Using a 1.7t Excavator for Landscaping and Tight Access Work

Landscaping work is often a mix of small spaces, awkward access and heavy material. A compact excavator is useful because it brings real digging power into areas where larger machines are too wide or too heavy.

Why 1.7t is a useful size

The EX1700 sits in a practical middle ground. It is small enough for many residential sites at 990mm wide, but still heavy and stable enough for trenching, footing preparation, drainage, garden reshaping and pool excavation support. Its 2,310mm digging depth covers many common landscape and service jobs. That balance matters on residential projects. You want enough reach and breakout force to work efficiently, but not a machine so large that it damages access paths, makes tight turns difficult or spends half the day being repositioned.

Common landscaping jobs

A 1.7t excavator is well suited to drainage trenches, retaining wall footings, small cut-and-fill work, garden bed removal, stump and root cleanup, trenching for irrigation, post-hole preparation with an auger, and shaping soil before final levels. The right attachment changes the result. A trenching bucket keeps cuts narrow. A mud bucket helps clean and trim. A ripper can loosen compacted or rocky ground before excavation. A rock grab helps move awkward material without repeated manual handling.

Protecting finished surfaces

Rubber tracks are kinder to driveways, paving and lawns than steel tracks, but planning still matters. Avoid sharp turns on delicate surfaces, use plywood or mats where needed, and keep spoil piles away from finished edges, drains and garden beds. If the job is in a backyard, think through the order of work. It is usually easier to bring in attachments, drainage materials and pipe before access becomes restricted by spoil or new landscaping.

When to ask for advice

If you are unsure whether the machine can reach the area, dig to the depth required or handle the material on site, ask before booking. A short conversation about access, ground type and the finished goal can prevent hiring the wrong setup.