Something to hold grass seed untill it starts ?

[cowboy357]

I Wasn,t sure where to post This , But ive been working on a small pond project . Mainlly because I needed the dirt for other projects & also Because it was a low spot that Would almost allways be in Standing water Growing only skeeters.

Its Nothing like Most of the Others ponds on here . But My Problem is the area around it I have graded & leveled where everything will drain to the pond. I,m Wanting to plant fescue . & needing something to hold it other then straw to keep it from washing into the pond .

I Had seen Somewhere on tv ahile back some type of spray that includes the seed & it looked to be some type of a green moss looking stuff that the grass would grow through, just curious if any others have seen it or has any better ideas. Thanks in advance . Bob

 

[Aguanga]

It sounds like you're talking about hydroseed (grass, mulch, binder, fertilizer, etc.) all sprayed on the surface. You still need to prep the soil and water regularly until fully established. It really works great - kind of in between sowing it yourself and putting down straw, etc. and rolling out sod (both for cost and establishment period). If you can't find contractors that specialize in hydroseeding in your area, try landscapers and if they don't do it themselves ask who they use. Out here it goes from about $0.05 to over $0.25 per square foot depending on the quantity and mix blend.

 

[DocHeb]

I've heard of using wheat seed or annual ryegrass along with the grass seed. They germinate quickly and will help - the wheat grass can be cut to mulch over the fescue, and the annual rye will only last one year.

 

[thatguy]

I would second a fast germinating seed (annual rye comes to mind) that will come up and help hold everything in place until the other seeds takes root..

They also make a strawmat that comes in rolls that you can pin down so the wind wont blow it off (which is what happens with straight straw it seems).. its sorta expensive, BUT it may be cheaper than sowing grass several times..

Brian

 

[QRTRHRS]

My last property had some pretty steep slopes that I had to reseed. I used scrap hay to cover the seed. I then laid wire fencing over the hay held in place with some steel pins. Once the grass took off I would remove the wire.

Regardless, don't forget to treat the pond for skeeters' with BT or something.

 

[cowboy357]

Great Info guys , just what I was looking for thankyou much . i,ll look into all of the options .

QRTRHRS , curious to what BT is . I,ve been putting bleach in it & Skeeter dunks ( Pretty Expensive ) so far so the skeeters dont get started . But sure would like to find other options . I,ve been pumping water into it & Eventually it will have its own well & pump as I Would be surprised if it will hold water very good & also for Sprinklers .

I Dont know a lot about the right way to do the ponds like most of You. but one I Built years back at another location I had stocked with catfish & had no Problems by Pumping the water in with a spout that aimed up so it would add ogygen to the water .

But I,m open to any other suggestions , Like I Said its a Small pond compared to most I,ve seen here , but it will vary in size due to the rains , at least thats My plans , if it works . Thanks again . Bob

 

[MarkV]

Cowboy are you sure it isn't too late to plant Fescue? Around here the summer heat will do it in unless it is planted very early in the spring. Of course thing may well be different in Kansas.

MarkV

 

[mikefromnh]

Around here landscape centers have something like this

Erosion Control Guardian Seed Protection Mulch Mat

Might work around the edge of the pond, bet it won't be cheap though.

 

[cowboy357]

Mark Normally You would be right & I,m running out of time , but its been unussally cool & rainy here so far this year , Its Pouring rain right now & They had baseball size hail just to the west of Us this morning . . Hopefully that will break up before reaching Us .


Mike thanks for the link I,ll check into it as well . I was just hoping I could find something I could apply myself , but that may not be an option .

Thanks again Guys for the info . Bob

 

[LBrown59]

I Wasn,t sure where to post This , But ive been working on a small pond project . Mainlly because I needed the dirt for other projects & also Because it was a low spot that Would almost allways be in Standing water Growing only skeeters.

Its Nothing like Most of the Others ponds on here . But My Problem is the area around it I have graded & leveled where everything will drain to the pond. I'm Wanting to plant fescue . & needing something to hold it other then straw to keep it from washing into the pond .

I Had seen Somewhere on tv ahile back some type of spray that includes the seed & it looked to be some type of a green moss looking stuff that the grass would grow through, just curious if any others have seen it or has any better ideas. Thanks in advance . Bob

I need something to hold grass seed in a ditch till it comes up with out washing the seed away before it ever gets a chance to come up.

 

[QRTRHRS]

Great Info guys , just what I was looking for thankyou much . i,ll look into all of the options .

QRTRHRS , curious to what BT is . I,ve been putting bleach in it & Skeeter dunks ( Pretty Expensive ) so far so the skeeters dont get started . But sure would like to find other options . I,ve been pumping water into it & Eventually it will have its own well & pump as I Would be surprised if it will hold water very good & also for Sprinklers .

I Dont know a lot about the right way to do the ponds like most of You. but one I Built years back at another location I had stocked with catfish & had no Problems by Pumping the water in with a spout that aimed up so it would add ogygen to the water .

But I,m open to any other suggestions , Like I Said its a Small pond compared to most I,ve seen here , but it will vary in size due to the rains , at least thats My plans , if it works . Thanks again . Bob

BT is a natural insecticide or perhaps a compontent for making "natural insecticides". Those Skeeter Dunks are likely made with BT. Do a search for BT insect control for a ton of info. Goldfish will do good job if you can keep the great blue herons from wiping them out.

 

[cowboy357]

Thanks again QRTRHRS , I googled it , Very Interesting , I had Never heard of it before & You are correct the Skeeter dunks do contain it . Looking for where to Buy it I also found some other products I need as well. . Bob

 

[xkbal]

Don't know how cost effective it would be but in the past my dad used burlap that he acquired for next to nothing. Worked well and it deteriorated within about a year.

 

[cowboy357]

Another good idea xkbal . I,ll look into that as well . Thankyou . Bob

 

[RonMar]

I did a steep hillside on my property last fall and used grass clippings. It work really well and kept the rains from washing the seed away. It also helped keep the seed moist to premote germination. The new seed sprouted right up thru the old grass clippings. These were spread by hand, as the clippings tend to ball up and clump together. Havn't thought of an easier way to spread them yet, perhaps a mulching leaf blower... It worked so well, I will use this process again in other places.

 

[cowboy357]

Another option thanks Ron . I,ll post a couple of pics so You know what i,m talking about , it all slopes to the small pond for Drainage Mostlly .

But I cant seem to get it full with 2 wells pumping . I Know it May not be sealed Properlly & Plan on adding another well with a much bigger pump . The area around it is bigger then whats in the pics but not by a lot . I Just dont want to fill the pond with anything more then whats there. I Onlly started this a few months ago & Like I said, The main reason was I needed dirt for other projects & to control the swamp i,ve had the past several years. Thanks for all the info. Bob

 

[cisco]

My freshly dug pond had sides a bit too steep, in most places, to wait for anything to grow, so I used a bunch of pallets of grass sod (centipede). The "shoulders" and level areas around the pond I seeded with rye, and centipede, and then watered regularly. The rye grew quickly and kept things from excessive erosion until the centipede finally took root (took a year to get a decent covering). Course, I intended a permanent pond, now stocked with fish, that was as much for show than necessity.

 

[cowboy357]

My freshly dug pond had sides a bit too steep, in most places, to wait for anything to grow, so I used a bunch of pallets of grass sod (centipede). The "shoulders" and level areas around the pond I seeded with rye, and centipede, and then watered regularly. The rye grew quickly and kept things from excessive erosion until the centipede finally took root (took a year to get a decent covering). Course, I intended a permanent pond, now stocked with fish, that was as much for show than necessity.

Thanks cisco , Im not sure what centipede is . But I,m going to go with the rye,fescue & wheat grass mix it looks like . I also plan to stock ours next year hopefully once I know it wont be a waste of money . Right now its full of bullfrogs though, . Any pics of Your pond ? Bob

 

[coobie]

I have used straw and chicken wire.coobie

 

[yzbdsbp]

Try Brown top Millet....almost the same as rye, I just built a pond and this is what I was advised to use by my local feed store.