What's best implement for building a new yard?

bbd 25 · Feb 2, 2016

I got a 70hp Tractor w/ FEL and I'm wanting to start using it to build and rebuild yards to make extra money on the side for play money. I'm looking for the best implement for post grading after a new house is built to re-work the driveway and yard. After loads of trucks and equipment cause ruts from building and grading; but before the landscaper does his seeding and planting. That in-between stage to prep and smooth out driveway and yard.
What I've read is a Harley rake. But that is VERY expensive. Any other options that would kick up hard packed clay from equipment and then level and smooth it out good for planting or hydroseeding? (Plus finish grading driveways)
Problem is we are in the mountians with red clay and rocks. Need good attachments to hold up.
For that, what is the best attachment or attachmentS?

davesl708 · Feb 2, 2016

Might look at a box blade and a chain harrow or land plane.

ishiboo · Feb 2, 2016

I've been doing a lot of landscaping, and I spread about 550 yards of topsoil in my yard the year before last and it turned out quite well. I have a lot of clay and rocks as well. It takes me several tools to completely finish a lawn for seed.

My process has been to till if necessary to get everything loosened up and ready to go, and to bury/cut up any weeds which may be there. You should definitely Roundup though. I then use a box blade to smooth out the soil and get it properly leveled/graded/etc. I then use a double-roller pulverizer to break up clods and provide a finished seedbed for planting. Sometimes, if there is a lot of small rocks/plants/etc. still left, I'll use a landscape rake... they are cheap, work well and leave a nice seedbed for grass. Before the pulverizer I did a large area without it. The landscape rake will do a pretty job of breaking up clumps/etc. but it takes many passes.

I wouldn't plan on doing that for extra money on the side. It'll be nearly impossible to compete with the companies contractors are using now who come in with a tracked skid steer and a Harley rake. A 70HP tractor is heavy and way less maneuverable than a skid steer.

Sprinklerman · Feb 2, 2016

First , you are the landscaper if you are doing the grading etc . The money is in the job , not the process . You want to do the seeding , plants etc . Just running the tractor , forget it . there is no one implement , I use york rake , box scraper , slit seeder , aerator , tiller , hydroseeder , drag mat . It all depends on the job .

EverythingAttachments · Feb 2, 2016

Soil Pulverizers are pretty popular tools among landscapers for finishing lawns.
We do not have a video of our EverythingAttachments Pulverizer yet, but here's a vintage video from Ted that shows a pulverizer in use.
Travis

roadhunter · Feb 2, 2016

Box blade with rippers woudl be the simplest solution. A hydraulic top link makes a box blade 100 times more useful IMO.

Best best is to watch local farm auctions and pick up some other attachments like a disc, planter, etc.. for little $.

jenkinsph · Feb 2, 2016

I would agree with the others above in that you will need more than one tool to get the work done in most cases. It will be difficult to make this venture profitable and I suspect your expectations are too high. Due diligence is required along with enough money to compete in this game.

A Harley rake might be a good tool to have but it is only one of many that you might need. If you windrow the rock and debris you may need a dump truck or dump trailer to haul the rock and debris away. It gets more complicated as the day wears on. Please think this through.

jenkinsph · Feb 2, 2016

I would agree with the others above in that you will need more than one tool to get the work done in most cases. It will be difficult to make this venture profitable and I suspect your expectations are too high. Due diligence is required along with enough money to compete in this game.

A Harley rake might be a good tool to have but it is only one of many that you might need. If you windrow the rock and debris you may need a dump truck or dump trailer to haul the rock and debris away. It gets more complicated as the day wears on. Please think this through.

ishiboo · Feb 2, 2016

roadhunter said:
Box blade with rippers woudl be the simplest solution. A hydraulic top link makes a box blade 100 times more useful IMO.

Best best is to watch local farm auctions and pick up some other attachments like a disc, planter, etc.. for little $.

A box blade in clay IMO gives you too many clods for planting grass. You need something to break them up and smooth the seedbed. I do use the box blade as part of the process, but it's never given me a surface sufficient for planting right over.