Remove Sod and Excavate Area

What happens here

Using an edging tool, score along the marked line to cut through the sod. Then, use a shovel to carefully pry up and remove the sod in manageable sections. These sod pieces can be collected in a utility cart, like the Ryobi utility cart pulled by a Ryobi riding mower, for easy transport. Some pieces of sod may be stubborn and require extra prying with a flat shovel. The removed sod can be stockpiled for patching other areas of the lawn. The goal is to excavate the entire patio area to a depth of approximately 8 inches.

Goal: Clear the patio footprint and achieve the necessary depth for the base layers.