Seeding a steep slope

[Bob_Skurka]

Tom, IF I recall correctly (and since I recently got bonked on the head by a tree I admit my memory may be faulty) I believe the Crown Vetch is hardy up to USDA zone 3, Little Blue Stem is a native prairie grass and was found through the entire central plains area of the US, I suspect it is at least hardy to USDA zone 4. Buffalo grass is also a native grass, but it has been "improved" by several plant breeders, again I would suspect it is tolerant to zone 3, but definitely to zone 4. As I am in zone 5, I really don't check too deeply into plant hardiness after it is covered by my zone. As to when they actually germinate, I honestly don't know. I know we planted the Little Blue Stem in the summer and it grew, but I don't know if that was the correct time to plant it.

I have personally not used Buffalo Grass, but I talked to several folks who say it solved a lot of their problems, it is also naturally very short growing and will stay under 8" unmowed. I think it looks a bit ragged if not mowed, but on a bank, if it could be established would be ideal.

The crown vetch I purchased was bare root "crowns" (they looks like dead roots when I got them) and they were planted on 24" centers, they grew very quickly and filled in pretty well too. We now have too much and thin in back every year. But the trouble spot has since been planted with several hundred daylilies so we don't really need the crown vetch there anymore. We keep it becuase it is fairly attractive. I will be transplanting some behind by new garage/workshop because there is a slope behind it that is too steep to even get a tractor to climb. The crown vetch tolerates horrible soil, transplants easily, and is cheap to buy in modest quantites.

 

[diydoug]

I have the same problem only on a larger scale. So far I have planted about 600 square yards. I used a cool season fescue grass mix from prairie nursery called "No Mow" combined with a straw mat that I bought locally. The no mow is expensive, but if it lives up to it's name it will be great. They also carry a prairie grass mix that i am going to seed over my geothermal installation and my septic field. This seed isn't cheap. The straw mat was $44 for 100sy and was well worth the $.

I did this all with a hand tiller and hand rakes. Too much! I bought a BX2230 because there is just too much to do by hand.

Maybe I can post some pictures in the next day or 2.

Good Luck!
Doug

http://www.prairienursery.com/
http://www.erosioncontrolblanket.com/products.html

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red"> same problem . . . larger scale . . . 600 square yards . . .
I did this all with a hand tiller and hand rakes. </font>

Doug, you forgot to mention how many tubes of Ben-Gay and bottles of pain relievers it took to make the aches go away!

I have more tractors and power equipment than I actually need and my new neighbor asked me one day if I owned a tractor dealership. I told him "No, I just got tired of hurting myself by doing jobs by hand." Sounds like your motivation is the same as mine.

 

[diydoug]

I spent an entire day Saturday, all day Sunday and 4 hours on a Monday night. There was a ton of aspirin involved, blisters on both hands and feet and I could barely move on Tuesday.

Never again!

I have 800 sy of hill left to do. I have the straw blankets and the seed. I plan on getting started this weekend. Landscaping is going to be my life this summer.

This is backbreaking work... Good luck and be safe to anyone who tries it.

 

[trlong]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( [/color:blue]I did this all with a hand tiller and hand rakes. Too much! I bought a BX2230 because there is just too much to do by hand.</font>

Doug and Bob, I know the feeling. with three knee surgeries an elbow and a shoulder surgery I try to leave the hand tools in the shed, as much as possible, and do as much from the J.D. as I can. Here's a couple of pic.'s of what I'm trying to get into shape to mow, rather than swing a weedeater at every year. If it were'nt for the J.D., I'd be buying stock in Advil and Ben Gay by now :-(

I'll try to find some old pic's of when everything but the mound system (at bottom) was overgrown with sumac, before we began the "reclamation".

This one is just after starting to fill to make a "mow-able" slope".
Tom

 

[trlong]

This gives a better idea of the slope. This is after about 120 cu. yd.'s of fill.

 

[trlong]

OK, one more. This looking down from the deck for perspective.

 

[trlong]

Oops, wrong pic. Oh well, make that last one "Looking up slope toward deck".

P.S. Local landscape supply has had biodegradeable "Straw Mat Rolls" (6' x 100') and is checking to see if they have any left. If not, they can order. I'm waiting for and answer and a price quote. In the mean time, I'm checking on "warm weather germination" grasses and finishing the grade so I can get the topsoil on and rolled.

Thanks all, Tom

 

[diydoug]

This is the before shot. I made the picture pretty small, but you can still get the idea how much we did in a few days.

 

[diydoug]

This is the after. The straw blankets are easy to install. I may get a picture today after I mow. The grass came in pretty well.

I bought a Nortec Piranha PXT400 power rake yesterday. No more tilling and raking!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

http://www.nortecmfg.com/piranharakes.htm

Doug