What Would You Do?

[stlfisher]

I have about 3/4 of an acre of land that I am trying to seed this fall. I layed down the first seed and straw a couple of weeks ago and the grass has been growing well. The remaining half in the back yard has been cleared of rock, graded, and is ready to be seeded. I was planning on doing this the next day or so. The rain in the forecast looks good, but I am concerned it might be too much. This has taken me months to remove all the weeds, brush, and rock and the soil is prime to be planted now. If it rains too much on the exposed dirt I know a ton of rock will come back up. I am thinking the straw should keep the seed in place. The amount of I rock I cleared after grading has been unreal. I don't want to have to do that again.

So I am in a bit of a pickle. Would you lay down the seed tonight and tomorrow or would you wait? The NWS is saying 2-4 inches of rain over the weekend.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I would lay half now, and half in the late fall. Just me.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I think it would depend on the level. If it is reasonably level, I would seed it and make sure it is well covered with straw. I think your only problem would be runoff if the ground sloped.

I have an area that I can't ever seem to get seeded. It's steep though and excess rain runs under the straw from above the area.

[stlfisher]

It is pretty level..just a very gentle slope toward a dried up creek in the woods. There is a slope that runs on the side of my house that does run toward the backyard. That has already been seeded and some growth.

I think I am gonna put it all down tonight and tomorrow. I figure I won't have to water it for the next week!

[Justin Spencer]

If it rains like it's supposed to that creek will be sprouting with all your grass seed. If the seed is cheap it might be worth a try, otherwise I forsee several ruts with lots of grass in them, and lots of bare ground. Let us know how it goes.

[jdmidwest]

If the ground is already prepped, I would plant and cover with straw. Water heavy to pack the soil and get some hay or straw bales to divert the water flow on the up side of the hill. If the rain comes hard this weekend, you are going to lose your prepped soil if you don't do something.

[Feathers and Fins]

I seeded mine 2 weeks ago and will reseed tomorrow before the storm and then rake it durring a break in it and lay down some more straw and the nrake again after the storm to help bed the seed deeper. My dad taught me this trick years ago and works great every time.

[stlfisher]

If the ground is already prepped, I would plant and cover with straw. Water heavy to pack the soil and get some hay or straw bales to divert the water flow on the up side of the hill. If the rain comes hard this weekend, you are going to lose your prepped soil if you don't do something.

That is excatly what I was thinking...

[stlfisher]

I seeded mine 2 weeks ago and will reseed tomorrow before the storm and then rake it durring a break in it and lay down some more straw and the nrake again after the storm to help bed the seed deeper. My dad taught me this trick years ago and works great every time.

If I can get a break in the storm that sound like a good idea. I also seeded the front sides and part of the back two weeks ago. Looks pretty good so far. Put down lot's of seed and straw last night and this morning. Watered a bit to soak the seed in.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I think you will want to keep an eye out for runoff that goes under the straw. If you have something to impede it you should be good.