I am trying to plant grass over a spot that had to be dug up last fall
to replace a pipe, the area is all clay.. I laid the topsoil
yesterday then put seed and fertilzer down, but today a heavy rain
storm washed away some sections of topsoi, and most likely the seed
alsol. What do I need to do to keep the topsoil on long enough for
the grass to start?

I would use hydraulic mulch, which is available at landscape suppliers,
like Lesco. It's a cellulose product that comes in bags and is what's
used to hydro seed. After it's wetted, it expands, holds moisture
which is good for germination, and reduces erosion. That should work
well unless you have a steep grade or other issues. Make sure you get
the kind that is intended to be spread either with a drop spreader or
thrown out on small areas by hand. The other type goes in
hydro-seeding gear.

It's superior to the other solution, which is straw. I've always found
weed seed contained in straw to be a problem. If you use that, you
want straw that is weed free, but I have no idea how to really find a
good source.

wrote:

I would use hydraulic mulch, which is available at landscape suppliers,
like Lesco. It's a cellulose product that comes in bags and is what's
used to hydro seed. After it's wetted, it expands, holds moisture
which is good for germination, and reduces erosion. That should work
well unless you have a steep grade or other issues. Make sure you get
the kind that is intended to be spread either with a drop spreader or
thrown out on small areas by hand. The other type goes in
hydro-seeding gear.

It's superior to the other solution, which is straw. I've always found
weed seed contained in straw to be a problem. If you use that, you
want straw that is weed free, but I have no idea how to really find a
good source.

Would Home Depot have this stuff?

LB

"mikep187" wrote in message
news:1112056400.30e7541b75b969497703baad718e7340@t eranews...
I am trying to plant grass over a spot that had to be dug up last fall
to replace a pipe, the area is all clay.. I laid the topsoil
yesterday then put seed and fertilzer down, but today a heavy rain
storm washed away some sections of topsoi, and most likely the seed
alsol. What do I need to do to keep the topsoil on long enough for
the grass to start?

We used to prepare and seed the area, then cover it with open-weave burlap
sacks. Pin them down with sticks or pieces of wire. It provides good
moisture retaining mulch and controls erosion better than anything I know.
Grass sprouts right through the fabric which eventually decays. Don't know
where you get them nowadays. Ours were mostly potato sacks (100 pounds?).
Haven't seen one since I became a city boy. --- SJF

There are special plastic matts-screens avalaible. That and straw or
burlap.

wrote:
wrote:

I would use hydraulic mulch, which is available at landscape
suppliers, like Lesco. It's a cellulose product that comes in bags
and is what's used to hydro seed. After it's wetted, it expands,
holds moisture which is good for germination, and reduces erosion.
That should work well unless you have a steep grade or other issues.
Make sure you get the kind that is intended to be spread either with
a drop spreader or thrown out on small areas by hand. The other
type goes in hydro-seeding gear.

It's superior to the other solution, which is straw. I've always
found weed seed contained in straw to be a problem. If you use
that, you want straw that is weed free, but I have no idea how to
really find a good source.

Would Home Depot have this stuff?

LB

Usually.


--
Joseph Meehan

26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math

mikep187 wrote:
I am trying to plant grass over a spot that had to be dug up last fall
to replace a pipe, the area is all clay.. I laid the topsoil
yesterday then put seed and fertilzer down, but today a heavy rain
storm washed away some sections of topsoi, and most likely the seed
alsol. What do I need to do to keep the topsoil on long enough for
the grass to start?

Sod.

mikep187 wrote:
I am trying to plant grass over a spot that had to be dug up last fall
to replace a pipe, the area is all clay.. I laid the topsoil
yesterday then put seed and fertilzer down, but today a heavy rain
storm washed away some sections of topsoi, and most likely the seed
alsol. What do I need to do to keep the topsoil on long enough for
the grass to start?

If it is only a "spot", get some sod. If it is an area constantly
washed out, consider shrubs or groundcover that will hold soil better.