The Erosion Control Project

GoDawgs · August 19, 2019

There's a sandy area with a downhill slope that starts at the pole shed at the top of the slope and then runs down past the side of the house. Because it's rather shaded, grass won't grow there so over the years rain has gradually carried away the sandy soil and tree roots are getting exposed. Soil added will just get washed off too and we don't want gravel in that area.

One day it dawned on me that putting down a thick mat of grass clippings might hold the soil, eventually decomposing to the point where some kind of grass would grow. After a test area stayed in place after a 1" rainfall, I started at the top by the compost pile (where the red rake is) and am working my way downhill. Here's a shot of some of the area showing how sandy and bare it is. I've already got some covered at the top and it's now brown now. The brighter green line was some of yesterday's addition.

I put the clippings down about 3" thick and pack it down with the back of the pitchfork. Then the new clippings get watered after which I walk over every bit of it to pack it some more. When it dries it holds together like a mat. This is yesterday's addition, about 16' long and about 3-4' wide.

After raking up the rest of yesterday's mowing, this morning I got another 3' strip put down beyond where it is in that last photo. Slowly but surely it will get covered. The oak leaves overhead are small, leathery and slick to walk on so when they start coming down I have to figure out how to remove them from the clipping mat without disturbing or tearing up the mat. By the time leaves fall the grass will have slowed down and there won't be many clippings for repair work! Maybe the blower on low speed. We'll see. I still have time to figure that out!

August 19, 2019	#1
GoDawgs Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Augusta area, Georgia, 8a/7b Posts: 1,685	The Erosion Control Project There's a sandy area with a downhill slope that starts at the pole shed at the top of the slope and then runs down past the side of the house. Because it's rather shaded, grass won't grow there so over the years rain has gradually carried away the sandy soil and tree roots are getting exposed. Soil added will just get washed off too and we don't want gravel in that area. One day it dawned on me that putting down a thick mat of grass clippings might hold the soil, eventually decomposing to the point where some kind of grass would grow. After a test area stayed in place after a 1" rainfall, I started at the top by the compost pile (where the red rake is) and am working my way downhill. Here's a shot of some of the area showing how sandy and bare it is. I've already got some covered at the top and it's now brown now. The brighter green line was some of yesterday's addition. I put the clippings down about 3" thick and pack it down with the back of the pitchfork. Then the new clippings get watered after which I walk over every bit of it to pack it some more. When it dries it holds together like a mat. This is yesterday's addition, about 16' long and about 3-4' wide. After raking up the rest of yesterday's mowing, this morning I got another 3' strip put down beyond where it is in that last photo. Slowly but surely it will get covered. The oak leaves overhead are small, leathery and slick to walk on so when they start coming down I have to figure out how to remove them from the clipping mat without disturbing or tearing up the mat. By the time leaves fall the grass will have slowed down and there won't be many clippings for repair work! Maybe the blower on low speed. We'll see. I still have time to figure that out!