How to Make a Soil Sieve

If you own a newly built house, then you are probably familiar with the large quantity of pebbles and rocks that can work their way into your soil. These can put a halt to your gardening plans, as they can jeopardise the growth of your plants and turf unless taken care of. There are two key ways to remove the unwanted debris from your garden. Either excavate the area and replace all of the soil with new, stone free loam; or use a soil sieve and manually remove the stones from your flowerbeds.

 

We understand that although the first option is the best overall fix, using a soil sieve is probably the easiest and cheapest option for ongoing improvement. To make this easier for you, we have put together a quick guide to building your own soil sieve, so you can get you garden looking great as quickly as possible.

 

You will need: 8 metres of 25mm x 50mm treated timber Wood stain Wire mesh with 1cm holes 12mm x 40mm wood screws Tape measure Saw Sandpaper Pliers Screwdriver

 

Step 1: Measure your wheelbarrow so that you can build your sieve to fit comfortably across the top. This means that you can quickly and easily move your sieved soil once the barrow is full.

 

Step 2: Cut your timber into 8 pieces and use them to make two equal sized rectangles. Fix them together with screws.

 

Step 3: Paint your two rectangles with wood stain to preserve them and to add colour. Leave them to dry, following the instructions on the wood stain.

 

Step 4: Set one of your rectangles on a flat surface, and then place the wire mesh on it. It is easier to cut your mesh to size before you begin step 4.

 

Step 5: Place the second rectangle over the mesh, screwing the upper and lower parts of the frame together, sandwiching the mesh between them.