How to Move Landscaping Boulders

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Landscaping boulders enhance any landscape. Large landscaping boulders make an impressive display. Moving a landscape boulder is best done by professionals, as they have the knowledge and tools, but with proper safety precautions simple methods can be used to move landscaping boulders.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

Three railroad ties
Dozen or more heavy poles
Long heavy rope or chain
Large wedge
Concrete blocks

Step1

Employ a wedge to nudge the boulder from its resting spot. Take a large railroad tie and place it across the bottom edge of the boulder. Jam the railroad tie in firmly against the boulder.

Step2

Reinforce the wedge with concrete blocks. The blocks will stabilize the boulder. Dig around the back side of the boulder to give it some rolling room.

Step3

Tie a large rope or chain around the boulder and run the rope or chain around the boulder one time. Have one person hold the rope and pull it to remove the slack. This provides increased stability.

Step4

Slide a dozen or so heavy rounded landscaping poles behind the boulder. Create a pathway, or pad for the boulder to slide on.

Step5

Use another railroad tie as a lever between the front of the boulder and the railroad tie. Pry the boulder from its resting place while the person holding the rope pulls in the slack.

Step6

Move the boulder onto the rounded landscaping poles. Once the boulder is on the poles, have several people push the boulder along the path created by the poles, while another moves the poles from behind the boulder and places them in front of the boulder.

Step7

Guide the boulder to its new resting place. Once the boulder is in place, fill in around the base with soil and bedding materials.