Cover crop to plant NOW

[Pooh_Bear]

I spent all summer using my 8N and 24 inch dirt scoop to haul
enough dirt to fill in this ditch (right side of picture)
The ditch is about 300 feet long.



We live on a corner and I filled it up from the corner to the walnut tree.
http://web.infoave.net/~poohbear2767/panorama.htm

Now it is just dirt and it is too late in the year to plant grass.
So I was thinking of maybe a winter crop like winter wheat or rye
or something that will grow all winter to prevent erosion.
I must have made at least 1000 trips with the tractor to get dirt.
Hate see all that hard work get washed away with the winter rains.

What should I plant to hold the soil in place this winter.
I live 25 miles north of Chattanooga TN.
http://web.infoave.net/~poohbear2767/whereilive.htm

I'm not picky about what grows in my yard. It was a cow field
when we moved here. We just started mowing it.
Usually I spread bird seed out over the bare spots.
It's cheaper than grass seed but it's too late in the year for that.

I just need something to hold the soil in place.
Next summer more dirt will probably go on top of it.

So what do y'all advise for me to do.

Thanks.

Pooh Bear

[Pat]

If you can't get something well started (small seedlings don't do much for erosion) you could roll out some round bales. I have done that and they work very well indeed and last a couple years as decent anti-erosion cover while stuff is getting started . They eventually just decompose.

Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Adron]

I second Pat's advice about just rolling out some round bales to anchor the dirt for erosion protection. Also undoubtedly some seeds will shake out of the hay onto the ground...and if you should get a few days of nice temperature you might even get a bit of growing.

I've seen this method used on some fairly steep ground to good effect.

Although it clings together pretty good, you might throw a few sticks, limbs boards or what ever to help a little more.

[Pooh_Bear]

I don't really have the capabilities to deal with a roll of hay.
Square bales are ok. Just not rolls.
Actually some of the bird seed I spread out is starting to come up.
We have had a lot of gentle rain and then days of sunshine.
Just had one week of cold weather that had me worried.
None of this is very steep. That was the idea to fill it in
and make it more flat. A few places I didn't feel safe mowing.

I may just go down to the lowest area and setup an earth dam
to catch any eroded soil. Then next spring I can spread it back out.
And I plan to add more dirt to it. I can seed it after that.

Just thought about experimenting with some winter crop cover.

Thanks.

Pooh Bear

[Pat]

Pooh, How do you haul the square bales? All you really need is a utility trailer. Have the hay supplier load the round bale(s) so that you can roll it(them) off the trailer. You can cut the cords and roll it out like unroling a big roll of toilet paper. You can break it off in sections short enougn to drag by hand. If the ground in question is nearly flat you can roll the bale out and break it off and then rotate the bale and roll it back the other way. Big round bales are heavy (1000lbs+) but you can give them a push with your pickup and get then started rolling.

I put out some big round bales manually with no tractor support before and it was a chore but I did it alone. Maybe you could enlist some help. Talk about putting your shoulder to the wheel! I suggest the bump it along with the truck method which I eventually figured was easier.

Pat [img]/forums/images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Pooh_Bear]

I don't haul bales. I don't use hay or straw for anything.
I have a trailer I could haul square bales on if I needed to.
Or a neighbor uses 4x4 round bales. He could bring me one.

A few weeks ago I spread out some bird seed.
It has started coming up pretty good so maybe it's not too late.
Bird seed starts growing faster than grass seed.
And we have a week of sunny days forecasted.
I may try spreading some more bird seed in spots I missed.
After you start mowing this stuff it looks like the rest of the yard.

Thanks.

Pooh Bear

[kerosenedrvr]

throw out some rye seed. Either perennial (comes back year after year) or annual (once only). It should grow quite well where you are at. It is cheap, grows quickly, and is what I use all the time for the same purpose.

[Pooh_Bear]

We are supposed to get some rain tomorrow night and Tuesday.
I might go over to the co-op and see about some rye seed.
I just need something to hold it in place till next summer.
Cause then I will be adding more dirt.

Thanks.

Pooh Bear