Hill help

[gbd]

The picture does not really show how steep this is, you can't walk down it easily, the tractor doesn't get near it. A few years ago we had to have dirt brought in and a few really big machines to fix the erosion, very expensive. We had to use extension ladders to lay sod(real fun job). The problem is its almost impossibe to cut it, so the grass gets very tall and slowly kills itself off. I need suggestions as to what I can plant to stop the erosion, low maintenance plant or any other ideas you might have. Not much erosion yet, would like to keep it that way.The way the property is I can't extend the hill so it slopes less, so that ones ruled out. And everyone thinks Florida is flat.

 

[Henry]

Crown Vetch is a great ground cover plant for difficult areas. This stuff grows just about anywhere and is used for erosion control in many parts of the country. Take a look at Crown Vetch on the Musser Nursury web site: http://www.musserforests.com/Shopping/Category.asp?category=90. I've never seen it used in Florida, but I don't live in the mountainous region like you do ;-)
Crown Vetch has a nice pink-white bloom, it also sets it roots very deep and it will spread nicely over time. However, once you've planted Crown Vetch, plan on living with it for a long time. It is difficult to erradicate.

Good luck,
Henry

P.S. Musser Nursury is one of the best mail-order tree / shrub nursury's in the country .....

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by Henry on 02/15/01 04:01 AM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[Thomas]

gbd,
Thats could be a tough one w/the pitch of the bank.
I seen where dozer have pack that type of area than put in water bars for drainage.
Winter Rye or Highway mix seem to hold the ground in check.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[gbd]

Harv,

Thanks for the heads up on the crownvetch might be just what I'm looking for, if it'll hold the hill together I'll live with it, and be happy.

Thomas,

Have tried several grasses not much luck, I have bahia on it now which has held up better then they others. Hopefully the crownvetch Harv mentioned will do the trick.

Thanks,
Gerald

 

[GrantMO]

GBD,
Henry's suggestion of using crown vetch is a good one. The Missouri Dept. of Trans. uses crown vetch to hold some really steep hills.
An alternative would be to put in terraces. This is expensive but you could get some use out of the slope such as landscaping or possibly a garden. When I lived in Portland I saw people make use of some incredibly steep hillsides using terraces. Just a thought.

 

[Harv]

<font color=blue>Harv,

Thanks for the heads up on the crownvetch</font color=blue>

You're welcome, GBD, but it was Henry who posted that one. I'd never heard of the stuff. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

(Don't worry -- all those 'H' names sound the same to me, too. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif)

 

[blackcloud]

Crownvetch will definately help as far as erosion control but as Henry mentioned, it is difficult to live with. Here in PA it is used extensively by the highway department and I have it on the bank in front of my house. It does hold the soil but (there's always a but...) it spreads into undesired locations and takes over from just about any other plant. And it takes almost a nuclear explosion to get rid of the stuff.....

black cloud

 

[gbd]

Henry,
oops, sorry about that Henry, just got done answering another post to Harv, and anyone who knows me knows I'm horrible with names, so let me apologize to everyone in advance cause I'll do it again, a hundred times./w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif

Gerald

 

[jfakerj]

Does Crownvetch loose it's foliage in the winter or does ir stay full all year round.

Jerry

 

[blackcloud]

Crownvetch turns brown and dies off (on the surface) during winter. Seems that one or two warm days are enough to get it to sprout - well - like a weed! It returns to its' growth state quickly.

black cloud