seeding on a bare steep hill

[yanmars]

I have about a 1.5 acre hill that was cleared of invasive trees, brush, vines, rosebushes etc. That was with an excavator. Then a bull dozer to smooth it out. Bare earth now. Need to seed it in some fashion before Spring rains cause erosion problems. Soil has a lot of clay here in western Ohio. This is on a steep hill.
Thinking about frost seeding in late Feb or early March with some type of clover. I have had good luck with that on my flat spots but unsure if it can get going before rain issues. Would consider Whitetail Ladino clover or No Plow. Someone said hydro seeding but that could cost $5000 to $7000. Would rather put on more seed. Straw I think will be of little value over the seed.
Thoughts. I do have a drag rake and cultipacker but do not think I need that if frost seeding.

 

[bdhsfz6]

A lot depends on how steep the slope is and how much sun it gets. Do you plan on mowing it? You may get continuous washouts before the seed sprouts, Could involve multiple reseeding depending on spring rains. Hydroseeding could be more cost effective in the long run.

I used seed matts on a difficult slope with good results. It was only on 1/4 acre though.

 

[Hay Dude]

I’d take my chances with a walk behind seeder, straw and straw bales and mesh seed mats properly placed to prevent wash-outs. I have done this many times on steep ground and 90% of the time, it works.
Hydroseeding won’t prevent wash-outs. I wouldn’t waste my $$ on it.

 

[RayIN]

Now is the time to seed!(well, after this storm passes) Then straw it down good to prevent/reduce erosion. New grass will begin growing in Feb. in our area.

 

[BackRoad]

Not sure I saw mention of the planned long-term use, but if for pasture, you can use hay rather than straw to cover your seeds, and potentially get some fugitive grass seed started from the hay.

 

[sixdogs]

I've done a lot of of that type of seeding and in a similar soil type as yours. It's slow to get seed going in the spring and you will get some wash out. Just fix it later.

What I did was contour cultivate the ground with cultivator marks (smallish furrows) running sideways on the slope and against the runoff. This will slow the water down when it does rain. I would cultivate best you can and get the seed down now. Seed down now will get an earlier start. Just put it down below freezing so it's not muddy. I would use the "Ohio roadside mix" because it's cheap and germinates fast.

I'd get a few bales of straw and run some strips where the slope is greater to slow down any heavy rain. Also cover any severe slopes that might be a problem. Look for "bright" straw that has not been rained on before baling because it shakes easier. Put straw down with a 50%. It's not difficult so I would do it right after seeding and before rain for a better job. It goes fast. We have cold weather coming up the last month of February so there's the window.

I've done hundreds of acres this way and while fall is a better time, spring is OK too. Some places wil wash but just fix those later. No big deal.

 

[yanmars]

Seeded 30 pounds of clover yesterday and today. The dozer cleat track depressions may help hold the water back some. Frost over the next several days, hopefully that will help get it better contact but the seed is all touching the bare soil but not covered. If it dries out a bit I may try to track over it with my UTV

 

[RayIN]

If you're not going to maintain it as yard, consider birdsfoot trefoil for erosion control.

 

[paulsharvey]

50# bag of winter rye is about $38. Its cheap enough, you can double up, and spread 2 bags on that slope. Any hay (or if cheap in your area, wheat straw), over the top will help, but its not 100% necessary.

 

[yanmars]

Updates. The hill is South facing. About 75 feet of fall or more in 300 feet. I have 18 pounds of Whitetail Institute Ladino white clover spread, 50 pounds of Oregon grown red clover, and 50 pounds of Mercer grass waterway mix on the 1.25 acres. All the seed was spread with a hand held whirly bird type seeder. All the see is on the top of bare soil.
All the seed says not to cover it more than 1/4 inch deep. I have an interwoven chain drag, about 6x8 feet with "finger" projections on both sides. The small may be 3/4 tall, the bigger perhaps 2 inches. Was thinking about pulling the drag behind my tractor to "cover" it as long as it would not bury it too deep. Either that or let on the bare surface. Temps in the mid 50s for the most part for the next week and rain nearly every day next week. Unsure of amounts.
Hoping for guidance to drag or not. My Mule UTV gets warm pulling the drag up the steep hill so if I drag I will need to use my 45 horsepower 4 wheel drive tractor. Probably near 5000 pounds.
My window is short, the rain comes in early next week and if wet the bare earth becomes mud and too slippery to do anything then.
For now the bull dozer track cleat marks are such that they will help slow the water down somewhat if not a gully washer.
I could not get winter rye so I used what I could. The waterway mix holds up well in the grass water ways but unsure how fast it will take root. When it was used on those they put straw, straw bails and a green "nylon" mesh to hold things in place but the slope was much less and a much smaller area. Thanks for ideas.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Once you get a "quick" grass established, put in a matrix of Zoysia plugs. It should slowly take over. This will give you full stabilization in a low traffic area if you mow it some in season to keep the quick grasses from shading the zoysia.

 

[paulsharvey]

Updates. The hill is South facing. About 75 feet of fall or more in 300 feet. I have 18 pounds of Whitetail Institute Ladino white clover spread, 50 pounds of Oregon grown red clover, and 50 pounds of Mercer grass waterway mix on the 1.25 acres. All the seed was spread with a hand held whirly bird type seeder. All the see is on the top of bare soil.
All the seed says not to cover it more than 1/4 inch deep. I have an interwoven chain drag, about 6x8 feet with "finger" projections on both sides. The small may be 3/4 tall, the bigger perhaps 2 inches. Was thinking about pulling the drag behind my tractor to "cover" it as long as it would not bury it too deep. Either that or let on the bare surface. Temps in the mid 50s for the most part for the next week and rain nearly every day next week. Unsure of amounts.
Hoping for guidance to drag or not. My Mule UTV gets warm pulling the drag up the steep hill so if I drag I will need to use my 45 horsepower 4 wheel drive tractor. Probably near 5000 pounds.
My window is short, the rain comes in early next week and if wet the bare earth becomes mud and too slippery to do anything then.
For now the bull dozer track cleat marks are such that they will help slow the water down somewhat if not a gully washer.
I could not get winter rye so I used what I could. The waterway mix holds up well in the grass water ways but unsure how fast it will take root. When it was used on those they put straw, straw bails and a green "nylon" mesh to hold things in place but the slope was much less and a much smaller area. Thanks for ideas.

I think lightly dragging would be a benefit, if you arent going to throw straw or hay to cover the seed and keep it moist

 

[RayIN]

The big tractor will create compaction strips.

 

[RayIN]

I think lightly dragging would be a benefit, if you arent going to throw straw or hay to cover the seed and keep it moist

I agree; otherwise he created a buffet for birds.

 

[yanmars]

Today I was able with my UTV to run a chain drag harrow (the less aggressive side down) over the seed. I think it incorporated it well and I think not too deep. Glad I could do it today as it appears we may get rain over the next 8 days. If so it would have been too slippery for me to try to do anything and perhaps the seed then would have just washed down the slope.
I have about another 3/4 acre to seed but that is on flat ground and will await warmer temps for the alfalfa, no plow etc. We shall see how it all turns out. Wanted to stop erosion but also have some plants for the deer and turkeys etc. Thanks again for all the suggestions.

 

[yanmars]

We had about 2 inches of rain in the last week but no gully washers so the hill looks good at this point. Much 50 to 70 degree weather since so hopefully the seed might take off soon. Waiting until mid April to do the alfalfa on the flat ground to avoid cold damage.
It must be warming up, the buzzards are back, the eagle is on the nest and the turkeys are out again.

 

[yanmars]

Some green is just poking through. Will see how much coverage we get.