Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? Erosion Control - Pond shore grasses?

I just had some dirt work ( dozer ) done around my pond to correct some steep grades and to help guide the runoff. The work was done by a professional pond / terrace builder. I'm very pleased with the work.

I now need to seed the bare ground around the pond and in the runoff channels. Surprisingly, I can't find a roadmap for help. When I search, I keep getting lawn suggestion.

I need to seed about 1-1.5 acres, It's mostly clay from the pond rehab done 10 years ago, full sun in Western MO.

I can broadcast or rent a small drill from the county. Suggestions?

Thanks

It will be tough to get anything sprouted in Misery this time of year.
I'd go with a mix of wheat, annual rye, fescue blend, and white (dutch) clover.
Broadcast is fine, then drag it in with a cattle panel or similar gizmo, then cover it up with wheat straw/old hay/whatever you can get.
If we get some mild weather soon you might get lucky and have some of the wheat sprout, but more likely it will be spring before you see it turning green.

Cereal Grain Rye can establish/germinate in very cool weather. It will germinate at temperatures as low as 34° F. Vegetative growth requires 38° F or higher and should be seeded as follows: Drill 1/2 to 3/4 inch deep at 60-200 lbs/A

https://www.sare.org/publications/managing-cover-crops-profitably/nonlegume-cover-crops/cereal-rye/

To help minimize soil erosion until it is established enough to prevent soil erosion you should cover that area with jute erosion mats. Then overseed with the permanent crop of cover plants once soil temps climb to the correct temps in the Spring.

^^^^^ This. Its difficult to grow in clay. In lieu of layering some good top soil a nice layer of hay would do some good. It will hold things in place and as it decays it will supplement the soil.

Another alternative might be anti erosion matting. Put your seed down and cover it with the stuff.

I have done both with success.

Pic 1 Hay
Pic 2 Matting
Pic 3 Grass

Thank you all for the relples.

12/18/22 Tomorrow. 10 day forecast barely climbs above freezing with several days as single digit highs. Then, our coldest months of the year.

It will be January some time before I can do anything. I probably need to work it prior to seeding. Around here late March is the start of our growing season.


I think I ideally get it planted with the permanent cover crop, cover it with either mats or hay / straw, then, wait for spring. Perhaps a rye mixed with whatever long term cover crop I go with? I need to figure out my cocktail and get it down.

Hay frequently has the added benefit of coming with seeds of its own, depending on its age at time of harvest.