Gravel on the grassy bank

[IthacaJeff 151]

Hi WH'ers;

This may not belong in this section, but here goes. I've got tons of road gravel sitting on the bank of my roadside ditch due to snow plows. More than you can imagine, because last fall the town spread gravel (regular crushed limestone) on my road. The problem is, my road is asphalt (actually, tar and chip), but in such bad shape it was repaired with gravel. Of course, the gravel never packed down over the asphalt that was still intact, enabling the first plow pass to entirely push the gravel onto the bank of the roadside ditch.

 

The ditch is too steep to drive my tractor, so I cannot scrape it out with the dozer blade on my 310-8 (did this on some parts not so steep). Nearly 300 feet of the ditch and lots of rock, so too much to rake by hand. Any ideas?

 

[Tankman 3,515]

I know the feeling, been there done that. Slow, rake and shovel.

 

Some might think, add earth and grasses? Any pic's?

 

The gravel would make great drainage although might attract unknown creatures?.

 

Edited February 29, 2016 by Tankman

[Ed Kennell 35,614]

OK, that changes my plan to rake all the gravel out of my grass today.    How long will  it take for these creatures to show up Tank?

 

Edited February 29, 2016 by ekennell

[Aldon 4,826]

Ditto. Plan formulating. Need to get some gravel dumped off.......

[Tankman 3,515]

43 minutes ago, ekennell said:

OK, that changes my plan to rake all the gravel out of my grass today.    How long will  it take for these creatures to show up Tank?

 

When the average daily temp reaches 70F the creatures show up. The creatures will move indoors when it gets cooler.

 

Keep in mind they only eat healthy organic veggies. It won't kale you!

Edited February 29, 2016 by Tankman

[Ed Kennell 35,614]

Wait a minute....I think I knew her brother.

[Retired Sparky 526]

Have you guys have your meds. this morning.

Seriously, I have the same problem. For years I rake the gravel off the lawn and when the ditch dries enough, I go down in the ditch with boots and shovel it into my trailer or wheel barrow and use it where ever necessary.  Brother I know it keeps me young.

Edited February 29, 2016 by Retired Sparky

[squonk 38,844]

If you're looking for  a machine to get the  gravel out,  Get a Sthil Yard Boss with the Power Sweep attachment

[AMC RULES 36,941]

Back hoe, or mini excavator to make short work of it.

[stevasaurus 22,229]

Nice ukulele!!  I used to have one like that. 

[IthacaJeff 151]

I think I need to get pics of really how bad the problem is. Plus, anything to replace that image of Tiny Tim in my mind. .  .

[tunahead72 2,334]

Pics will definitely help.  You might want to ask your town's road crew to stop by and take a look, see if they have any ideas.

 

[oliver2-44 8,836]

@IthacaJeff  A picture of @stevasaurus with a ukulele and wooden shoes hovering over a 3 piece transmission could replace that other picture in your head.

[953 nut 51,530]

If this looks like it will be a recurring problem I would spray some Round-up and then plant a low growing ground cover. Once it is well established it will look good and be relatively low maintenance.

[Aldon 4,826]

I imagine that my new sickle blade would be just the ticket for an issue like this. But like low ground cover, it just masks the root issue.

Edited February 29, 2016 by Aldon

[ztnoo 2,298]

If a governmental highway agency has a front end rotary sweeper, they may already have the capability to deal with some of the mess. If not, you may be able to rent something locally or find a landscape maintenance contractor who has something like shown below. Chances are is if you have the problem, lots of other residents have the same dilemma to deal with too. If the city//county/state caused the problem, due to neglect or poor decision making, they should fix the problem. If enough property owners raise enough hell, they (the agency responsible for the problem) might be forced to change their methodology, or actually repair the road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

               

Edited March 1, 2016 by ztnoo

[squonk 38,844]

2 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

@IthacaJeff  A picture of @stevasaurus with a ukulele and wooden shoes hovering over a 3 piece transmission could replace that other picture in your head.

Don't forget the long hair! 

 

 

The power sweep could get down into the ditch

 

[pfrederi 17,129]

I have a sweepster mounted on a C175.  It will work on reasonable level ground but I doubt she would sweep up a steep grade.  Down yes but how would you get back up?

[TDF5G 2,051]

3 hours ago, IthacaJeff said:

I think I need to get pics of really how bad the problem is. Plus, anything to replace that image of Tiny Tim in my mind. .  .

[DougC 2,641]

I also have a terrible road rock pushed onto a road bank angle problem I can't blade back onto the road thanks to the neighbor who plows our private road with his Dodge diesel plow truck. HE THINKS IT'S FUNNY watching me rake and shovel the rock into my dump cart and then gets mad when I use the recovered road rock on my own driveway........... Tough sh*t buddy! You want it back on the road? Put it back on the road your self!!!  

[AMC RULES 36,941]

I think there a least one of them guys...

in everybody's neighborhood.   

After installing my rock collection a couple years ago...

the issues on my bank have pretty much all gone away.  

 

 

Edited March 1, 2016 by AMC RULES

[Tankman 3,515]

Craigs solution, is the solution! Great job but, they like it too! Lucky you!

[Ed Kennell 35,614]

The latest "invasive species".             Break out the mole controllers.

[Tankman 3,515]

2 hours ago, ekennell said:

The latest "invasive species".  Break out the mole controllers.

 

Gas those ugly pests? Needs some thought.

 

Try Milky Spore disease, kills grubs. Moles populate where grubs live, milky spore, one application lasts 20-30 years. Eliminates the moles' food supply.

The moles will move to your neighbors.

[Lane Ranger 10,472]

Seeing Steve's comment I had to pass this on to everyone  :

 

 Believe it or not yesterday's Indianapolis Star  newspaper had this in the Let It Out column:

 

" If everyone played the ukulele, the world would be a better place " !

 

I had to pass that on to you all!