A different landscape thread

Ron

Ron

Dum Spiro Spero
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Apr 16, 2005
Location
Sharon, SC
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@R Q @guffey24 and the other local grass experts Im missing.

I have a very steep bank on one side of a pond in my back yard. The pond is a water shed and this bank gets a lot of runoff.

Struggled for years getting anything to take seed.

I want something to stabilize the soil and prevent runoff. If its low/no maintenance that's even better. The only kicker is it has to be walked through barefoot by children regularly...thats the only reason I havent covered it in ground juniper yet. Oh yeah the soil sucks there so if it grows on a rock thats even better but I'll adapt as I need to.

Its steep enough that anything without tracks wont crawl up it and forget about side hilling...so maintenance is tough.

Grass, moss, small shrubs, wildflowers...what ya got to stabilize the ground.
Pictures in next post.
 
20170330_183736.jpg
 
If it's not regularly maintained take a look at Weeping Love Grass. It get about 15" tall in clumps but is good for low maintenance areas. If it's somewhat shady, Big Periwinkle (Vinca Major) is a ground cover and if sunny, Winter Creeper may be good Winter Creeper (Euonymus fortunei)
I'll stop back in later and try to give more alternatives
 
Pic doesnt do it justice. Taken from quite a ways away.
Pond was drawn down to fight a water issue which is cleared now. You can see the two young willows that will be full pond mark in another week or so. So from the green up...


edit: wasnt in response to your post just simultaneous. The big periwinkle looks interesting with the benefit of some color as well.


Ill be interested to see what else you toss out.
 
Wife is on the phone...lol
Big periwinkle won't work, too sunny. Love grass or Wintercreeper will work but you have to buy Wintercreeper as plants like in flats like you buy flowers in. Crown Vetch is another alternative but is a cool season plant and will need companion plants to survive year round. Prepare the soil somewhat like you would to plant grass, lime it good and use starter fertilizer. Add a mixture of Love Grass, K31 Fescue, and any wildflowers you may like. Cover it with wheat straw and let it do it's thing. Thats what I would do.
 
Probably too sunny for a cool season cover grass

Love grass is a warm season grass that works well, but establishment can be slow

I recommend spraying out the bank with roundup, raking it out, "bobcat on tracks", then having someone hydro-seed lovegrass on it

Lovegrass needs to be planted in may 1st and later, but no later than middle of July for establishment before winter
 
guffey24 said:
Probably too sunny for a cool season cover grass

Love grass is a warm season grass that works well, but establishment can be slow

I recommend spraying out the bank with roundup, raking it out, "bobcat on tracks", then having someone hydro-seed lovegrass on it

Lovegrass needs to be planted in may 1st and later, but no later than middle of July for establishment before winter
Click to expand...
Yes it's slow and actually can take a couple of years to look established. It likes a late Fall or Winter mowing and some people even burn it.
 
Would mondo grass work there?
 
A quick google search on the plants mentioned and at least two are described as invasive. is that the case? Might, still, be fine for this application...
 
Thanks for all the replies.

Important details left out. That bank faces due west. Or if you are looking straight up it you are looking straight east. At the top of the bank and beyond is ~20 acres of old growth hardwood. 80+' variety.
Meaning....sun from mid day onward only. Not sure if that matters.

Im really close to finding someone and handing them my wallet and saying "make this spot purty"...and while you are here "that spot over there, and that one there also"


Ive got a tractor, skid steer, harley rake (access to dont own) and assorted goodies. But time and motivation are low...lol.
 
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