Looking for expert advice on digging out this dirt and all the weeds and to add which gravel or dirt to avoid these weeds from returning and what machine would be more efficient a trackloader or excavator? ruling out concrete and asphalt for now as we plan on redoing the whole yard within 12 months..
I am far from ever being an expert,,, what about spraying with weed killer?? There should be a drain which is probably stopped up. I would get a tractor with a grader blade. Hope this is helpful.
I’d use a 5t zero tail swing excavator with grading bucket to box out the current level about 6 inches. Make sure theres grade to allow runoff. Use a combined aggregate of fines (with about 5-10% clay) up to 40mm. ensure mix is damp when rolling in. You can get a very solid finish with the right mix and moisture, no need for expensive blue-stone or hot-mix. Weeds don’t like it and it won’t wash Or blow away and won’t go soggy after rain.
What about some good driveway fabric. Dig down 6” and put the fabric in, paying attention to any drains or grade.
Use a weed wacker/trimmer scrapping as much organic off as you can. Then use a propane torch. If there are some small ruts, get a half yard of gravel in a pick up truck to fill those in. Or, go the expensive route. Use a mini excavator and scrape off the top organic layer and haul that away and dispose of it. Then bring in 5-6 yards of 5/8 min gravel and spread. Then use a vibrator walk behind compactor or vibrator roller to pack it down.
No matter what your do as long as its gravel, it will always get weeds especially if that loading area is not used much. You will always need to poison, burn, weed wack, or hand pull the organic growth. I would not dig it all down and remove 6 inches unless it's currently just all dirt (if there is no gravel there now) or if there is some serious drainage problems and trailers get stuck. Most likely it's pretty compacted nice gravel pad with just some organic on top. If you do dig it down 6 inches or so, you will need a big ride on vibrator compactor. So the equipment you need is an equipment trailer to haul a mini excavator with 3-4' wide cleanout bucket, a dump truck, and a vibrator roller. If you use a small walk behind plate compactor, do a couple of lifts and wet as lagwagon said.
Weeds will grow anywhere given enough time!
Remove mud to solid ground. Add some crushed base rock, if then needed. Once graded, treat ground with a good soil sterilant, spot treat with Roundup on any weeds that do sprout. Do all the loading and grading with a track skid steer with a smooth-lip bucket. About 1/2 - 1 days work.