Looks like my wife and I will attempt our garden makeover ourselves…

The garden is about 50x40, and 70% is currently blackstar gravel. It appears the previous owner has a burlap type sack (in some areas) under the blackstar and they just tossed a ton of the rock on this sack material and called it done. We are absolutely overrun with weeds and need to redo/shrink all of the planter boxes anyways.

What is the best way to remove all of this blackstar off the ground so that I can reuse it later? I would like for it to be as dirt free as possible.

Time, hard work, sweat, and some shovels. Spread out a tarp and shovel it on to there. The dirt free desire can be handled by rinsing each layer off with a hose as it builds up on the tarp.

sounds like a good excuse to rent machinery

sts7049 said:

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sounds like a good excuse to rent machinery

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That's where my head is at. Just not sure the best tool and process yet. They rent for $305 a day just for a back hoe so that cost adds up quickly but is a far better option than me shoveling. My concern is as I'm picking up the rocks and I inevitably get dirt how can I improve that process if any to keep the rocks as clean as I can?

Use a garden rake to make piles, scoop piles with shovel, repeat.

Pro-tip, wait until December to do this.