Erosion control

[bluedog225]

I had some work done on my little pond. Approved by the wildlife biologist. Repaired a blowout in the dam caused by 15 years of seepage. And scooped out decades of silt.

It was dry given the drought conditions. But in the old days, it held water year round. The creek feeding the pond is dry except for rain runoff.

I’ve sowed 100lbs of grass seed so far. But watering it to germination isn’t really an option given the area. I’m hoping for some gentle rain but nothing in the forecast.

I was thinking about getting big round bales and unrolling them in the areas most likely to have run off. That’s the cheapest thing I can think of.

Bags are spillway. Jeep for scale.

What do you guts think?

 

[JeepYJ]

Using the straw mats with the fine mesh will help a lot with germination and some with erosion. To stop erosion you need to slow down or move th water away from areas that will erode. Straw square bales staked down or a slit fence would do that.
Do you have a way to handle round bales? And they’re typically hay, not straw.

 

[bluedog225]

Silt fences in the creek are a good idea. Hadn’t occurred to me. I’d like straw mats but the reviews locally are pretty bad (tractor supply).

I think we have hay bales here and little straw (maybe rice straw). Though I don’t think I’d mind the “weeds.”

I was thinking of having 4 round bales delivered and then just pushing/pulling them into place with a bobcat or the jeep. Then unrolling. Just to test the concept.

 

[Codyboy]

Every time I've put out grass seed we get a gully washer and they all float down to the nearest hole.

You can rake the area (i know its a huge area) or if you have a tracked machine, you can create divots parallel to the embankment. This will create little troughs so the seed doesn't just wash away.
Or get someone to actually seed it for you.
I tried Bermuda and some has taken and spreading..
Then I decided that cost too much and bought some Bahia.
It's getting there but slow.
Maybe too late in the year or not for your region at all , but lok into winter rye. Germinates quickly, somewhat and lasts until temps get into the mid 80s at least around here.

 

[geneg]

I had some work done on my little pond. Approved by the wildlife biologist. Repaired a blowout in the dam caused by 15 years of seepage. And scooped out decades of silt.

It was dry given the drought conditions. But in the old days, it held water year round. The creek feeding the pond is dry except for rain runoff.

I’ve sowed 100lbs of grass seed so far. But watering it to germination isn’t really an option given the area. I’m hoping for some gentle rain but nothing in the forecast.

I was thinking about getting big round bales and unrolling them in the areas most likely to have run off. That’s the cheapest thing I can think of.

Bags are spillway. Jeep for scale.

What do you guts think?

Does anyone in your area do hydromultch? Grass seed, straw pieces, fertilizer, and a binder are blasted into the surface with a pressure pump. It stays in place on slopes until the grass germinates. The water used to blast it in even aids in starting the growth. It works on slopes almost vertical. Pretty well a one & done.

 

[finn]

Hydro seed / hydro mulch.

Seems much more effective than randomly seeding.

 

[Fav Onefour]

Does anyone in your area do hydromultch? Grass seed, straw pieces, fertilizer, and a binder are blasted into the surface with a pressure pump. It stays in place on slopes until the grass germinates. The water used to blast it in even aids in starting the growth. It works on slopes almost vertical. Pretty well a one & done.

Another aspect is the type of seed. Those guys typically use a fast germinating fast growing blend. Obviously, you can spec whatever seed you want, but it sounds like fast and furious growth is the goal in this discussion.

 

[larry4406]

At the day job, we use straw blankets that are held in place with sod pins at challenging areas. Random picture from the internet.

https://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/fencing/utility-fencing/erosiontech-8-x-112-straw-erosion-blanket/ss8x112straw/p-5239772153843698-c-5768.htm

Sod pins look like this. The rust away over time.

 

[PCustoms]

At the day job, we use straw blankets that are held in place with sod pins at challenging areas. Random picture from the internet.

https://www.menards.com/main/building-materials/fencing/utility-fencing/erosiontech-8-x-112-straw-erosion-blanket/ss8x112straw/p-5239772153843698-c-5768.htm

Sod pins look like this. The rust away over time.

Those rolls are expensive, but easy.

I typically use straw bales, cut the twine, grab a 6-12" section and shake it out over the seed. Had some significant rains the past few years immediately after seeding, the only places that washed out was where I didn't lay straw.

@bluedog225 I don't think unrolling a round bale will work, it's going to be too thick and choke everything off. For that area you should consider the mats, a chopper/blower with bales or hydro seeding.

 

[csp]

With round bales usually being hay vs straw you may be bringing in weed seed or from other grasses you don't want.

 

[abfish]

Here's our typical installation on a steep slope or pond damn: hydroseed with seed, fertilizer, lime, no mulch. Cover the hydroseeded areas with double-knit straw blankets. Pin with sod staples.

Straw mulch works well for seed germination, but must be crimped or tacked to prevent it from washing and blowing away. Even then, it will wash in a gully washer. The straw blankets may seem like overkill, but it's cheaper for me to do it once.

You will get much quicker germination with the blankets, particularly if it's cool and dry. And the blankets make it more difficult for geese to eat the seed. Time of year is critical too. You should plant permanent grass during the spring or early summer, per your local conditions. Planting permanent grass in the winter and waiting for spring germination is not ideal, though the matting will increase the odds in your favor.

Hydroseed and matting is about half the cost of sod installation in my area.

 

[ozyborn]

I love to get a nice green back yard but no grass in my gravel. I spray the gravel to kill the grass and water the lawn. Left for 2 weeks and came back, Dead lawn but lots of grass shoots in my gravel. Seems I have to not want it to grow to get it.