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Greetings, I'm brand new at yard stuff, having lived in an apartment for the last 30 years, so I need some advice.
Is it better to get a mower for the yard and a snow thrower for the driveway, or a tractor with an attachment that will do both? I was looking at a Husqvarna. The yard in the new house is a round a half-acre and the driveway is appx. 70 ft. long with a one-story grade.
Any advice is appreciated!

A tractor with attachments is only one engine to maintain.

I would say a tractor and tractor-mounted snowthrower because your yard is pretty big, so it would make sense to get a rider. If you get a rider, why wouldn't you get a snowthrower for it. That is just my opinion. But there are advantages to stand-alone snowthrowers, also, like having a sharper turning radius.

one of my friends uses a snowblower on a lawn tractor. It works great. I recomend getting tire chains because his has trouble moving in the snow without the chains.

Sorry bet I have to disagree. With what you post I would buy separate units. In fact with a 1/2 acre if it is flat I would start with a push mower and snow blower. Why do I say this? 1. Buying a tractor and attached blower, for a first time user, is like buying the old TV consol unit. If one part goes out what do you do with the rest of the unit? 2. Separate snow blower because of the limited amount of use. Last year in my part of Wisconsin we used the blower only once after the first of the year. A good 8/28 or 10/32 blower will get your driveway done very easily. 3. You should be able to find a good used blower for a lot less than a blower attachment. 4. Buying a push mower and seeing howling it takes to cut the entire yard, may be the best way to go. 5. You're going to need a push mower for trimming anyway. 6. If you feel that you need a tractor, go get one after you know you really want and need one. You will also have a better idea as to the size you will need. 7. Believe it or not it takes more space to store a tractor and blower attachment, than separate units. Finally, I have a 21" mower, 7/26 blower and a 16/38 tractor. Mower was purchased used, tractor purchased new, and blower purchased used, all in 1993 when I built a new home. I mow about one acre, half must be done with a push mower due to trees, berms, slopes and ditches, in about 75 minutes. I can do a 40' long triple wide drive, 6" wet snow, one direction blow, in about 45 minutes. I also like to mow and blow, as I can't hear my phone over the engine noise.

'Mow and blow'....love it! I also got input on another forum regarding possible traction problems on the steep driveway with the tractor. Fella says he had a similar situation and the chains chewed up his concrete and asphalt. Thanks for the advice, all points well-taken, I'm going the two separate units route, just not so sure about buying used.

I'm going the two separate units route

^while reading through the reply's I was inching toward the same conclusion.

QUOTE: fatalflaw -- the driveway is appx. 70 ft. long with a one-story grade.

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Something you might consider checking into is that driveway angle and what engine manufacturers recommend as their maximum operating angle. This could possibly be 2 cycle time and if the slope description is what I think it is you won't be doing anything related to snow with a lawn tractor or blower on the drive without chains. You'll probably need chains on your boots too.:biggrin:

If portions of your lawn follow that same slope, the angle will be causing a lawn tractor problems there also.

I've come to the same conclusion regarding snow removal. Luckily the back yard slopes down gently to the river so I don't think grass will present the same complications.
(Or I could just hang out west of Tulsa for the winter.....

fatalflaw said:

'Mow and blow'....love it! I also got input on another forum regarding possible traction problems on the steep driveway with the tractor. Fella says he had a similar situation and the chains chewed up his concrete and asphalt. Thanks for the advice, all points well-taken, I'm going the two separate units route, just not so sure about buying used.

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If you can help it, I would not buy used, but if you don't have the money, look very carefully for used things. You can get super nice things for super cheap OR super crappy things for super cheap. Look long and hard.

fatalflaw said:

I've come to the same conclusion regarding snow removal. Luckily the back yard slopes down gently to the river so I don't think grass will present the same complications.
(Or I could just hang out west of Tulsa for the winter.....

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You really don't want to hang out here except March - April and again October - November. :biggrin:

We could use some more fine people here but I recommend keep truckin to the gulf and just swing by for a visit each way in your travels. I'll grill an Angus steak but not in July. :laughing:

This thermometer was recording temps. in Feb. and July.

SandburRanch said:

You really don't want to hang out here except March - April and again October - November. :biggrin:

We could use some more fine people here but I recommend keep truckin to the gulf and just swing by for a visit each way in your travels. I'll grill an Angus steak but not in July. :laughing:

This thermometer was recording temps. in Feb. and July.

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WOW! That is a big temperature difference! I think I am fine living here, I like to be able to walk outside in the summer without frying in 10 seconds! :laughing: It can get hot here, too, though. The heat index on hot days can be 110, but usually the actual temperature stays below 100.

fatalflaw said:

Greetings, I'm brand new at yard stuff, having lived in an apartment for the last 30 years, so I need some advice.
Is it better to get a mower for the yard and a snow thrower for the driveway, or a tractor with an attachment that will do both? I was looking at a Husqvarna. The yard in the new house is a round a half-acre and the driveway is appx. 70 ft. long with a one-story grade.
Any advice is appreciated!

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If your going to go the separate snowthrower route, I recommend you consider checking out Sams Club. Was in there last Sunday and they had a 6hp Poulan, really nice machine, large engine, 24" width, 23" high opening, 12" auger & remote controlled chute (left right/up down) for $600. Great price imo.

Wish mine was older so I could afford to sell mine and buy it. (Wife was along, walked by me from behind, and just said "dream on buddy, your is only a couple of years old" and kept on walking.

Poulan ｮ Snow Thrower 6hp - Sam's Club

It looks like a nice machine!

enigma-2 said:

Wife was along, walked by me from behind, and just said "dream on buddy, your is only a couple of years old" and kept on walking.

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Haha:laughing:

6-24 Poulan, $600, less than six years in this part of the country. You get what you pay for!!? Plus, who's going to service it?