Landscaping and question on small utility tractors

Recently moved into our new build and ready to get to work on the 2 acres. Neighbors have been scaring me with landscaping quotes of $40-50k. But they are putting in sod and sprinklers and tons of decorative rock which I will not be doing much more than rock, trees and maybe some mulch. I pretty much plan on xeriscaping. Lots of rock, found some rubberized mulch at Costco that always maintains color and looks awesome, don't want any sod or sprinklers. If we put up a privacy fence I'll be putting in the nice artificial turf.
if anybody has good intel on rock, and also on crushed asphalt for the side driveway of the house I'd appreciate it.

we are considering a rounded cement driveway in front and will need another culvert. If anyone does cement or knows some folks I'd be happy to get some bids. Any idea what price per sq.ft is?

also looking at buffalo grass as I heard that was good for acreage and doesn't need a ton of maintenance. Anybody have that stuff? Any input would be appreciated.

as far as tractors goes it seems the used market is almost as expensive as the new market. New ones have some rebates and 0% for 60 months plus a warranty so that is pretty attractive to me. I am looking at the Kubota BX or B series in the 23-25HP range. Definitely want a loader. A backhoe could be cool as well for trenches and maybe putting in a little pond or something one day. A underbelly mower would be good as well.
i haven't looked close at the John Deere or Massy Ferguson models yet, but it seems MF is close in price and John Deere is 15-20% more from my quick comparisons. Any input on any of these or another brand I'm missing?

Ever though about hitting up the auction?

http://www.sandfoursale.com

I got some crushed granite from him, and a buddy got a bunch of recycled asphalt as well.
Recycled asphalt was like 8.95/ton, plus delivery.

Longmont Tree farm for your grass seed.

Kioti 25hp tractor with implements are a good deal. I know someone who owns one and loves it. Similar to the Kubota.

I'm not sure what you plan on doing but are you sure you need to own a tractor on 2 acres?

I probably don't "need" to own a tractor. But I do like the idea of it. Honestly I could either rent or borrow one during a months time and be done with it. Mowing can be done behind my atv with a pull behind or I could get a riding mower just as easy.
But I also like the idea of having it to play with and work on stuff or figure out projects to do with it.

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Originally Posted by colorider

Ever though about hitting up the auction?

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Was trying to look around a bit at various places this morning.

Roller auction has an option or two up in 11 days. Online bidding.

I'll take a look. Thanks

Buy an old tractor. Can often pick up an 8N or 9N restored for under $5000. Plenty of money left over for implements vs cost of late model Kubota, JD etc.

Buy implements at auctions.

If you're unarmed, you are a victim

Just an update but I went ahead and got a tractor. With my schedule there are times I could work on the house and still be on call for work so owning a tractor and having it in the garage available to use and get landscaping done made sense instead of setting aside full days and only on my off days to rent one and make sure I got the use out of the rental.

I drove and compared the Massey ferguson, Kubota, mahindra and John Deere. All in the 25hp range.
I like the price and package of the Massey if I were going to buy it with cash but if you finance the price goes up and they get you for 3.99%...

I didn't really like the Mahindra and I felt the value would not stay up over time like the other 3.

Kubota makes a nice tractor and their new model I think 2370s was really nice and had all the features of the John Deere. I wanted a backhoe for trenching and this model comes with it from the factory. The tractor I drove didn't have a quick detach bucket which is an option at ordering.

The John Deere 1025R TLB was really nice, had all the features of the Kubota, and same financing options. The backhoe was easy for me to operate, the only thing that was a pain is swiveling the seat around but I think with a little practice it will be much easier.

So I went between the Kubota and John Deere as price was pretty much the same and financing was the same. I might have bought the Kubota but they charge an additional $26/month for "loan insurance" which put them even more expensive than John Deere.

So the new John Deere 1025R TLB ended up coming home with me. Once the ground dries up a bit more my first project will probably be a retaining wall on the side of the house and using a lot of that dirt to fill in the back and get the grade I want before doing grass and rock back there.

Going off the other thread I'll be looking for a lot of retaining wall materials!

Can I borrow it? :D

lol I know how borrowing things on here works out. Anybody got a chainsaw?

I pulled up in the driveway and got it unloaded, within 5 minutes I had 3 neighbors swarm over talking about "projects"! I think I'll start doing a rental as long as I'm operating it!

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Originally Posted by sniper7

lol I know how borrowing things on here works out. Anybody got a chainsaw?

I pulled up in the driveway and got it unloaded, within 5 minutes I had 3 neighbors swarm over talking about "projects"! I think I'll start doing a rental as long as I'm operating it!

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yeah, even out in the country people want to borrow equipment like a tractor- a TLB is even more useful... they usually don't have what's needed to transport it, and don't have the means to fix it if they break it, either... and don't realize the costs of maintaining that equipment... filters, hydraulic and engine oil, etc... last time I changed all the filters and fluids (it's a HST, so 10gallons of hydraulic fluid alone) on my 45hp Kioti it was over $300... and that's every 100 hours.. add fuel costs, and $8-15/hr is the cost just to operate it- depending on the task.... that doesn't even include wear and tear or capital cost to buy it.

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Originally Posted by 68Charger

yeah, even out in the country people want to borrow equipment like a tractor- a TLB is even more useful... they usually don't have what's needed to transport it, and don't have the means to fix it if they break it, either... and don't realize the costs of maintaining that equipment... filters, hydraulic and engine oil, etc... last time I changed all the filters and fluids (it's a HST, so 10gallons of hydraulic fluid alone) on my 45hp Kioti it was over $300... and that's every 100 hours.. add fuel costs, and $8-15/hr is the cost just to operate it- depending on the task.... that doesn't even include wear and tear or capital cost to buy it.

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Like the dude that used my dad's Bobcat without permission (was sitting on the job site). At least he was nice enough to fill the hydro tank with diesel.

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Originally Posted by 00tec

Like the dude that used my dad's Bobcat without permission (was sitting on the job site). At least he was nice enough to fill the hydro tank with diesel.

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yeah, sounds like the previous owner of the property we bought in Canton had someone refill his Diesel tractor with gasoline... and then probably asked him to take a look at it when it quit working in the the middle of them using it...