Which Machine to Remove Soil / Weed and Grass

lovepub on 08/10/2018 - 21:30
Last edited 09/10/2018 - 00:02 by 1 other user

I am wanting to DIY returfing my yard. It's a small yard, hence I don't think it's cost efficient to get professionals to do it. I want to remove 10cm of soil regardless of its dirt patch or grass or weed in the soil.

I saw sod cutter in YouTube, it doesn't seem to be best suitable for me is it? Since I don't have grass on majority of soil. Is small size bobcat (or whatever name of the machine ) is what I need to scrap off 10cm deep of soil and dump it ?
Anyone has a better idea?
I tried a shovel…..Not a good idea…Will die doing it.

Will buy good soil to lay on top and buy grass to put on after I am done.

What machine will help me in achieving removing the soil without breaking or damaging some of pipes beneath ?
Any comments would be much appreciated. And ideas of where to hire it from.

PS. Will hire a skip bin to chuck the bad soil….So would I need another machine to do that ?

Home & Garden Gardening

Comments

  • Archi on 08/10/2018 - 21:43
    +2

    You can hire a machine called a hydraulic tiller which rips up the ground and then you can shovel out and level a lot easier..

    You can hire one from kennards hire.

  • roastchook on 08/10/2018 - 21:53
    +1

    I can remove weed or grass for you. No charge.😀

  • [Deactivated] on 08/10/2018 - 22:11
    +1

    Creatine.

  • Presence on 08/10/2018 - 22:18

    How big is a small yard? If a bobcat fits I don't think it's small.

    • lovepub on 08/10/2018 - 22:39

      I got a 5x5m and a 10x3m kerb.

  • KingJuf on 09/10/2018 - 00:54
    +1

    If you are keen to do it yourself then hire a kanga/dingo plus skip bin and give it ago, dont know what costs are like in brisbane but was cheaper to get someone to do it with bobcat and they also dispose of the soils/weed/rubbish by the time you hire a skip bin and kanga digger. You can also get them to bring in lawn mix and get them to spread it.

    The only way it would have worked out cheaper is to use a shovel which obviously most people dont wanna do because of time and effort req.

    So providing you have the access of about 1.5m wide the areas call a bobcat guy and get them to so the lot.

    • Indomietable on 09/10/2018 - 01:44

      The only way it would have worked out cheaper is to use a shovel which obviously most people dont wanna do because of time and effort req.

      Don't go in dry. You can try to loosen the soil using a mattock after big rain then shovel it.

      • KingJuf on 09/10/2018 - 01:55

        Yeh sorry didnt take into account brisbane is most likely soil/clay whereas Perth is all sand. I did 90sqm of turf for mine, number one tip is to make sure u kill off the weeds for 2 weekends in a row with roundup, if you dont they will come up so much quicker than expected.

        • lovepub on 09/10/2018 - 09:26

          Plan to dig 10cm of soil. Which I expect would remove all living weeds.
          I hope. So won't need to round up them anymore

          • KingJuf on 09/10/2018 - 09:33

            @lovepub: Still worth spraying it prior to digging it up, weed roots will still be there.

  • GangGang on 09/10/2018 - 06:20

    Is it possible to do it without removing soil and raising slightly?

    Lay down black plastic/cardboard over the entire area and kill off the entire weeds. Remove plastic & add top soil for new turf at around 5cm, unroll turf and you're done.

    It will be alot easier, you may need to run timber along the boundary because you have raised it slightly deopending on your land.

    • lovepub on 09/10/2018 - 09:26

      Its already raised. Hence the need to remove some and add new top soil.
      Previous guy did a shitty job plus my shitty gardening skill….Disaster happens

      • GangGang on 09/10/2018 - 09:58

        Damn. I was hoping you still had extra space to raise as it costs alot to remove soil. I would double check if you can put soil in skip bin, not sure if you can.

        What turf are you getting?

        • lovepub on 09/10/2018 - 10:14

          Prob Buffalo.
          Something low maintainence

          • GangGang on 09/10/2018 - 10:42

            @lovepub: If you haven't already looked for Buffalo. There's different types. sir Walter, Kakadu etc. They all look the same but are priced differently.

            • lovepub on 09/10/2018 - 16:21

              @GangGang: Any suggestion?
              Prob total around 80m2 of grass needed.
              Price wise won't be much difference for grass which I am willing to spend as long as they are shade tolerant and low maintainence. And comfy

        • lovepub on 09/10/2018 - 16:23

          Skip bin no soil….Is this apply to every companys skip?

  • ms_caz on 09/10/2018 - 06:32

    We hired a bobcat to do some work over the past weekend - it definitely requires quite a bit of skill to operate. A dingo is a bit easier to manoeuvre and will probably suit the space you have. However, take into account hire costs and tipping fees, you might find that a quote from a landscaper comes in close to that, and you can have them supply soil as well.

    • lovepub on 09/10/2018 - 09:24

      Thanks. Might ring around to get a quote

  • shaybisc on 09/10/2018 - 08:49

    Turfcutter from Kennards

    https://www.kennards.com.au/turf-cutter.html

    A popular self propelled landscaping machine with depth adjustment for harvesting or removing turf. Cuts 'ready to roll', up to 900sqm of turf per hour.

  • pegaxs on 09/10/2018 - 10:46

    Hitachi EX8000… we use these at work for taking the top layers off…

    Seriously though, just ring an equipment hire place near you and get a mini digger like a Dingo or a Toro. You will be done in a few hours at most for a small front yard.

  • theHMASfriendship on 09/10/2018 - 13:54

    24 ft grader

  • [Deactivated] on 10/10/2018 - 16:36

    You can hire a turf cutter to remove the grass.

    • lovepub on 10/10/2018 - 20:34

      I am planning to get a dingo

      And not even gonna worry about current grass…Going to scoop up big chunk of soil and dump it and get new topsoil put down then grass it….Easier that way I guess

      Just have to spend extra for new topsoil. Guessing it's not too expensive hopefully

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