Gravel in Yard

[HILLCYD]

I have a long gravel driveway. After getting plowed out 10000 times this winter, I have gravel ALL OVER my lawn.

Last year I spent about 10 hours total with a rake getting the crap out of the grass. I am not going to do that again.

I have heard of "power brooms" that work great for just such a task. Anyone know of a place in the Des Moines area that rents those?

 

[CyPride]

I have a long gravel driveway. After getting plowed out 10000 times this winter, I have gravel ALL OVER my lawn.

Last year I spent about 10 hours total with a rake getting the crap out of the grass. I am not going to do that again.

I have heard of "power brooms" that work great for just such a task. Anyone know of a place in the Des Moines area that rents those?

funny but i saw a guy using what must be what you are describing for just what you are facing. at the time, I knew what he was doing, but didn't know about the equipment.

I know what you are talking about with the gravel in the yard!

 

[VeloClone]

Just mow it a few times. You'll find almost all of the gravel will end up in the street, your neighbor's lawn and even in their living room (through the windows).



Oh, yeah...

 

[Wallruss64]

Power broom is the only way to go. I don't know where to go rent one in Des Moines though not familiar with the area. If you can find a skidsteer with a broom attachment it would be even better and alot faster.

 

[MNclone]

Don't know where you get a power broom at, but I will offer this tidbit;
For the first few snows, don't set your plow quite so low. This will allow the gravel to ice up good and hard, and you won't have as much loose gravel each time you plow.

 

[agcy68]

I left some snow down, or so I thought - still had a ton of rock out there in the grass. To get them out: that is why I had kids - they do a pretty good job at it.

 

[HILLCYD]

I pay a guy to do my drive, it is over a 1/4 mile long. I told him to keep the blade up, but the rocks are still all over the place.

 

[joelietz]

Yeah I think you're screwed either way. I remember when we tried to use the snow blower on a gravel bit.. that doesn't work at all.

There really should be a better way to remove the rocks than a power broom/rake. My uncle is in the rock crusher business, I wonder what ideas he'd have.. Hmm!

Kids aren't the solution unless you're borrowing them. I guarantee that 10hrs worth of manual rock clean up is better.

 

[bugs4cy]

:yes: They guy that plows out our drive showed up a week ago with a power brush and (thankfully) got every last rock out of the lawn. He has a small 'acreage size' tractor and owns the brush. We live in far NE Story County...

Try rent-all companies or I guess maybe worst case scenario is calling a lawn care comany and see if they'll do it.

 

[ISUAgronomist]

Kids, small buckets, and some 10$ bills.

 

[Racer68]

Depending on what side of town you are on, go to either Wheelers Outdoor Power Equipment on NE 14th St north of I-80 about 2 miles, or go to Porter Hardware on Hubbel Ave on the east side of Des Moines. Both locations carry the ECHO rubber paddle system with powerhead. The unit and paddle wheel carry a 5 year warranty and do a great job of removing the rock and debris while leaving your grass behind!

The "power broom" was invented and patented by a company by the name of Shindaiwa. The same rubber paddle systems offered by all of the competitors are all made by Shindaiwa...including ECHO. ECHO and Shindiwa merged together in 2009...just to give you a little insight to the units.

 

[Cyclonesrule91]

I have a long gravel driveway. After getting plowed out 10000 times this winter, I have gravel ALL OVER my lawn.

Last year I spent about 10 hours total with a rake getting the crap out of the grass. I am not going to do that again.

I have heard of "power brooms" that work great for just such a task. Anyone know of a place in the Des Moines area that rents those?

Why rent when you can buy?

NH 4x4 Diesel Compact Cab & Attchments



The guy is from Des Moines. Send him an email to see what he would charge to use it while he's waiting to get the thing sold. I would.

 

[Wesley]

You need an asphalt driveway stimulus project from the govt.

 

[peteypie]

I borrowed one that is just a weedeater attachment. Bad part is it is hard to find for some types of weedeaters. They work great though.:smile:

 

[joelietz]

I really dislike my gravel driveway because it gets to be full of weeds. I really want to have it paved but I'm leery of the cost. Gravel is the worst. My uncle, who operates a jaw crusher, just has his driveway sprayed by the weed man every year. I don't want to worry about family members inhaling any of that stuff though so I just cut back the weeds with a Weedeater once in a while (very dangerous, if you get hit by flying gravel). You definitely want to wear eye protection. :mask:

 

[chadm]

I really dislike my gravel driveway because it gets to be full of weeds. I really want to have it paved but I'm leery of the cost. Gravel is the worst. My uncle, who operates a jaw crusher, just has his driveway sprayed by the weed man every year. I don't want to worry about family members inhaling any of that stuff though so I just cut back the weeds with a Weedeater once in a while (very dangerous, if you get hit by flying gravel). You definitely want to wear eye protection. :mask:

How far do you live from a farm field? Your family more than likely already inhale it. So IMO, just spray it.

 

[joelietz]

How far do you live from a farm field? Your family more than likely already inhale it. So IMO, just spray it.

You have a good point. The nearest farm field is about 5 miles away. Spraying it probably would be better. My uncle is a bit nuts with his heavy duty equipment and jaw crusher tools. His solutions are frequently overkill. :no: