Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations New Pond. . . I need grass before the rain!

I will try to be concise and efficient with this post. . .

In the middle of building a homestead on 20acres. We should be in the new house by Thanksgiving. We will be moving from Dallas to the sticks, East of a town called Eustace. Can't Wait! ! !

Just had a new 1/3acre pond built. Large dam as I had no dirt transported away from site. Property has sandy loam on top, but clay down deep. The clay is good for pond bottom, but not for growing grass quickly. It is coming to the end of the Bermuda grass season here in Texas, so I assume I need some sort of winter rye. I was going to get burlap rolls to put down for erosion control and to help the grass seeds grow better, but with the area I have it is cost prohibited for me. I reckon I am left to putting hay on top, rather than burlap. So, here are my questions. . .

1) What type of grass seed should I buy?
2) We have had one rain, and the dirt/clay on top of dam is hard. How should I loosen the dirt/clay before I put down seed? Tiller? Disc?
3) I assume since I can't afford the burlap, is hay the only other option?
4) Is there any advice y'all can give me for getting grass/weeds to grow quickly to help the erosion control?

I need to get this done before the fall rains come. I would LOVE to post pictures of my pond and place, but Doggone if I can figure out how to post them. I have tried and tried. I have read the posts on how to do it, but I must be a computer Lame-Brain! That is it for now. I wanted to keep it brief for now. I think y'all will get what I need.

Thanks so much. . .

jp

If you have small areas that you know will be a problem get sod on them now. Sod will take and guarantee good turf within a couple of weeks.

When in your situation I used rye. I scarified the hard places with a hand rake. Where it didn't take I went in later with oats as it was then past rye season. Your best source of info on planting seed is your local feed store.

I used straw mats that worked pretty good and got grass growing fast, but they are a pain to put down. I was in a drought and had no rain, but grass started growing in three weeks. The ones I used was 8'x112.5', and I paid $38.00 a roll. Some people don't like them.

I�ve got so much dam area, any solution is gonna be difficult. Thanks for your thoughts.

What Bobbss said, the straw mats are what I use on erosion control problem areas, they work great, hold moisture well, therefore getting a fast start on whatever seed you choose. good luck!

I have used wheat straw scattered over seeded and fertilized clay with good results. In Illinois we have to spread lime also.

I have used both hay and erosion mats.


Old Hay......



Spreading it out......



Finished......while unsightly it decayed nicely, prevented erosion and grew grass.




Rye grass planted under erosion matting and fertilized.

Hay works really good, but remember you are going to be putting out seed that is in that hay. That can be a good and bad thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPqwvWTBe0g