Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Grass for new pond dam

Sorry for all the questions but you guys have good answers for new pond owners like me.
My pond in East Texas was just completed and has a clay dam and sandy banks. Is common Bermuda grass seed suitable to plant at this time for long term erosion control? I read that rye grass seed can be mixed in for quick seedlings but they aren't annuals. What would you suggest?

Love my Bermuda. IDK your growing season, here probably late for Bermuda, East Texas may work. If cash is available look at roll out bermuda turf, I've put down 3 acres over last 3 years, more expensive, but, red clay is up on dam and banks, water is clear. Next, if roll out is just too much, look at having it sprigged, a lot faster coverage than seeds. You can plant winter wheat , heavily, with your bermuda seed or a rye grass and either will help control erosion until bermuda is established. Like a lot of things, they can be hurried with money spent. Keep in mind I'm not an expert, just experience, and my experience is an entirely different environment, first frost, moisture, etc. But plant something, because nature will. That was a big advantage to roll out turf, a lot less weeds, as weed seeds were shaded out considerably and bermuda was moving fast. Good luck and ask a lot of questions. Please remember, this is my experience, in a very different environment .

This time of year, in Texas, getting anything going in this heat wave is gonna be tough.

Have it done before but required running a two inch pump tied to a sprinkler head all day.

I've read that in East Texas it is several weeks too early to plant cool weather grass seeds and several weeks too late for warm weather grass seeds. My newly built pond has a lot of bare dirt that needs something now to prevent erosion. If I plant both seeds now will the next rain cause germination of one or both? Will the warm weather grass seeds sit until next spring and germinate then?

TEC, you're pretty much in dead man's land right now. All the Burmuda is slowing down, and it's too hot for rye. Also, East TX is a very wide range for weather. Are you North or South East TX?

An option might be Japanese Millet as a temporary holdover. If watered correctly, it'll pop up PDQ.

East TX Seed Company will know if it will grow right now. Be sure and tell them it would be temporary ground cover.

My pond is between Centerville and Crockett. I have a pump coming from Amazon today that I can use to pull water from the pond to a couple of sprinklers.

When I hear the farmers around me discussing grass seeding for erosion control, I think they have been discussing multi-grass blends?

I know a guy that got fined by the county for blowing dust after his irrigation well went dry and he just let his corn crop wither in place to cut his losses. He came back in with a drought-resistant prairie grass blend that worked out pretty well and gave him decent ground cover even though his place was in a mild drought for the first two years.

Also, if your project is for "erosion control", can you get some free or discounted seed from your county NRCS office? You might try giving them a call. Even if they can't help financially, they can probably give you some good recommendations for your particular climate and soil type.

(You should probably find out the name of your local conservation officer anyway. If you get a good one, they can be an invaluable resource.)

On the advice of a local feed store owner I spread some Barenbrug GRIT blend of Bermuda grass seed with Yellow Jacket coating. He suggested waiting until that germinates before putting out some Rye grass seeds. There was a slow 1" rain the next day so I'm hoping the Bermuda comes us quickly.

Dang Rod; fined by the county for blowing dust during a drought.

You know how the county dirt roads eventually get below grade after they have been bladed enough times? (If they don't haul in gravel.)

Apparently, that real fine blow sand would come off his field and then "drift" into the county road. Several 18-wheelers got stuck in the drifts.

It was a bad deal all around for all parties.***

***Except the pheasants. They go feed in the adjacent fields and then run back into the patchy grass field to hide.

That’s a problem I’ll never have. My front gate is at the end of a private road about 150 yards from the county road. Two other landowners are also on it. Kinda secluded but not off the electric grid. It’s also higher than any other property. Private well and a sewer system. Shooting range with 3 stations.

The clouds sometimes split due to my elevation so I don’t get as much rain as my neighbors 1/2 mile away. We are in a severe drought. 3 small ponds are gone and the spring fed creek dried up about a month ago. I haven’t been there in a couple of weeks but hope to go today. I expect my 1/4 acre pond is history and the green sunfish gone.