Which Implement for final grading of new home.

[blb078]

I'm in the process of building my home. We're about halfway done but the outside grade is done. What I need to know is what implement would be best for breaking up the large clunks of clay to do the final grade? Some of them are almost basketball size so I need to break up everything and smooth it out. I am planning on buying a box blade and landscape rake any recommendations on that? I've been looking at King Kutter for both since I have a Rural King 5 minutes away. I thought about a tiller but not sure I want to spend that kind of money for grading, however we do plan on doing a garden so I would be useful down the road I guess. Any other suggestions on what might be best for this? Size of this is roughly about 1 acre. Thanks.

Brian

 

[WM75Guy]

The box blade is good if you need to move the dirt around. I have a 7' landscape rake, rarely use it. My 6' tiller is used often. I just got through tilling under some trees where there were ruts so it will be easier to mow with the ZTR. I will drag it smooth with my 8' arena drag or the 4' drag harrow behind the Mule.

For final grade if you can rent or hire someone that has a skid steer with a Harley rake. It will make a smooth lawn ready for seeding.

 

[blb078]

How does a tiller doe with small sticks and such? That's kind of why I thought about using a landscape rake to help get those up first but if a tiller wont have an issue then maybe I'd consider it.

 

[jd870]

You might check with local equipment rental center,many rent tractors with tillers,york rakes,harley rakes,etc.

 

[ovrszd]

Bein a fellow Missouri guy, I assume you are dealing with Clay??? If that's the case, it's very hard to break up those "clods". Patience is your friend. Especially this time of year. Let it sit all Winter and address the problem next Spring. They'll be soft from freeze/thaw then and will crumble nicely.

Then you'll need to decide what your future uses are for attachments. If you plan to Garden, I'd go Tiller. It's a tool you'll use the rest of your life. If you have no Garden plans or small Garden plans, then I'd go Box Blade. It's a tool that has many uses.

Maybe a picture of your dilemma would be worthy??

 

[WM75Guy]

I pick up the big stuff. The rest is made into mulch after 2 or 3 passes.

 

[blb078]

Here is kind of what I'm dealing with. The front is something I need to address within the next month or so because we have to get it graded how we want for the walkway and steps to the porch. The rest we can wait til spring to put down seed and sod. I'll be using an LS 4150hc so leaning towards 7' implements for which ever I do go with.

 

[KB9UDE]

You need a tiller and a box blade to start with

 

[LD1]

For leveling and smoothing, I have used carious combinations of disc, tiller, landscape rake, rear blade, cultipacker, and roller.

For putting in a new yard, and wanting it done right, I would probably hire someone with a skidloader and a harley rake.

I would also ask, what has the yard area in that condition to begin with? Was dirt removed? Is that fill? Areas that have had lots of fill, either to fill in where tree stumps were removed, or to backfill trenches from utilities, or just fill from a basement spread out.......you can make it perfect right now......and next year it aint gonna be perfect anymore. Really gotta give at least a year for things to settle.

 

[Billrog]

The best implement for leveling out would be a 10 or 12' chunk of heavy I beam dragged around behind the tractor. For where the steps and walk way go the front end loader would do the trick . Before buying any implements consider how much use you'll be getting out of them & get what's considered necessary eg. roter tiller possibly & something for plowing snow if you get snow there.