What is the easiest way to dig up hard soil and stones (without a digger)

[Whatisapension]

There is a strip of soil in the middle of my lawn which is densely filled with stones (it was previously the part of a greenhouse base, greenhouse now removed).

I am in a terrace so not able to get a digger in, and the strip is only a couple meters long so it feels a bit overkill. But the stones seem to be roughly 20-30cm deep, not just a surface layer.

I tried digging it out last year with a normal shovel, but I can only manage to get a few stones out at a time, as the shovel can’t go through deep enough so it would take me a long time.

I want to remove the stones, top up with soil and reinstate the grass/blend it in with the borders but I am not sure what tools would make my life the easiest.

I had to dig out and remove 2 skips worth of concrete and bricks that were helpfully buried by the previous owners, and I don’t think I can face tackling this last bit with just a shovel😫 but garden season is coming and I want to get rid of this last bit and crack on with making the garden nice.

Employ a handyman/woman to do it.

Are you sure you can’t get a digger in? I’ve seen tiny ones that sort of fold up and go through door ways, some are even remote control.

My gardening life changed the minute I discovered no dig method. But I’m not sure you’d get a level lawn with that. All I will say is the grass seeds seem to germinate well enough in my gravel pathway without much soil!!

Stick a fork in, and use that to break up the stones. Then lift out with a spade. You might want to use a sieve to remove the earth I'd make a pile on a piece of tarpaulin perhaps, or better, so you can move it, in one of those builders bags, then re-use the soil for your grassy area and just get rid of the stones. Maybe offer the work on FB to 'local teenager wanting to earn some money'

A pick.

Could you maybe do No Dig and create a raised bed you can plant in?

Would be a lot less work but no level lawn (could be a lovely bed for lots of plants though?)

Thanks all. The no dig could work for part of it as it starts at the fence, but the rest of it will need to be dug out as it leads into the lawn, so raised bed or similar would look randomly plonked in a bug lawn, and awkward to mow around. But its a good idea and it at least leaves me with less digging!

Will look at getting a pick and give it a go with the fork (I think I might have tried with a fork last year, but after a summer of pulling concrete out I probably didn’t have the strength)

Thanks again!

I have forgotten to add, that when I started removing the stones last year, I did also come across various other bits like small rusted materials, below the top layer so I’m assuming it is best to clear as much as possible if I did want to plant anything in the area.

Get a mattock from screw fix

Easy. You will clear the layer of stones in no time.

Best uee some safety goggles

I use a pickaxe. Seems to work pretty well but it's tough going. Do a bit at a time.

I googled the difference between a mattock and a pick.

A mattock has an adze one side - a broad blade with a sharp edge at the end - and a narrow chisel like thing at the other. A pick-axe has a narrow chisel like thing at one side and a pointed pick on the other. Or instead of the chisel-like bit it can have an adze, in which case it's a pick-mattock. But nowadays most people use mattock and pick-axe interchangeably.

We have a mattock. It is a stupendous thing.

We also bought ourselves an electric rotavator, which is great for large areas. Not too pricey.

This kind of thing

www.amazon.co.uk/VonHaus-Electric-1050W-Tiller-Cultivator/dp/B00UTVR26U/ref=asc_df_B00UTVR26U/?hvlocphy=9045871&linkCode=df0&hvptwo&psc=1&hvnetw=g&hvadid=309839399469&hvpone&hvlocint&hvpos&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl&hvqmt&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=pla-700786062155&hvrand=12052857515240495355

Yes, one of the bets things I;ve had bought me is a mattock.

Ive also got a couple of mini hand held versions, I think thye were from the building section.

When you get down to the fine stuff what I call my 'African' Spade is very good. Like a small version of an African Hoe.

This is the vegetable hoe but you would need a mattock first