an example.

Edited May 17, 2021 by IanR

[Onoff]

Do what our neighbour did and hire what I assume was cheap immigrant labour to do it by hand! 

[Ralph]

That tractor and stoneburier is exactly what I'm looking for but that is an expensive hire. 

We have a lot of fruit and veg pickers around here, might well be worth finding out if they want some extra cash.

[dpmiller]

minidigger with stone rake?

[Ralph]

  On 17/05/2021 at 20:49, dpmiller said:

minidigger with stone rake?

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Did not know that was even a thing, could well work.

[joe90]

Gosh I wish I knew about that stone burier , could use my own furgy on site. I have spent way too many hours bent double picking up stones from my plot ?

[Redoctober]

  On 17/05/2021 at 21:30, joe90 said:

 I have spent way too many hours bent double picking up stones from my plot ?

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Likewise - I actually filled a small skip with such stones prior to our turf going down, across 600 sq metres of earth. Back breaking work - probably not want you want to hear @Ralph ?

[Ralph]

  On 17/05/2021 at 21:55, Redoctober said:

 

Likewise - I actually filled a small skip with such stones prior to our turf going down, across 600 sq metres of earth. Back breaking work - probably not want you want to hear @Ralph ?

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I can still remember the backache from picking tatties in the holidays as a child and I don't want to do that again!

[Onoff]

Got a cement mixer? ?

 

 

[Pete]

  On 18/05/2021 at 08:29, Onoff said:

Got a cement mixer? ?

 

 

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And plenty of time!!?

[George]

Ah, de-stoning. Many a farming child has shifted a few tonnes of cobbles.