Planning to do How To Remove Gravel From Yard? Read This

So, you want to know how to remove gravel from your yard? It’s a job that takes effort and planning, but yes, you can do it yourself. Removing gravel involves gathering the right tools, choosing the best method for your situation, and figuring out what to do with the gravel once it’s out. This guide will walk you through the steps, explaining the tools you’ll need, how to handle different types of gravel and situations like driveways or fabric, and how to get rid of the gravel when you are done. We will also touch on the potential cost if you decide to hire help.

How To Remove Gravel From Yard
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Reasons You Might Take Out Gravel

People remove gravel for many reasons.
Maybe you want a different look for your garden.
Perhaps the gravel has spread into your lawn or garden beds.
Lots of weeds might be growing in the gravel.
You might want to plant grass or put in a patio instead.
Sometimes, the gravel just doesn’t work anymore for the space.

Getting Ready Before You Start

Removing gravel can be hard work. It can also be dusty.
Being ready helps a lot.

Gathering Safety Items

Safety comes first. You will need some gear.
Think about these items:

Strong gloves: To protect your hands from sharp stones.
Safety glasses: Gravel or dust can fly up. Protect your eyes.
Dust mask: Especially if the gravel is dry, it creates dust.
Sturdy shoes: Protect your feet. Avoid open-toed shoes.
Long pants: To protect your legs.

Planning the Work Area

Look at the area with gravel.
How big is it?
What kind of gravel is it? Small stones like clear pea gravel or bigger rocks?
Is it just on the ground, or is it mixed with soil?
Is there landscape fabric under the gravel?
Is it a large area like a gravel driveway removal project?
Knowing this helps you pick the right gravel removal tools and plan your work.
Divide a large area into smaller sections. This makes the job feel less huge.

Essential Gravel Removal Tools

Having the right tools makes the job much easier.
There are many gravel removal tools you can use.
Some are simple hand tools. Others use power.

Basic Hand Tools

These are good for small areas or fine-tuning.

Shovels: A flat shovel is great for scooping up piles. A pointed one can help dig edges.
Rakes: A garden rake can pull gravel together. A landscape rake (wide and strong) is even better for bigger areas.
Wheelbarrow: You will need a way to move the gravel once it’s in piles. A wheelbarrow is key. Get one that can hold a good amount.
Buckets: For smaller amounts or carrying gravel short distances. Strong plastic buckets work well.
Brooms: To sweep up smaller bits after you get the main piles. A stiff outdoor broom is best.
Tarps: You can rake or shovel gravel onto a strong tarp. Then drag the tarp to where you want the gravel pile. This saves trips with the wheelbarrow.

Tools for Sifting

If the gravel is mixed with soil, you need a way to separate it. This is where using a gravel screen is helpful.

Gravel Screen (Sifter): This is a frame with mesh. You put gravel and soil on top. The soil falls through, and the gravel stays on the screen. You can buy screens or make one. The mesh size depends on the gravel size.
Shovel or Scoop: To put the mixed soil and gravel onto the screen.

Power Tools

For larger areas or specific tasks, power tools speed things up.

Leaf Blower: A powerful leaf blower can sometimes push smaller gravel off hard surfaces like paths or drives. Be careful not to blow it where you don’t want it. It can also clear dust.
Shop Vacuum: A shop vac can suck up small gravel pieces and dust, especially in tight spots or near edges. Make sure it’s designed for wet/dry use and has a strong filter.
Bobcat or Skid Steer Loader: For very large areas, like a whole gravel driveway removal, a small machine like a Bobcat with a bucket attachment is the fastest way. This usually means hiring equipment or a service.

Table of Common Gravel Removal Tools

Here is a quick look at tools and their uses:

Tool	Main Use	Best For	Notes
Shovel	Scooping piles, digging edges	All areas	Flat for scooping, pointed for digging
Rake	Gathering gravel into piles	All areas, especially large	Landscape rake is strong for gravel
Wheelbarrow	Moving large amounts of gravel	Any area with space to roll	Essential for clearing large areas
Buckets	Moving small amounts, working in tight spots	Small areas, edges, steps	Good for hand carrying
Tarps	Dragging gravel short distances	Any area	Strong landscape tarps work best
Gravel Screen	Separating gravel from soil	Areas with mixed gravel/soil	Mesh size matters
Broom	Sweeping up small pieces, cleaning surfaces	Finishing touches, hard paths	Stiff outdoor broom recommended
Leaf Blower	Moving light gravel, clearing dust	Paths, patios, finishing	Needs enough power
Shop Vacuum	Picking up small gravel, dust in tight spots	Edges, corners, cleaning up	Use proper filter
Bobcat/Skid Steer	Removing very large volumes quickly	Gravel driveways, large areas	Requires skill or professional help

Step-by-Step: Manual Gravel Removal

Most people will start with manual gravel removal. This method uses hand tools. It works for many situations, from small garden beds to clear pea gravel paths.

Clearing the Main Area

Divide the Area: If it’s big, break it into sections. Maybe 10×10 feet squares.
Start Raking: Use your rake to pull the gravel into small piles. Work from the edges towards the center of your section. Try to get most of the gravel off the bare ground or landscape fabric.
Shovel Piles: Use your flat shovel to scoop the piles of gravel into your wheelbarrow or onto a tarp. Don’t overload the wheelbarrow; gravel is heavy.
Move the Gravel: Take the full wheelbarrow or drag the tarp to your chosen spot for storing the gravel. This spot should be out of the way.
Repeat: Keep raking, shoveling, and moving until the main layer of gravel is gone from that section.

Dealing with Edges and Hard-to-Reach Spots

Use a smaller shovel or even a trowel near walls, fences, or plants.
A broom can help sweep gravel away from edges onto the main area you are clearing.
A shop vac is great for corners and tight spaces where you can’t easily rake or shovel.

This is the basic process for manual gravel removal. It takes time and muscle.

Specific Removal Situations

Some situations need special steps.

Removing Landscape Fabric Gravel

Often, gravel is put over landscape fabric to stop weeds.
Removing landscape fabric gravel has an extra step: dealing with the fabric.

Remove the Gravel Layer: First, remove as much gravel as you can using the manual or mechanical methods described above. Try to get down to the fabric layer.
Find Fabric Edges: Look for the edges of the fabric. It might be buried slightly.
Cut the Fabric: Use a utility knife or scissors to cut the fabric into manageable pieces. Cutting it into strips or squares makes it easier to lift.
Pull Up Fabric Sections: Carefully pull up the cut sections of fabric.
Gather Remaining Gravel: As you pull up the fabric, you will find gravel stuck on top or trapped underneath. Scoop this up. Some might be mixed with soil under the fabric.
Clean the Area: Sweep or rake the ground under where the fabric was to get any leftover gravel or debris.
Dispose of Fabric: Roll up or fold the old landscape fabric. It cannot usually be recycled and needs to go in the trash.

Removing landscape fabric gravel is often harder because gravel gets stuck to the fabric.

Remove Gravel From Soil

This is perhaps the most difficult situation. If gravel has been walked into soil or tilled into a garden bed, it’s not a simple layer to lift. You need to remove gravel from soil by separating it.

Dig Up Mixed Material: Use a shovel to dig up the top few inches of soil and gravel mixture. Put this material into a wheelbarrow or directly onto a gravel screen.
Use a Gravel Screen: Place your gravel screen over a second wheelbarrow or tarp. Shovel small amounts of the soil/gravel mix onto the screen.
Shake or Sift: Gently shake the screen or use a hand trowel to push the material around on the screen. The soil will fall through the mesh, and the gravel will stay on top.
Collect Separated Material: Empty the clean gravel from the screen into one pile. Empty the screened soil into another pile (this soil might be good for other uses).
Repeat: Keep digging, sifting, and separating until you have cleared the area or removed enough gravel.

This process of using a gravel screen to remove gravel from soil is slow but effective if you want to reuse the soil.

Gravel Driveway Removal

Removing a gravel driveway is a big job. Driveways have a lot of gravel, often compacted or deep.

Assess the Size: How long and wide is the driveway? How deep is the gravel layer? This helps decide if you can do it manually or need machines.
Manual Method (for smaller drives or parts): Use heavy-duty rakes and shovels. Work in small sections. You will move many wheelbarrows full of gravel. This will take a lot of time and physical effort.
Machine Method (for larger drives): Hiring a Bobcat or similar machine with a bucket is much faster. You scoop up the gravel layer by layer. This requires knowing how to operate the machine or hiring a pro.
Edge Control: Use a shovel or edger to define the edges and stop gravel from spreading into the lawn as you work.
Base Layer: Be aware that there might be a compacted base layer of smaller stones (like crusher run) under the main gravel layer. Decide if you need to remove this too.

Gravel driveway removal is often the hardest type of gravel removal due to the sheer volume.

Clear Pea Gravel

Clear pea gravel refers to removing small, round stones. These can be tricky because they roll easily and mix into soil quickly.

Raking: Use a fine-tined rake if possible, or a regular garden rake carefully, to gather clear pea gravel. It tends to spread out, so rake towards a central line or pile.
Edging: Use a shovel or spade to cut a clear edge around the area. This stops the pea gravel from rolling away into grass or beds.
Sweeping/Blowing: On hard surfaces like patios, a broom or leaf blower can work well for clear pea gravel.
Shop Vac: For getting every last little stone, a shop vacuum is very effective for clear pea gravel.
Sifting: If clear pea gravel has sunk into the soil, you will definitely need a fine-mesh gravel screen to separate it.

Clearing clear pea gravel requires patience as the stones are small and move easily.

What to Do with the Gravel (How to Dispose of Gravel)

Once you’ve removed the gravel, you have a pile (or many piles). Now you need to figure out how to dispose of gravel or use it. You have several options for getting rid of gravel.

Reusing the Gravel

Use in Other Areas: Do you need paths, drainage layers, or ground cover in other parts of your yard? The gravel can be used there.
Create a Drainage Area: Gravel is good for drainage. You can use it around downspouts or in wet spots.
Fill Holes or Low Spots: If you have uneven areas away from drainage systems, gravel can help fill them.
Add to Concrete Mix: If the gravel is the right type and clean, it can sometimes be used as aggregate in concrete mixes for small projects.

Giving Away or Selling

If the gravel is clean and looks good, someone else might want it. This is a great way of getting rid of gravel without hauling it away.

Offer it Locally: Post online (like on local social media groups, Craigslist, Freecycle). People often look for free or cheap landscaping materials.
Tell Neighbors: A neighbor might need gravel for a small project.
Landscaping Companies: Some small companies might take clean gravel, though this is less common.

Taking it to a Disposal Site

This is often needed if you can’t reuse or give away the gravel.

Landfills: Most landfills accept construction and demolition waste, which includes gravel. You will likely need a truck or trailer. There will be a fee based on weight.
Recycling Centers (Construction & Demolition): Some places specialize in recycling building materials. They might crush the gravel for use in new projects. This is a more eco-friendly option if available. There will still be a fee.
Quarries or Material Yards: Sometimes, the places that sell gravel will take old, clean gravel back. Call and ask their policy.

Hiring a Junk Removal Service

If you have a large pile and don’t have a truck or time, you can pay a service.

Junk Haulers: Companies that remove unwanted items can take gravel. They charge based on volume or weight. This is often the most expensive way but requires the least work from you for getting rid of gravel.

Table of Gravel Disposal Options

Here are ways to handle the removed gravel:

Option	Pros	Cons	Cost	Effort Level
Reuse it in your yard	Free, keeps material on site	Requires a plan for use	Free	Medium
Give it away / Sell it	Free or makes money, helps others	Requires finding someone who wants it	Free or small income	Medium
Take to landfill/disposal	Guaranteed way to get rid of it	Requires truck/trailer, costs money	Moderate (by weight)	High (Hauling)
Take to recycling center	Eco-friendly, guaranteed disposal	Requires truck/trailer, costs money	Moderate (by weight)	High (Hauling)
Hire Junk Removal Service	Easiest, they do all the work	Most expensive	High (by volume/weight)	Low

Think about how much gravel you have and these options when deciding how to dispose of gravel.

Considering the Cost to Remove Gravel

What is the cost to remove gravel? The cost varies a lot. It depends mainly on whether you do it yourself or hire someone.

Doing it Yourself (DIY Cost)

If you do the work yourself, your costs are mostly for tools and disposal.

Tools: If you need to buy shovels, rakes, a wheelbarrow, or a screen, this is a one-time cost. You might already own many of these. Renting a tool like a gravel screen is also an option.
Safety Gear: Gloves, glasses, mask. These are small costs.
Disposal Fees: If you take the gravel to a landfill or recycling center, they charge by weight. This fee can add up if you have a lot of gravel. Check local rates.
Truck/Trailer Costs: If you haul the gravel yourself, factor in gas and possibly renting a truck or trailer.
Your Time: This is the biggest factor in DIY. Removing a lot of gravel takes many hours of hard physical work. Value your time.

Estimated DIY Cost: This can range from almost nothing (if you own tools and can reuse/give away gravel) to several hundred dollars (if you need tools and pay disposal fees).

Hiring Professional Gravel Removal

You can hire landscapers, excavation companies, or junk removal services. Their cost includes labor, tools, and disposal.

Labor: This is the main cost. They charge by the hour or give a price for the whole job.
Equipment: They use machines like Bobcats for big jobs, which costs more than hand tools.
Disposal: They handle taking the gravel away, and the cost is built into their price.

Factors that increase the cost to remove gravel when hiring pros:
* Amount of Gravel: More gravel means more time and disposal fees.
* Type of Gravel: Large, heavy rocks or compacted gravel can take longer.
* Access: Is the area easy to reach with machines? Tight spots increase labor time.
* Is it mixed with soil or fabric? Removing landscape fabric gravel or gravel mixed with soil takes more effort and time.
* Location: Prices for labor vary by area.

Estimated Professional Cost: This can range widely.
* For a small area (like a garden bed): $300 – $800+
* For a medium area (like a large path or small patio area): $800 – $2000+
* For a large area (like a gravel driveway removal): $2000 – $5000+ or more, depending on size and depth.

Getting multiple quotes from different companies is always a good idea to understand the likely cost to remove gravel in your specific situation.

Table Comparing DIY vs. Hiring

Factor	Doing It Yourself (DIY)	Hiring a Pro
Physical Effort	High	Low
Time	High	Low
Tools	Buy or use own	Provided by service
Disposal	You handle hauling & fees	Handled by service, included in cost
Cost	Low to Moderate (mainly disposal)	Moderate to High (labor + disposal)
Speed	Slow	Fast (especially with machines)
Best For	Small areas, tight budgets, patient people	Large areas, driveways, when time is limited

Tips for a Smoother Gravel Removal Job

Here are some extra tips to help you out.

Work When It’s Dry: Wet gravel is heavier and stickier. Dry gravel is much easier to rake, shovel, and screen. It will be dusty though, so wear your mask.
Break It Down: As mentioned, work in small sections. Finish one part before moving to the next. This feels less overwhelming.
Use Tarps: Laying tarps down first in a section and raking/shoveling onto them is a huge help. You can then drag the full tarp rather than making many wheelbarrow trips.
Check Depth: Dig a small test hole to see how deep the gravel is. This helps you know what to expect.
Look for Fabric: If you see bits of black fabric, you know you have to deal with removing landscape fabric gravel.
Sift Carefully: If you are using a gravel screen to remove gravel from soil, don’t overload the screen. Work with small amounts for better results.
Stay Hydrated: This is physical work. Drink plenty of water.
Lift Smart: Bend your knees when lifting full shovels or buckets to protect your back. Don’t try to lift too much at once.
Plan Disposal Early: Know before you start where the gravel will go. This saves time and effort later.
Clear a Path: Make sure you have a clear path for your wheelbarrow to the gravel storage or disposal area.
Consider the Next Step: What will you put down after the gravel is gone? Planning this might affect how thoroughly you need to remove every last stone. For instance, if you are putting down new soil and sod, you need to remove gravel from soil very well. If you are putting down mulch, a few leftover stones might not matter as much.

Preventing Future Gravel Problems

Once the gravel is gone, you might want to stop it from coming back or stop a new ground cover from spreading.

Install Edging: Put in borders made of metal, plastic, wood, or stone between your new area and grass or garden beds. This is key to stop gravel (or mulch, soil, etc.) from spreading.
Choose the Right Ground Cover: If replacing gravel, think about materials that stay in place better, or plant ground cover plants that will fill in and hold the soil.

Putting It All Together: The Steps

Here is a simple list of the steps to remove gravel from your yard:

Plan: Look at the area, decide on methods (manual, machine, sifting), and figure out disposal.
Get Ready: Gather your gravel removal tools and safety gear.
Divide and Rake: Break the area into small sections and rake gravel into piles.
Shovel and Move: Scoop piles into a wheelbarrow or onto tarps and move to a storage spot.
Handle Special Areas: Address edges, corners, or areas with fabric or mixed soil (removing landscape fabric gravel, remove gravel from soil). Use specific tools like screens or shop vacs as needed (using a gravel screen).
Clear Large Areas/Driveways: Use machines if necessary for gravel driveway removal.
Repeat: Keep working section by section until all the gravel is removed.
Clean Up: Sweep or rake the cleared area to get stray stones.
Dispose: Get rid of the gravel using your chosen method (how to dispose of gravel, getting rid of gravel).
Plan Next Steps: Prepare the area for whatever you will put there next.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How long does it take to remove gravel from a yard?
A: It takes different amounts of time for different jobs. A small path might take a few hours. A large gravel driveway removal project could take days or even a week or more if done manually. Hiring help speeds it up a lot.

Q: Can I just bury the gravel?
A: Burying large amounts of gravel is generally not a good idea. It affects soil drainage, makes planting hard, and can be a problem if you ever want to dig there later. It’s better to remove it completely.

Q: Is removing pea gravel harder than other types?
A: Clear pea gravel is small and round. It rolls easily and can sink into soil quickly. This can make it slightly harder to rake up completely compared to larger, more angular gravel, and it often requires sifting (using a gravel screen) if mixed with soil.

Q: What is the cheapest way to get rid of gravel?
A: The cheapest way is usually to reuse it somewhere else in your yard or give it away for free. If you must haul it away, doing it yourself with a truck and paying landfill fees is cheaper than hiring a junk removal service (cost to remove gravel).

Q: How do I remove landscape fabric that is under gravel?
A: First, remove the gravel layer. Then, cut the fabric into smaller pieces and pull them up. You will need to gather any gravel stuck to or under the fabric (removing landscape fabric gravel).

Q: Can I use a regular vacuum cleaner to pick up gravel?
A: No, a regular home vacuum is not designed for this. It will likely damage the vacuum and won’t have the power to pick up stones. You need a strong shop vacuum made for debris.

Q: How much does gravel weigh?
A: Gravel is heavy. One cubic yard of gravel can weigh between 2,400 to 3,000 pounds (1.2 to 1.5 tons) depending on the type and moisture. This is why a wheelbarrow and planning for disposal by weight are important.

Wrapping Up

Removing gravel from your yard is a task that requires effort. But with good planning, the right gravel removal tools, and patience, it is definitely a do-it-yourself project you can complete. Whether you are tackling a small garden bed, clearing pea gravel from a path, removing landscape fabric gravel, or taking on a full gravel driveway removal, breaking the job into steps makes it manageable. Remember your safety gear, figure out how to dispose of gravel beforehand, and know the potential cost to remove gravel if you plan to hire help. Taking the time to clear out unwanted gravel will prepare your yard for new possibilities and give you a clean slate for your next landscaping idea.