Any suggestions for screening stones out of my garden?

[JacobZ]

Hi @MitchB,

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community, it is fantastic to have you with us.

If I am understanding correctly, and you are looking to remove stones from the soil in your garden bed, you can use this Icon Plastics 395mm Garden Sieve With Hand Grips.

Alternatively, depending on the size of the stones, a piece of Rapid 600 x 900 x 0.6mm 6.5 x 6.5mm Silver Wire Mesh Panel or something similar could also be used.

Let me know what you think and if you have further questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

Jacob

[MitchB]

Thanks for your prompt reply, Jacob.   I think the plastic option may not be study enough, perhaps I'll look at the possibility of building a frame to hold the wire sheet

[Dave-1]

Good Afternoon @MitchB 

Id like to say a howdy and a warm welcome to the community

I have sifted a LOT of stones and also that annoying purple flowered weed that goes troppo in the garden, out of the garden over the years.

I have used two ways, a metal grill leaning against a rectangle frame and also the mesh over the wheelbarrow. Both worked but the steep angled mesh against the frame was best.

Trying to extract smaller amount of stones (white pebbles) is the worst, but a large tub half full of water and throw the stones/soil into a bucket and then scooping the rocks out by hand also works (So a friend has told me) The water settles and the rocks are easy enough to get out by hand.

Dave

[MitchB]

Hi Dave 

Thanks for the warm welcome, and also the advice  - personal experience is brilliant to hear!  Can I ask what type of mesh, size of hole etc, you found best?

Many thanks

[JacobZ]

Hi @MitchB,

Allow me to tag @Dave-1 so he is notified of your question.

I am sure he will be in touch shortly.

Jacob

[Noyade]

Afternoon @MitchB 

"I'll look at the possibility of building a frame to hold the wire sheet"

That would be the way to go in my opinion. My father used an old bed from the 1930's which had a double layer of mesh leant against a wall which you would toss shovels of sand/dirt/stone at the top and it would 'filter' out with gravity as it slid down.

But today, a frame like this would suffice?

An old table frame.

And back in the day there were large sifting pans.

I use them to salvage un-burnt heat beads from barbecue ash.

[MitchB]

Hi Noyade

Thanks for your very helpful advice and photos.  An old wire wove bed base is an excellent idea! I'll check on Trademe and see if they still exist!

Many thanks

[Dave-1]

Good Evening @MitchB 

The mesh was some fine ish mesh I had lying around the yard. maybe 10mm squares from memory. Depends on what you are sifting out, roots , id say 30mm squares, those white pebbles 10mm, random chunks of rocks, maybe 40mm. I wouldnt go to an extreme effort, even layering a couple of piece together so it captures most of what you want

Dave