Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? Bare Shoreline

I need a little help here. I've had soil tests done, applied the recommended fertilizer at the recommended rate, Disked it in, planted seed 3-4 weeks later in the spring, nothing. maybe the birds, maybe it washed away or probably got blown away. This year put out Bermuda sod, watered it heavily weekly, and it's not growing. This is the bare area you see in this pic behind the dock and to the right in the pic. The green stuff growing on the right shore is just broomweed and won't last long. These areas are where I pushed (dozed) the material that was pulled from the pond when I had it dug out 3-4 years ago. I'm just about done with trying to get anything to grow. Somebody in another post said something about using pelletized lime but with the sod already down, I can't really plow it in. any suggestions? My money pit is getting deeper and deeper but I knew that going in!

This pic is from last year.

What did the soil tests show, including pH?

You should at least be able to grow rye grass or winter grass. Heck I can throw that out anywhere and it start to grow. That soil must have something bad in it for it not to grow anything for 4 years!

RC

I am betting high salt and acid content soil.

Get a hold of Gordon Lewis farm. Gordon has pass away now but they patented this grass of theirs. It will grow quite well for you.

Cheers Don.

Cisco, I'm gonna dumb it down a little, because that's what I do best. I would get another couple of pieces of sod, quarter them up, and set them out at different locations around the pond to see which ones grow. The broomweed may be growing because most weeds are more tolerant of poor soils. This might at least tell you if the problem is area wide, and not just unique to that one area you're targeting.

I'd also get the Bermuda from a high volume seller. You want the freshest sod you can get.

Hope this helps.

OK here goes, the PH on 2-26-13 was 7.6-slightly alkaline is what the test shows. the test recommended high phosphorus fertilizer and the co-op said a 2-37-11 would be in line with the test report.
RC, I planted wheat the first spring after the dirt was moved and it barely grew. barely meaning when my big field was planted the same time, it was full of it. Grew like crazy in the field but not around the pond.
Dono, I'll check into that grass.
Al, the sod I bought was from one of the biggest sod farms around me. I put some of it around the new house where I had some bare spots and it was green in 2 weeks with less watering. and "dumbing it down" is about the only way I can understand it !

thanks guys for the replies. I'm almost to the point of giving up but that ain't my style!

That is really weird. PH is not that off? I am no green thumb thats for sure! Not sure what to tell ya except I hope your figure it out.

RC

Yea RC I was hoping that I had missed something that was right in front of me as I often do but I'm not sure what is going on. I'll get it figured out one way or the other.

This is weird. Bermuda will normally grow on concrete. You would think if it was something in the soil, it would affect your fish too.

You've checked all the boxes for sure. It's got to be frustrating to say the least.

It may be affecting the fish. I am catching decent bluegill and quite a few in the 3-4 inch class but haven't caught any of the pure Florida's in a few years but I haven't been fishing for them very hard. I'll keep plugging along until I figure it out or somebody else does.

Cisco, Google Texas Turf Buffalo Grass. They have modified the natural buffalo grass to grow about anywhere. Low water needs, poor soil, wide ph range, might be just what you need. Plant it in plugs as an experiment.

I will do that Shelby. it'll probably have to wait until next year though, I blew a bunch of $$$ on the sod. I'll probably try the lime just because it fairly cheap, for this year that is.

I'd get in touch with the County Agent. They often don't know anything about water holes but are pretty good about growing grass.

I'll do that Dave. The guy is not very responsive though. I did get him on the phone one time a few years back and he acted like he didn't have time to mess with it. or maybe it was just me, I'll give him another shot though.
thanks for all the suggestions gent, I do appreciate it.

Brian, is the soil under the sod the stuff that came from the bottom of the pond?

Yes sir, all of the sod is placed on the dirt/muck that was removed from the pond. after the renovation, the guy left a huge berm around the pond on 3 sides. I used a dozer and blended the berm to the existing contour of the land.

Cisco,

Just a quick question as watershed comes to mind. My pond was kept full from a field we farmed so fertilizer and everything else that went into producing a good crop had the extra washed into the pond for over 20 years.

Is there a chance that your pond, if filled by watershed, picked up some chemicals that is designed to prevent grass from growing? Did your soil test cover such items?

I have a lot of muck on the bottom of my almost 2 acre pond and from all the fertilizer that was used, I have a bloom that has lasted over 2-1/2 years without adding a thing, winter & summer, still going strong as of yesterday.

I am no expert, just thinking out loud from my limited experience on my pond.

Couppe

Good question Coupe but where my pond sits, the only water it gets either is highway runoff that is not much due to my place being on top of a hill or what rain hit in the direct vicinity of the pond. the pond is at the top(or pretty close) of the hill. This pic shows the layout. The small pond at the top of the pic is about 50-60' above the elevation of the large pond and the house in the bottom of the pic is another 10-20' above that.

If your soil samples really showed a PH of 7.6 do not add lime. It is only going to drive your PH higher and would be a waste of time and money.

I would run another set of soil samples if possible in about 4-6 different locations in the area that is causing the problems.

Buffallo grass is a good recommendation but Lespedeza is another grass that will grow in concrete but costly.

Water, sunshine, and bermuda seed and sod. Unless there is something in the junk that came from the pond, I'm stumped.

If the soil your trying to get grass to grow in was not topsoil you could be dealing with very low organic matter ,which makes growing grass difficult,kind of like getting something to grow in sand it's doable but difficult.

Yea, I'm at a loss here. I need to get something growing to keep all the dirt from washing back in the pond. I'm trying to clear the water up but at this point.......Maybe it'll just be a muddy pond.