In Pursuit of Curb Appeal

You might have just purchased a home that has rocks everywhere. The previous owner might have decided that huge boulders were great landscaping tools, or that small rocks were excellent to use to surround an extensive cactus collection. If you don't agree with the previous owner's decorating ideas, this could leave you in a tricky situation. Unlike mulch, old tree branches, or other unwanted landscaping material, you can't just gather up all of the rocks and drag them to the trash can so that they can be picked up in the next trash collection. You risk having the people who gather your garbage deciding that the trash is now too heavy and leaving it there for the week.

Here are some ideas for getting rid of your rocks without angering the people who collect your trash or breaking your trash can.

1. Post on Local Forums

The best case scenario is that someone needs landscaping rocks and will be willing to pick them up for you and take them off your hands. In order to maximize the chances that you find someone, consider posting on online forums or buying and selling websites that are specific to your community, such as Freecyle or Craigslist. Make sure that you specify in your ad that the people who want the stones will have to pick them up themselves. If you use a website that allows you to sell items, you might even be able to make some money.

2. Talk to Local Schools

Teachers, especially elementary school teachers, always need rocks. Smaller landscaping rocks are excellent for school projects such as painting pet rocks, building small walls, populating sand tables, and other scholarly pursuits. Local schools will often be willing to send the janitor your way during school hours if enough teachers want to use the rocks and they have somewhere to store them. Talk to any teachers that you know, or simply call the elementary schools themselves.

3. Talk to Landscaping or House Building Charities

When charities build houses or get them ready to be sold, they will often need ways to make the outsides of the houses look nice. They will be able to use your rocks to increase the chances that someone will purchase the house or notice their landscaping skills and employ them in the future. This allows you to help charities and still get rid of your rocks.

For more information, talk to a company that specializes in rock removal services likeDyTech.