MUD back yard help

[herm0016]

longmont, colorado.

my backyard is all mud and I would like to get it planted. i seeded half of it and have to get sprinklers going tonight, it has been wet the past week. eventually some of it will be lawn and a lot will be rocks and other landscaping. I really need something to germanate to keep the soil together and keep the mud down. I am thinking of some kind of cover crop to help out the soil for more grass seed inthe spring as well. should i go with some kind of cover crop mix that will germinate fast? should i be using straw matting? back yard is close to 20k sq feet.

help! my dogs feet all look like softballs when they come inside after it rains.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I would consult your local farm store. What I would do, except it may be too late now, is after leveling as best you can is put down annual rye grass seed with a straw cover.
Then spring plant grass seed best for your area. Two 50 lb. bags should do it.

 

[herm0016]

something to add. i care a lot less about how it looks, and a lot more about its utility and need for water.

 

[Ford850]

I would consult your local farm store. What I would do, except it may be too late now, is after leveling as best you can is put down annual rye grass seed with a straw cover.
Then spring plant grass seed best for your area. Two 50 lb. bags should do it.

I agree with this, but I would plant the perennial seed along with the annual rye, as long as the weather will permit the annual rye to germinate this fall. The perennial grass will not germinate this fall but will get a good early start in the spring while it's too wet to get it planted had you waited till then.

 

[Thomas]

Can you re slope your lawn little for better drainage?

 

[Industrial Toys]

Most of the grass seed I have bought from TSC has all that mixed stuff in there. It's great except come spring, you don't have the lawn, you thought you did.

 

[herm0016]

its about a 1% to one side. back is a concrete farmers ditch, house is set low. not much can be done about the slope. it was left without maintenance for 10+ years, we moved in last spring. got a new septic system that dug it all up.

 

[/pine]

...my backyard is all mud and I would like to get it planted. i seeded half of it and have to get sprinklers going tonight, it has been wet the past week...

If it is "all mud" why are you going to add more water?

did you check the ground temp. guidelines for germination?

Use sand over new seed and cover with hay/straw...repeat as necessary...

 

[JerryK]

I mostly use Pennington Sun and Shade... I've used lots of different contractor mixes for years. But now I stay away from anything that has annual seed in it. Pennington is expensive, but you end up with a real nice lawn .... Might take a few more days to come up from the annual seeds, but worth every penny in the long run.

 

[herm0016]

i will only add water when it is dry, to try to germinate the field grass seed i have spread. ground temp was low over the last few days, but it will be nice and warm during the day for the next couple weeks. What i am wondering is, if i should add a cover crop to increase my biomass over the winter, then in the spring till and seed again. winter here has very cold spells, but also has plenty of time in the 40s and 50s when stuff will still grow.

 

[LouNY]

I would seed it in winter rye, it will germinate quickly and get you a root mass and cover, come spring start mowing it tall and seed with your desired grass seed.
Or in the spring a quick hit of round up, wait a few days (5-7) then either broadcast or drill in the seed you want.

 

[oosik]

I "redid" a part (120 x 250) of my lawn about two weeks ago. I've failed to keep up with the pocket gophers this year and it looked like a practice field for an Army Heavy Infantry brigade. So I used my tractor rear blade - reversed - leveled it out and will wait for the spring to reseed. Too cold right now. Besides - its the ABSOLUTE opposite of muddy - its VERY bone dry.

Very fortunate to have a very large seed companies locally - Rainer Seed & Landmark W & N Seed - where I will be able to get native grass mixtures to replant.

All my "lawns" are simply native grasses that have been mowed for the last 36 years I've been here. They have the advantage of being EXTREMELY resistant to our summer and early fall dry weather. However - nothing beats the pocket gophers, except an ongoing eradication program.

 

[TheMan419]

I'd call the local extension. Plant a good winter rye or something that will grow. You are right you need the root mass to keep things together until you can plant the "good" lawn in the spring.

Then you have to decide. You can spread the good lawn seeds now. Then in the spring keep things mowed and they will choke out the rye or whatever cover crop you planted.

OR do not plant the good seed now and till everything up again in the spring.

I would probably go the second route. That also gives you the ability to regrade the property if necessary for better drainage. You said there is a ditch on one side of the property. Are you allowed to use that to your advantage and grade everything so runoff goes into the ditch?

 

[herm0016]

concrete irrigation ditch... so no.

ill try to stop by the seed place down the road and see what they say and have. thanks for the advise.