WILL GRASS GROW?

[JHFV]

I had about 500 yds of clay and black dirt dug out of my pond this spring. mostly clay. Somebody else came out out took the dirt and spread it out on my land. Its dried now and hard as a rock! Questions are will bermuda grass grow in this? Do i need to add amendments? and can i plant bermuda seed right now? I need something down so it doesnt all wash back in the pond this winter. Any help is appreciated.

 

[texasjohn]

need photos to see your situation.

If spread kinda thin, likely existing grass will come up thru and some rains will melt the stuff down into the ground.

No, you won't successfully be able to just toss out bermuda seeds on dry clay and expect results... I think likely the hard clay needs to be worked some before planting.

 

[Soundguy]

i agree.. if it is thin, grass will come up thru it. If thick and hard.. you will need to pull a drag harrow over it.. etc.

on the flip side.. you may find that it is a quite hutritious soil once you do get stuff growing in it.

soundguy

 

[flusher]

I had about 500 yds of clay and black dirt dug out of my pond this spring. mostly clay. Somebody else came out out took the dirt and spread it out on my land. Its dried now and hard as a rock! Questions are will bermuda grass grow in this? Do i need to add amendments? and can i plant bermuda seed right now? I need something down so it doesnt all wash back in the pond this winter. Any help is appreciated.

Here in the North Valley bermuda is a noxious weed. It grows everywhere especially in tilled soil. My soil is gravely loam with patches of clay. I've been trying to get tall fescue to grow in my backyard since May. Been fighting a bermuda infestation in the seedbed all summer. Even used my weed burner on it, but it eventually comes back. Finally spot treated with Roundup to kill it. Hlpe we get a few soaking rains soon so that fescue germinates.

 

[Soundguy]

Bermuda a noxious weed... down here we call it 'hay' as in tifton and coastal.. etc.

soundguy

 

[mocassincreekranch]

JHFV; its to late in the year to get bermuda established this year. I was in the same shape as you last year with a new pond and plenty of dirt. I disked in rye grass and winter wheat seed for the winter and this spring when the night temperature's reached a steady 65 degrees I broadcast my bermuda seed then mowed the wheat and rye grass down to cover the seeds. I have a great stand of bermuda this year on what was bare dirt. I fertilized pretty heavy until it got high enough to mow. Good luck

 

[MarkV]

Yep, like moccasin said, put down a winter crop like rye to hold the soil for the winter. Bermuda wants to be planted in hotter weather, it goes dormant in the winter and will not germinate. It would be a great time to get a soil test done so you could add lime and fertilizer this winter and be ready for planting early summer next year.

MarkV