How to Carry Landscaping Rocks

Load

• 1

  Remove the load from your vehicle. How it is loaded will depend on the type of rock you have purchased. Many rocks come in bags that weigh from 20 to 50 pounds. Scoot the rock onto the edge of your tailgate and pick up at waist level with both hands. After securing the weight, drop it into a wheelbarrow. If you have multiple bags of the same product you may want to stack nicely on a two-wheel dolly. Be sure not to load the dolly to the top or you may not be able to push it.

• 2

  Grasp the dolly or wheelbarrow by the handle and push or pull to the area in which you want to spread the rock. Be mindful of any obstacles that are in your way. With a heavier load, it is sometimes easier to pull rather than push the load. Keep your eye open for holes in the yard so you do not dump the load. Stop about a yard from the area where you are placing the rock to allow yourself room to manuever.

• 3

  Use the garden spade to shovel the rock from the wheelbarrow. As you shovel more rock from the wheelbarrow, you may find it easy to pick up one end of the wheelbarrow and tilt it to allow the rock to fall out naturally. Push the wheelbarrow forward so that the rock slides out onto your flower garden. Now that the rock is removed from the wheelbarrow, use a rake or hoe to spread it out to the desired thickness.

• 4

  For larger rock, such as for a retaining wall or garden path, it may be difficult to wheel these in a wheelbarrow. Ask the landscaping supply company if they will deliver these rocks to you. If not, you will have to take care when handling these. A dolly would not be sufficient to carry these because they could fall off of it. Do not overload the wheelbarrow as it could damage the framework or get bogged down. If you are building a wall that requires other material, such as mortar, have these placed in the area prior to bringing in the rock. This will save you the time of unloading the wheelbarrow in order to use it for the other materials.

• 5

  You should not attempt to carry very large rocks such as those used for benches. These weigh several tons and can only be lifted with a hoist or forklife. In this case, you will need to have a professional deliver these to you. Be certain you have this rock in the right spot, because once it is placed, it will not be easily moved again.