Excavator Work: Land Clearing, Backfilling, and Tree Removal

Site Preparation and Excavation

• 🚜 Early morning work begins with a skid steer to push up and clean an area down to clay.
• ⛏️ The plan involves laying dirt over, undercutting to find more topsoil, and then pushing it aside.
• ⚠️ Caution is exercised to avoid burying anything accidentally while cleaning up the area.
• 🌳 More trees need to be cleared to extend the dirt work further.

Soil Management and Blending

• 🧐 A layer of clay was found pushed over topsoil, which was initially misleading.
• 💡 Usable topsoil and clay are being stockpiled for backfilling slopes and other areas.
• 🌱 Efforts are made to salvage and blend topsoil for better grass growth, preferring it over red dirt.
• 💧 The dirt is slightly damp, making it suitable for backfilling rather than use in areas like driveways.

Compaction and Backfilling

• 🏗️ The first lift of dirt is compacted, and a dozer is used to spread it out.
• 🧱 Dirt is pulled back to make another cut, with grass being a minor consideration for yard sections.
• 🔄 A hodgepodge pile of dirt is being mixed to create a usable material for backfilling.
• 🏠 Assistance is provided with a skid steer to move gravel for backfilling the back of the house, saving manual labor.

Project Progress and Future Plans

• ✅ All backfilling with stockpiled clay is completed, and the porch area is filled with gravel.
• 🌲 Several trees have been taken down, with a few more scheduled for the morning.
• 🚧 The edge will be cleaned up, silt fence installed, and the area tidied.
• 🌧️ Future plans include checking drainage, potentially taking down more trees, and starting erosion control with seeding and straw.
• 🪵 Logs are being cut and collected, marking the end of the day's work.