Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations What's the best grass for erosion control??

I am completing my 1 1/2 acre pond and will be sewing grass on the back side of the dam in september.

What is the best grass for this purpose? I live in NW Georgia where the summers are hot and the winters are fairly mild w/ temps rarely dropping below 20 F.

I have done some research and Buffalo grass seems to be the best choice, but it's so expensive. Fescue requires to frequent mowing. I want a low maintance grass.

If I go with a warm season grass, I will plant rye for this winter until I can plant the warm season grass.

What are some of the grasses that Pondboss members have used and to what satisfaction?

I use common bermuda in Texas where the weather is about the same. It will get tall but not extremely tall (6" maybe) but it's fine blade so it doesn't matter. I don't mow often on the back of the dam. When you do mow it looks like carpet almost. It does the job even when dormate in the winter. If I'm able, in spring I burn the grass and it comes back thicker and greener than before. I buy the unhulled for quick germination. This is not cheap seed by any means. I'm paying $125 for 50# unhulled but it goes a long way. The hulled version is $40 less where I get it and it germinates in a couple of weeks when moisture is present. It gives a park look to my pond even when I haven't mowed. There's my 2 cents worth, maybe more than you wanted to know. Good luck.

Wes, I'm also using common Bermuda in the summer and rye in the winter. I planted hulled Bermuda but had to water it the first summer. The problem in North Texas lack of rainfall by the time the ground warms up enough for germination.