Best type of grass for late fall/winter planting erosion control?

Hammbone · Nov 10, 2014

I am currently working on re-grading the ditch along my driveway which is on a slight hill, and carries quite a bit of runoff. It got pretty badly washed out and rutted from the previous owner neglecting to seed after the road construction and I would like to a avoid having to redo this project.

In yall's experience, what do you find to be the best cover grass to plant in late fall/ early winter for a drainage ditch?

P.s. I live in central NC

DT86 · Nov 10, 2014

Italian ryegrass should work well.

sixdogs · Nov 10, 2014

Plant wheat or oats. It will grow in the cold, is cheap, readily available and will hold well. I occasionally use it to hold a slope that will one day be lawn and I don't want it to run in the interim. Mow like grass in the spring and next August do the seed right.

Hammbone · Nov 10, 2014

Are these types(rye, oat, and wheat) able to be broadcast seeded? I don't have a disk or drag harrow, so I will be spreading by hand. I should have mentioned that in the original post I guess.

AaronS · Nov 10, 2014

I would plant Kentucky 31 fescue and winter rye (rye grain) at the same time. Both can be broadcast. The rye will germinate quickly, grow all winter long and hold your soil (as long as the run-off isn't significant). The fescue will take longer to germinate but will grow under the taller rye (the rye acts as a nurse crop). Next summer when the rye dies off the fescue will take over.

Depending on how much run-off this ditch gets, there may be nothing you can plant that will hold. Your best bet may be rip-rap.

sixdogs · Nov 10, 2014

Hammbone said:
Are these types(rye, oat, and wheat) able to be broadcast seeded? I don't have a disk or drag harrow, so I will be spreading by hand. I should have mentioned that in the original post I guess.

Yup...broadcast but try to break the hard ground so the seed stays put. It will grow anywhere. Wheat is my first choice. I have grown on severe slopes that I could barely stand up on.

s219 · Nov 10, 2014

I second the recommendation for a fescue/rye mix. Often that is called "landscaper's blend" and sold in bulk at turf supply shops for about 1/2 price of straight fescue from the department store. It's sort of the default mix to put down after construction or grading work.

You could do only annual rye if you plan to overseed with something else in the future.

This year, I saw Tractor Supply had Kentucky-31 fescue on sale for $39 for a 50# bag, which is a great price. I put about half the bag down, and it's done very well.