I need help from the wisdom that is no doubt all over this board. I know just enough about tractors to make a really stupid decision. I would like advice on tractor size, implements needed, etc. for the list of tasks that I will post below.
My property is a rectangular shaped 4 acres. The property is about 200x900 with the 200 being road front. The front 1/3 of the property is the front lawn, house, and back yard. The rest of the property is woods (some heavy some light). The woods are flat for 100 or so feet, then slopes down about 30 degrees for another 100 feet, and the remaining is flat to the back of the property boundary. I currently own a JD X320 for the mowing so I would not initially need a mowing deck implement.
Here is my wish list of landscaping projects that I want to tackle over a few years time:
1. In the front of the woods there are several beautiful hard wood trees that are being choked by 50 or so small pines (all << 12 diameter). I want to cut them all down, remove the stumps, rake the roots, sticks, bushes, weeds, and lay down topsoil/compost to convert the first 50-70 feet of woods into lawn thus extending the back yard.
2. Much of the existing 斗awn in the back yard is compacted dirt without grass in shaded areas under nice trees. I would like to break all that bare dirt up, add soil if needed, and plant nice grass that will grow in the shade. The entire lawn, both front and back, can benefit from raking, aerating, seeding, etc. as there are many spots with poor grass quality.
3. The previous owner put a pond in the back yard, it is nothing but a mosquito incubator and a feeding tank for cranes looking to make a snack for the small goldfish we dump in it. My wife and I both agree the pond has to go we want to fill it in.
4. The previous owner also put a truckload of dirt just inside the woods edge and used it as a pistol berm for target practice. That big pile of dirt will easily fill in the pond but I ain稚 doing it with a shovel and wheelbarrow! Don稚 know how to get the bullets out of the dirt but I plan to use that mound to fill in the pond.
5. I want to fence in about 700 linear feet of the back yard in 6-8 fencing to keep out deer, dogs, etc. and keep in my pets and chickens. Digging a post hole by hand every 10 feet along the fence line is not something I would look forward to.
6. I have 2 standard sized wooden sheds in the side yard that I want to move about 100 feet toward the back of the yard.
7. The area where the sheds are currently will be turned into a 1/10 to 1/5 acre garden so I need the land leveled, compost brought in, ground tilled, etc.
8. I want to build a deep pole barn for tractor/lawn equipment to keep them out of the weather.
9. The drainage along the road is in need of repair. After a heavy rainfall I could stock trout in the 50 ft pond that forms for a few days. Digging along the existing drainage pipes and clearing of built up soil, leaves, bushes/weeds along the water path needs to be done.
10. In the winter I would want to do snow removal on the 100 foot of driveway (we may get a 6 snowfall only once or twice a year in southern Maryland).
11. I have several large trees that are in various stages of felling due to storms, hurricanes, etc. I would want to turn them into fire pit fuel, building material, etc. so cutting, moving, dragging, needs to be done.
12. I would like to turn the level part of the back woods into a fenced pasture area for small animals (goats, sheep, etc.) so that would involve tree removal, soil prep, fencing, etc.
13. I have several places around the house where ugly bushes and overgrown plants exist, I want to dig those out and convert the areas to lawn.
14. I would like to build a small greenhouse somewhere in the back yard or rear of the property.
15. I am planning to replace a 20x30 deck that will last only another two or three years.
16. I would like to dig and build a root cellar near the house.
This is a start to what I would want to do it seems like an exhausting list but I am hoping with the right sized tractor and implements I could knock these out in a few years. And once I have a tractor I will certainly think of new stuff to do with it. For example, there is a 100 acre farm close to me that I would be willing to trade farming knowledge for tractor labor.
My question is naturally, what size tractor would be the best fit for my property taking into account the various implements I would need.
I知 guessing (not totally sure) the implements would include:
a. FEL
b. Backhoe
c. Post hole auger
d. Box blade
e. Landscape rake
f. Fork
I have been looking at the LS brand and think they are the very best value out there. My LS dealer is 30 miles away, he will deliver it for free, has full service mechanics, and will pick it up for service.
Thanks for all the coming help
I see a new couple models on the LS website but haven稚 seen what the prices would be with a backhoe.
My property is a rectangular shaped 4 acres. The property is about 200x900 with the 200 being road front. The front 1/3 of the property is the front lawn, house, and back yard. The rest of the property is woods (some heavy some light). The woods are flat for 100 or so feet, then slopes down about 30 degrees for another 100 feet, and the remaining is flat to the back of the property boundary. I currently own a JD X320 for the mowing so I would not initially need a mowing deck implement.
Here is my wish list of landscaping projects that I want to tackle over a few years time:
1. In the front of the woods there are several beautiful hard wood trees that are being choked by 50 or so small pines (all << 12 diameter). I want to cut them all down, remove the stumps, rake the roots, sticks, bushes, weeds, and lay down topsoil/compost to convert the first 50-70 feet of woods into lawn thus extending the back yard.
2. Much of the existing 斗awn in the back yard is compacted dirt without grass in shaded areas under nice trees. I would like to break all that bare dirt up, add soil if needed, and plant nice grass that will grow in the shade. The entire lawn, both front and back, can benefit from raking, aerating, seeding, etc. as there are many spots with poor grass quality.
3. The previous owner put a pond in the back yard, it is nothing but a mosquito incubator and a feeding tank for cranes looking to make a snack for the small goldfish we dump in it. My wife and I both agree the pond has to go we want to fill it in.
4. The previous owner also put a truckload of dirt just inside the woods edge and used it as a pistol berm for target practice. That big pile of dirt will easily fill in the pond but I ain稚 doing it with a shovel and wheelbarrow! Don稚 know how to get the bullets out of the dirt but I plan to use that mound to fill in the pond.
5. I want to fence in about 700 linear feet of the back yard in 6-8 fencing to keep out deer, dogs, etc. and keep in my pets and chickens. Digging a post hole by hand every 10 feet along the fence line is not something I would look forward to.
6. I have 2 standard sized wooden sheds in the side yard that I want to move about 100 feet toward the back of the yard.
7. The area where the sheds are currently will be turned into a 1/10 to 1/5 acre garden so I need the land leveled, compost brought in, ground tilled, etc.
8. I want to build a deep pole barn for tractor/lawn equipment to keep them out of the weather.
9. The drainage along the road is in need of repair. After a heavy rainfall I could stock trout in the 50 ft pond that forms for a few days. Digging along the existing drainage pipes and clearing of built up soil, leaves, bushes/weeds along the water path needs to be done.
10. In the winter I would want to do snow removal on the 100 foot of driveway (we may get a 6 snowfall only once or twice a year in southern Maryland).
11. I have several large trees that are in various stages of felling due to storms, hurricanes, etc. I would want to turn them into fire pit fuel, building material, etc. so cutting, moving, dragging, needs to be done.
12. I would like to turn the level part of the back woods into a fenced pasture area for small animals (goats, sheep, etc.) so that would involve tree removal, soil prep, fencing, etc.
13. I have several places around the house where ugly bushes and overgrown plants exist, I want to dig those out and convert the areas to lawn.
14. I would like to build a small greenhouse somewhere in the back yard or rear of the property.
15. I am planning to replace a 20x30 deck that will last only another two or three years.
16. I would like to dig and build a root cellar near the house.
This is a start to what I would want to do it seems like an exhausting list but I am hoping with the right sized tractor and implements I could knock these out in a few years. And once I have a tractor I will certainly think of new stuff to do with it. For example, there is a 100 acre farm close to me that I would be willing to trade farming knowledge for tractor labor.
My question is naturally, what size tractor would be the best fit for my property taking into account the various implements I would need.
I知 guessing (not totally sure) the implements would include:
a. FEL
b. Backhoe
c. Post hole auger
d. Box blade
e. Landscape rake
f. Fork
I have been looking at the LS brand and think they are the very best value out there. My LS dealer is 30 miles away, he will deliver it for free, has full service mechanics, and will pick it up for service.
Thanks for all the coming help
I see a new couple models on the LS website but haven稚 seen what the prices would be with a backhoe.
