I have a 1/4 mile driveway. We had it paved years ago due to wash outs. I have large burms right next to it that I am taking out so I can plow better and not have scrub roses scratch trucks and cars. So far I have a 2 ft wide path on side of the drive and a few push out spots for snow. The problem is it is a mud pit if it rains. No problem working yesterday but we had rain last night. Today it is so soft it almost had my 38 hp Kubota buried. I am thinking of planting pasture mix to give it some bite and take out some of the water. I have no problems sinking in where the weeds are on the other side. Any thought or other ideas of what to plant? Also is Agway the cheapest place to get hay mix?
WHAT TO PLANT BY DRIVEWAY FOR MUDDY GROUND?
- Thread starter Brimfield
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Larro Darro
Elite Member
I was going to say bald cypress, right up until you said something about snow removal. We have a couple of places in the front yard where I work that always stayed wet.
We planted two cypress trees in each spot. Now the trees are thirty feet high, and they soak up enough of the water the Scag doesn't leave muddy tracks when mowing. But you do have to be careful of the knees. They will dull a blade in a hurry.
We planted two cypress trees in each spot. Now the trees are thirty feet high, and they soak up enough of the water the Scag doesn't leave muddy tracks when mowing. But you do have to be careful of the knees. They will dull a blade in a hurry.
Deerherd
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If it were me I would plant gravel and keep it mowed with roundup! :thumbsup:
if that Is over budget I would plant an annual/perennial rye mix or pasture mix like you mentioned. Not sure where you live so help on who would be the cheapest would be a guess.
if that Is over budget I would plant an annual/perennial rye mix or pasture mix like you mentioned. Not sure where you live so help on who would be the cheapest would be a guess.
tcreeley
Elite Member
Let it seed itself!- Whatever is on the other side will soon be there as well!
forgeblast
Elite Member
What about putting in drain tile before you plant to help get some of the water moving? (Not if your going to put trees in).
dave1949
Super Star Member
My thoughts too. I don't think of plantings as the cure for mud. Trees will be in your way for snow clearing. Improving the drainage, getting rid of the berms, etc. would be step one if I am picturing the situation correctly.
I am in central Mass. So far the best thing I have found is Agway has a northeast hay mix. a mix of timothy and clovers that is good in muddy areas. I don't think the weeds would fill in before winter. Putting in stone would require a huge amount of it and the money is not there. A local cement place sells broken concrete cheap but the price to truck it over is the killer. If I could ever get it dry enough to get in back I thought of digging a ditch lower than that but I think it would fill back in time.
We planted Lombardy poplars in a wet area of the pasture/paddock. They love it out there and soak up a lot of the water. They grow really fast, so you'll have something substantial quickly, but they're not very long lived and not particularly attractive, but at least they're green.
I would agree a better solution would be to try to drain the area, but sounds like that's not possible.
I would agree a better solution would be to try to drain the area, but sounds like that's not possible.
dave1949
Super Star Member
It's been a pretty wet year here in the NE. It has dried out on top a bit, but I think ground moisture levels are still quite high. I say this because I see wet drainage still happening in late August that normally isn't present this time of year.
So, is this an always wet situation, or just a wet year situation?
So, is this an always wet situation, or just a wet year situation?