Which Erosion Control Seed is Best in a Shady Area?
Question:
Hi,
I can’t find enough information on your website or recent printed catalog to figure out which erosion control seed to use.
For three years I have tried the Santa Cruz County Erosion Control mix with poor results.
I am trying to seed the following conditions:
Santa Cruz mountains at 400′ elevation. South facing slope but in a valley with heavy shade in the winter. Steep slope eroded with thin soil on a silty mudstone. Trees overhead and/or just upslope are douglas fir and mixed hardwoods including Bay, Madrone, Tan Oak and other oaks.
I don’t intend to water at all and have put down rice straw on bare areas. The area stays moist for 2 months after the rain stops. Rainfall about 30″ / year.
I suspect that the douglas fir and/or oak litter is the problem for seed generation. Is there any ground cover that is known to work under oaks and douglas fir?
Would prefer plants that develop deep roots and provide complete ground cover.
Any suggestions appreciated.
Thanks,
Santa Cruz
Answer:
This is a challenging situation. I’m sure that oak litter would be a problem for germination depending on what time of the year you are seeding. It’s heavy shade in the winter? Can I assume it’s shady when the trees are fully leafed out? Do you get some sun in the spring/summer? If the seeds are planted to deep or under to much mulch they won’t germinate. You may have some luck with our Low Growing Clover Mix, the white clover tolerates shade and the strawberry tolerates heat. These would provide erosion control and decent root systems. They may die out without any water in the summer however. One of the annual clovers may work too. But with no sun and leaf material covering the seed you have a difficult growing situation.
I hope this helps.
Tags: erosion control, erosion control mix, erosion control seed, erosion control shade
