How To Make Dirt Hard

By  Andrea Stein

Things Needed

  • Dirt

  • Lime

  • Sand

  • Buckets

  • Shovel

  • Wheelbarrow

  • Tamper

  • 2-by-4 board

Tip

For even harder dirt, use a garden hose to water the mixture after you tamp it down. Let the watered surface sit for five minutes. Tamp down the surface again.

Warning

Always wear safety gloves when working with hand tools to avoid injury.

...

Hardened dirt can be used in many applications, including patios and driveways. Making dirt hard entails adding sand and lime in specific ratios. Using a wheelbarrow to mix all the elements will make your dirt hardening project go easier.

Hardening Your Dirt

Step 1

Shovel up clean dirt from your yard or purchase fresh dirt at a home service center. Empty it into three buckets, then pour the three buckets into the wheelbarrow.

Step 2

Fill up one of the buckets with clean sand. Empty the sand-filled bucket into your wheelbarrow.

Step 3

Pour a bag of lime into one of the buckets until full. Empty out the bucket of lime into the wheelbarrow.

Step 4

Use the shovel to stir the lime, sand and dirt in the wheelbarrow. Mix the three ingredients until they are thoroughly combined.

Step 5

Move the wheelbarrow to the desired location for the hardened dirt and dump out the wheelbarrow's contents. Level out the area with the back of the shovel or by pushing a 2-by-4-inch board across the surface until smooth.

Step 6

Use a tamper to further compact and harden the dirt. Tamp the dirt for three to five minutes to ensure the mixture is properly compacted.

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