What's best implement for building a new yard?

[2ndhalf]

Very true most will. Ok maybe not a great idea. I'll keep moving in the direction of driveways and bush hogging. I'm still going to keep it in the back of my mind. I know I've seen people around here using larger Tractors reworking an existing yard. making a larger yard and under brushing through there trees to plant grass. Any other ideas? I've gotten a couple bush hogging jobs already

I did what you are describing for one summer before realizing people don't want to pay you ANYTHING! At least not where I was. I wasn't even trying to be necessarily profitable, just trying to make a little spend money and get my boys out working. It is possible to make some cash and get some seat time.

I had a KK tiller, Box Blade, Bush hog and a home made drag. I did a fair amount of garden tilling and bush hogging is popular. I was not profitable but I did make some cash with my tractor it that is your goal. Just don't do jobs for next to nothing and do get insurance.

You will find people who let you do their yard that do not want to pay a professional landscaper but they will not pay you a lot. I don't even see that as taking work from the professionals because the people I did work for were so cheap they wouldn't have paid a professional anyway. They would mow their weeds before they would pay up.

 

[lilranch2001]

I know this is going to sound harsh, but if you do not even know which implements to purchase for this venture you may want to re think your plan........

 

[2ndhalf]

I know this is going to sound harsh, but if you do not even know which implements to purchase for this venture you may want to re think your plan........

If he is like me he just needs enough info to get him headed in the right direction. It is the kind of question I would ask if I were going to do that. In fact I probably did. We're not talking about splitting the Atom. I did most of my former yard with a walk behind tiller a garden tractor and chain link fence drag. This was prior to owning a tractor. I would have killed for a tractor and tiller then.

I had a far nicer yard than any of my neighbors good quality seed and fertilizer is the key. I just read and asked dumb questions. We now have Youtube which can teach pretty much how to do anything.

I think he just needs a Tiller, Box Blade and a good drag. Then learn to use them on your neighbors and friends.

 

[Sprinklerman]

I am in the irrigation business and have lots of customers already . I use my tractors as "add on " services . The implements that have made the most money are the aerators ( a 4 ft for bx and a 6 ft for New Holland) The next best is the slit seeder for the New Holland . I can do the larger properties more efficently than the Lawn jocks with walk behinds , when it gets to a sports field , I can roll . BUT the money is in the seeding and fert . I have done some grading and bush hogging its good money but doesnt compare to aerating and seeding

 

[RDrancher]

If he is like me he just needs enough info to get him headed in the right direction. It is the kind of question I would ask if I were going to do that. In fact I probably did. We're not talking about splitting the Atom. I did most of my former yard with a walk behind tiller a garden tractor and chain link fence drag. This was prior to owning a tractor. I would have killed for a tractor and tiller then.

I had a far nicer yard than any of my neighbors good quality seed and fertilizer is the key. I just read and asked dumb questions. We now have Youtube which can teach pretty much how to do anything.

I think he just needs a Tiller, Box Blade and a good drag. Then learn to use them on your neighbors and friends.

And that's all youtube videos are good for...just enough to get you headed in the right direction. They don't teach you, or make you proficient at anything. Proficiency takes experience through repetition and failure. I've seen a ton of how-to videos on jobs that I perform. In many of the videos the final product isn't something I would try to sell a blind man. That's failure in my book. And, you are right that operating equipment isn't "splitting the Atom", but when you fail while performing a task for a paying customer, the consequences can be devastating to your business. That's why working for someone else to learn the ropes and hone your profession is the preferred path. If you screw something up (and we all do), there's someone else proficient at the task that can clean up your mess.

 

[lilranch2001]

There are so many potential pratfalls on any given new yard, and someone "learning" what any one of them might be is a major issue in my book
I would not want to give thousands of $$'s to someone learning how to put in a yard.......

 

[Piston]

A lot of people are mentioning that you need 3 or 4 implements to do the type of work you originally posted about, such as renovating pastures/lawns and doing smoothing/prep work.
I understand you also mentioned that a Harley Rake is very expensive, and they are, but they also do the work of 3 or 4 implements and is literally the only tool you need for many of the prep/renovation jobs.

You don't need to buy one brand new.

FYI, the implement that has made me the most amount of money, is the Stumpgrinder attachment, the implement that has made me many more times efficient, is the grapple.

I have found that although I've made some money with the rotary cutter, it is not a very lucrative option.

 

[kthompson]

There is one other option that may be the safest for you: get a part time job with someone who does this type of work and learn from them. Be honest with them upfront on why you want the job. There are people are willing to help you for they do not figure you will be completion to them just due to the size difference or such. Also check such as Craigslist for such work and see what you find in pricing being given without the work even being seen. If you are not going to make money then realize is charity or a favor. If that does not suit you pass on the job.

If I were going to be doing grading I would need a level for the grading, you need to have it so the yard will drain. Now some can tell the grade by eye sight, I am not that person.