When the weather warms up for spring, it brings with it a few outdoor chores that can require heavy lifting. With a bobcat loader, you don't need to manually haul around heavy items while you improve your backyard. Here are two backyard projects a bobcat loader will make easier.

Build a Raised Garden Plot

When the soil in your backyard contains a lot of clay and rocks, it can be hard to get many plants to grow. But, you can make your soil fertile by mixing in a load of nutrient-rich fertilized soil. 

Have you ever wondered why some backyards have such bad soil? It is usually because all the good topsoil was removed from the lot when the home was originally built. This fertile soil is sold to farmers and individual homeowners who want to add good dirt to their yard. You can buy fertile soil by the yard from a local landscaping supply company to supplement your own yard's dirt. 

When the dirt is delivered to your home, the dirt will usually get dumped in a central location if the delivery truck cannot back up to your garden spot. Then, you are responsible for moving the dirt to your garden location. With a rented bobcat loader, you can scoop and carry the delivery dirt over to your garden plot in a short time.

Mix the new dirt into your garden plot with a garden tiller. Combining it with the hard soil will create a mixture of fertile soil for your plants. 

Rain, sprinklers, and water erosion will work on your garden soil. To combat this, your raised vegetable garden will need a good foundation to keep the new mound of soil in your garden plot. Railroad ties make a great sturdy barrier for the soil because they can weigh up to 200 lbs each. But, because railroad ties can weigh so much, you will need a rented bobcat to move and position several railroad ties around your garden's perimeter. The bobcat will easily carry these heavy 8 to 9 foot-long wooden ties so you can line them up around your garden plot. 

When you have positioned your railroad ties, you can begin to plant in your fertile garden soil.

Install a Fire Pit

One of the most important parts to a long-lasting fire pit is a steel campfire ring inside the pit. When you build a fire pit using stones, concrete pavers, or bricks, the heat from the fire will break down and damage these porous materials. With a steel fire ring, your great-looking exterior materials will last for many years.

Besides a steel fire ring, you will need some gravel, and enough pavers, bricks, or other stone material to line the perimeter of the fire pit to the height you want. You will also need mortar to bond the stone material together. 

When your gravel arrives by truck, it is usually dumped as close to your project as possible, but not always close enough. You may need the use of a bobcat to scoop it and move it to your fire pit work site because gravel is heavy. One cubic yard of gravel weights 105 lbs. 

The fire pit stone materials will be quite heavy as well, so a bobcat can move it to the work site without you having to carrying each piece. Park your bobcat so the loader bucket is right next to where you are working and everything will be right where you need it for easy access.

Set the steel fire ring on the ground with the stone materials around the steel to position your fire pit. Use this as a guide to cut out a 12 inch-deep fire pit hole with a shovel. Fill the bottom of the fire pit with 6 inches of gravel, then set the steel ring inside the pit on top of the gravel. Line the perimeter of the steel ring with your stones, using the mortar to set each one.

Your fire pit stones can be set above the rim of the steel ring without becoming fire damaged when you use your fire pit. The steel ring will protect the stones from the fire's direct side heat.

With the use of bobcat rentals, your backyard work will be much easier and you can use your energy for working in your garden and enjoying your new fire pit.