You’re ready for your landscape renovation, but you don’t know what to do with your landscaping rocks.
Knowing where to begin disposing of landscaping rocks can seem overwhelming.
Luckily, it’s not as difficult as you think, and there are several ways to do so.
Easy Ways to Dispose of Your Landscaping Rocks
You can decide to do most of the disposal work yourself, hire someone to do it, or give your rocks away.
Using a Dumpster to Dispose of Landscaping Rocks
One of the simplest and most intuitive ways to get rid of your rocks is by renting a dumpster.
Rocks and gravel are heavy, so a dumpster provides an efficient way to haul them.
You can fit about 2,600 pounds of gravel in a dumpster of up to three cubic yards. After loading the dumpster at your convenience, schedule a pickup.
The best part is you don’t even have to be home when someone picks up your rocks. However, you will need your own tools to load your rocks onto the dumpster.
Putting Your Landscaping Rocks Up for Grabs
As the saying goes, one man’s junk is another’s treasure. Why not leave your landscaping rocks for someone who does need them?
Make a simple sign that says “Free” on it and place it over your pile of unwanted rocks. Leave it out front and wait for someone to drive by and pick it up.
Alternatively, you can place an ad online to announce you’re giving away your landscaping rocks. Someone is bound to send you an inquiry.
This is an easy option that requires little effort on your part. However, consider that if no one picks up your rock, they may be there indefinitely.
Lastly, this isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing option. If you’ve got an HOA to worry about, you may be better off with a different disposal method.
Freecycling Landscaping Rocks Online
Another free option is to look in places like Craigslist or even Facebook Marketplace for people who want landscaping rocks.
Often people will seek out rocks for projects of their own.
You’d be surprised at how many people go online seeking things like free dirt or rocks. These include contractors as well as DIY enthusiasts.
Aside from individuals looking to do projects, many companies will take your rock donations as well. Do a search for these online and find out where you can donate.
The best time to search for freecycling help is in the spring. Most people want to start a project after winter is gone, so keep seasons in mind.
Find Your Nearest Landfill
Typically, a landfill is the most accessible place to dump landscaping rocks yourself. If you have a large and dependable truck you can fit your rocks in, go for it.
Dumping yourself is a particularly good option if you’re only looking to dump a small number of rocks. It’s also a lot cheaper than renting a dumpster.
That being said, you will have to put in much more work to dump landscaping rocks yourself. Not only is it more strenuous, but you’ll also need tools and someone to help.
Keep in mind that depending on your location, dumping yourself may require several trips. Additionally.
A landfill could be further away than you’d like, thus costing you more gas.
Go the Junk Removal Route
There are several junk removal services you can choose from to dispose of your landscaping rocks. The biggest downfall is that it can get expensive quickly.
Because of the costs involved, using a junk removal service is a good option only if you have smaller gravel to get rid of. Fees also vary widely and may increase upon arrival.
If you desperately need your landscaping rocks gone quickly, calling a junk removal company may be worth it.
Cleanup will be efficient as well, and you needn’t lift a finger yourself.
Tools for Rock Disposal
You’ll need a few essential tools to dispose of your landscaping rocks, and you probably already have some of them.
- Rototiller: This tool is for loosening the soil and can typically be rented at any hardware store if you don’t have one.
- Gloves: To avoid blistering your hands and to protect them from any soil and debris, don a good pair of garden gloves.
- Garden rake: Your rake will be essential for gathering up all the rocks and gravel.
- A shovel: Shoveling gravel after you’ve collected it is a must for getting it from point A to B.
- A wheelbarrow: If you’re planning to dump the rocks yourself or take them to someone for a donation, you’ll definitely be needing a wheelbarrow.
Consider Repurposing Your Landscaping Rocks
Let’s say you can’t find anyone to take your landscaping rocks, and you think it’s too expensive to dump them in other ways. What about using them differently?
Maybe you think you’ve got no use for your landscaping rocks, but sometimes all it takes is a little inspiration. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Make a Fire Pit
You can make a stunning fire pit in your yard with no tools but a rake and shovel. If you’ve got gravel and large rocks, this is the perfect project.
All you need to keep in mind are some essential safety tips:
- Don’t use river rocks to build the inside, as these trap steam
- Make your inner fire pit wall out of firebrick and use your landscaping rocks only for decorative purposes
- Be sure to have a steel ring in the fire pit to protect the walls from repeated heat exposure
- Build your fire pit at least 15 feet away from any buildings and other fire hazards
All you’ll need is a shovel for digging, a metal fire pit ring, some spray paint for marking, and masonry adhesive. Aside from these, your gravel will go in the pit and any other rocks for decor.
Edge Your Flower Beds
Building a retaining wall around your flower beds is typically a considerable expense, but not if you do it yourself using repurposed rocks.
Unlike a conventional retaining wall, edging your flower bed with rocks is simple. Sort your rocks and find the ones with angular faces for more precise stacking.
All you’ll need for this project are a shovel, a mattock, and a sledgehammer. A few tips to keep in mind for this project are:
- Dig a trench large enough to get started, typically about four inches deep and a minimum of two feet in width
- Measure your stones so you can level them against adjacent stones
- Angle the courses backward
- If using irregular rocks, make sure to have a large rock behind face rocks approximately every three feet
This project will require more patience than others, but it’s well worth it. If you find that you can’t quite fit your rocks perfectly every now and then, don’t shy away from planting in between.
Create a Walkway
Making a walkway for your garden is easy and shouldn’t take longer than a day or two. You can use the rocks you have on hand to create different designs.
Small rocks or gravel can be spread around the walkway and used to fill cracks or extra space. Larger rocks make excellent stepping stones.
Walkways also don’t require extensive skill or expertise. The most difficult parts of building one will be the digging, temping, and hauling.
Aside from your rocks or gravel, you’ll need:
- Plastic for edging your path
- Something to mark your path before starting
- A shovel or mattock
- Some tarp
Make this into a weekend project, and you’ll have a brand new beautiful walkway done before the new week begins.
How to Prep Your Landscaping Rocks for Repurposing
Whatever you’re donating your rocks or repurposing them, prepping your landscaping rocks beforehand is a good idea.
Especially if you’re doing the work yourself, it will make things a lot easier.
The first thing you want to do is separate the rocks by type into separate piles. Ideally, you should separate river rocks and gravel.
Next, wash off the rocks with water to remove any debris. Carefully take off any leaves or stubborn dirt with a brush if you want to be extra diligent (and have time!).
For larger rocks, follow these helpful tips:
- Remove dirt and debris with a broom rather than a brush
- Use your garden hose to wash away residual debris or mud
- You can use vinegar to get rid of moss or algae on river rocks
- After scrubbing or brushing, rinse your rocks again with a hose
Depending on the kind of project you choose for repurposing your landscaping rocks, the time you spend washing and prepping will vary.
For gravel projects such as a walkway, for example, you won’t need to do much brushing or washing. However, for projects with large rocks, it’s worth putting in the extra time.
Takeaways
When you have unwanted landscaping rocks on your hands, it can be difficult to decide how to get rid of them.
However, there are several easy ways to dispose of them immediately.
You can always do a simple but effective DIY project to repurpose your rocks as well.
With some patience and a little creativity, you can transform unwanted rocks into an asset.
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