Get ready to rock with this DIY guide
Rocks can quietly accumulate in your yard over time, whether they’re extras from landscaping projects or you removed them from a flower bed or walkway to refresh your yard. The situation creates a weighty dilemma for homeowners when it is time to remove them. So, how do you avoid getting stuck between a rock and a hard place?
Whether you are revamping your garden or upgrading the gravel driveway to concrete, learn how to dispose of rocks responsibly before grabbing your shovel.
Removing rocks from your yard can improve drainage, increase your usable space, and enhance the aesthetics of your outdoor area. And, as with removing yard waste, doing the job properly contributes to a more sustainable and beautiful world for ourselves and future generations.
Environmental impact: Dumping rocks in natural areas or water bodies can disrupt ecosystems, harm wildlife, and degrade the habitat.
Sustainable practices: By reusing, recycling, or donating rocks, we reduce the need for extracting and processing new materials, ultimately conserving natural resources.
Legal compliance: Responsible stone disposal ensures you comply with local laws and avoid potential fines or penalties.
Community responsibility: Being responsible with rock disposal sets a positive example. It encourages others to adopt eco-friendly practices.
Reduces strain on landfills: Rocks won’t degrade over time, so if you dump them with regular trash, they’ll just sit in a landfill and take up space indefinitely. Proper disposal helps avoid that.
The expenses associated with excavating or removing rocks from your property can vary significantly, but the cost typically falls between $50 to $200 per cubic yard.
Many companies charge an hourly rate ranging from $120 to $150. The final price is influenced by the job's complexity, with labor-intensive projects requiring larger vehicles, excavators, dumpsters, and additional removal fees compared to other yard-clearing tasks.
It might be easier on your wallet to dispose of the stones yourself. However, a sizable rock removal project may require renting equipment, including a dumpster.
The average cost to rent a dumpster is around $380 per week, depending on your location. Contacting a local dumpster rental service for more accurate pricing is a good idea.
Remember, what you can and can’t put into a dumpster depends on the dumpster company, so check with yours before proceeding. The ones that do accept rocks may charge extra due to the weight.
There are a few different methods you can use to dispose of rocks responsibly. The one that’s best for you will depend on your budget, how much work you’re willing to put in, and the quantity or weight of rocks you need to dispose of.
An easy and sometimes profitable way to dispose of rocks on your property is to sell them. You can try contacting local landscaping companies to see if they’ll purchase them, or you can list them on an online marketplace.
For landscaping companies to take the rocks, you’ll likely need a large quantity or a desirable type of rock, like black polished pebbles or boulders that are ideal for landscaping design. Some might be willing to pick up the rocks, while others may only accept drop-offs, so you’d have to figure out a way to deliver them.
It’s more likely that you’ll be able to find a local homeowner who could use the rocks in their own garden or landscaping. Try posting them for sale on online marketplaces, and set the “delivery” option to local pickup only for the least amount of work required on your end.
If you just want the rocks gone and don’t want to wait around for a local buyer, you can hire a local yard cleanup company or hire a local junk removal professional. In both cases, you’ll pay a fee for labor, and a pro will come to your property, load the rocks into a truck, and haul them away for you. This is the most expensive option, but it also requires minimal effort on your part.
We recommend speaking with a few professionals before choosing one to make sure the rocks aren’t going to a landfill. Yard cleanup companies are more likely to be able to repurpose the rocks or bring them to a site that won’t just dump them with regular trash.
You can also rent a dumpster rather than relying on a junk hauling company. A dumpster company will drop off a receptacle in which you can place rocks and other landscaping debris, and then the company will come pick up the dumpster and haul it away once you’re done. Be sure that the dumpster rental company accepts rocks before hiring. This requires that you physically load the rocks into the dumpster, but you won’t have to rent a truck to haul them to a disposal facility.
Renting a dumpster will cost you less than hiring a professional, too, and it will give you the freedom to load the rocks and other debris gradually. It is a good idea to find a dumpster company that will deliver the rocks to a safe disposal site and not a landfill, provided you’re not also placing trash in the dumpster.
Regardless of the quantity of rocks you have, you should be able to donate them. You can try reaching out to landscaping design companies to see if they’ll accept your rocks at no charge, or you can try to find an organization dedicated to neighborhood beautification that might be able to use them in a community project.
In some cases, the organization to which you’re donating the rocks might be willing to come pick them up, but it’s more likely that you’ll have to load and deliver the rocks yourself.
In some cases, hiring a landscaper to tackle your new project—whatever it is you’re replacing your rocks with—will include hauling away the existing rocks. You might have to pay a small labor charge or dumping fee, but since the landscaper will already be on your property, you might be able to avoid a trip charge from a junk removal company. Check your contract, as well, to see who is responsible for cleaning up after a project is complete.
In some cases, your landscaper might be able to reuse your rocks on another client’s property, which is a great way to responsibly dispose of the material.
In addition to using rocks to build pathways or decorate a garden, there are many practical ways to repurpose stones in your yard. Rather than paying to get rid of rocks on your property, consider repurposing them.
Retaining walls: Create functional and visually appealing retaining barriers to prevent soil erosion and create terraced planting areas.
Rock edging: Use rocks as edging along garden beds, walkways, or driveways to define spaces and prevent grass from encroaching.
Rock steps: Construct sturdy and natural-looking steps using larger rocks, making slopes in your yard more accessible.
Rock seating: Arrange larger rocks to form seating areas or cozy nooks for relaxing and enjoying outdoor space.
Rock drains: Utilize rocks to create dry creek beds or swales that effectively channel water away from your home and prevent flooding.
Disposing of large volumes of rocks can be time-consuming and physically demanding work, but a few tips should make your job a whole lot easier.
Be willing to pay for labor. Rocks are heavy, and small rocks can be extremely time-consuming to round up. Paying for labor might get expensive, but it’s often worth it based on the time you’ll save.
Wear protective gear and lift with your legs. If you do load and haul away your rocks yourself, make sure you wear protective gear like lifting braces and lift with your legs to avoid back injuries.
Rely on tools whenever possible. Use wheelbarrows or dollies to move rocks efficiently. For large volumes of rocks, consider renting a small backhoe to make your job easier.
Rent a truck for transport. Even if you have a pickup or truck that can transport the rocks, consider renting a truck to keep yours safe from damage and avoid having to spend time scrubbing it clean afterward.
Disposing of rocks on your property is often a DIY-friendly project, and tackling it yourself could save you a few hundred dollars, depending on the volume you need to remove.
However, for heavy boulders or an extensive removal project, hiring a professional landscaping or local excavation company with the appropriate equipment may be best. Professionals have the experience and expertise to handle the task efficiently and safely, especially when dealing with heavy or large rocks that may pose potential risks. Additionally, professionals are familiar with local regulations and disposal guidelines, ensuring the rock removal process complies with legal requirements and is as responsible as possible.
Moreover, DIY rock disposal can be physically demanding and time-consuming, taking away from other priorities. By entrusting the job to experts, homeowners can save valuable time, avoid potential injuries, and know that rock disposal is being handled skillfully and responsibly.
A trusty garden rake can handle the job, although it may lack the sturdiness of a specialized rake for intensive projects. A rock-screening rake or bow rake both have metal tines that efficiently gather rocks while allowing the soil to sift through, streamlining and possibly speeding up the process of landscape rock removal. These rakes also do a great job of removing stones from grass.
Large boulders may require professional assistance or heavy machinery to break them up safely and efficiently for removal. To do it yourself, use a masonry drill bit to drill holes into the boulder's surface at weak points or natural cracks. Once the holes are in place, insert metal wedges and shims. Then, strike the wedges with a sledgehammer to apply pressure and split the boulder along the drilled lines. It is vital to wear safety gear that projects your eyes, hands, feet, and body while performing this task.
It’s often not necessary to clean up rocks before you sell or donate them, although it’s a nice gesture. Cleaning the rocks you’re getting rid of probably isn’t worthwhile if you’re selling a large volume of small rocks, but if you’re selling or donating large boulders for landscape design, a quick clean might fetch more money or help out the donation center.
