How can I plant grass or flower seeds on a steep slope and keep them from washing down the hill when I water?

I'm trying to plant on a recently bulldozed privacy mound about 100 yards long and 7 feet tall, very steep on both sides. The top is particularly steep, but I want as much height as I can get to shield us from the road so I don't want to level it off much if at all. I raked out the bigger rocks and there were little avalanches each time. I really want nice wildflowers and grass to grow on it but I just know keeping the seed in place until they take root will be very difficult. Any ideas or suggestions? Thanks!

How can I plant grass or flower seeds on a steep slope and keep them from washing down the hill when I water?
Seed the area and then put a light layer of hay over the top. Some seeds require light to germinate, so make sure light can still penetrate the hay layer. The hay will quickly biodegrade and disappear. You could use grass patch for the portion you want to be grass, or just use hay there as well.
Reply:You can plant the seed and cover it with netting, matting or straw to keep it in place. If you want grass, you have to think about mowing, and whether it is practical. It can be difficult to mow a steep slope particularly if it has rocks in it. You might be better with a ground cover that holds the soil in place, like crown vetch.
Reply:Here are a few thoughts to consider..





http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=ho...





You may have to result to "hydroseeding"..which usually consists of hiring a landscaper with the machinery to do so..I am not sure but possibly you can rent a machine to do this with..and purchase the hydroseed compound yourself..I have seen it used and within 3 to 5 days..it has sprouted and about half an inch high
Reply:I think people use like some sort of a net or someting to keep it in place. Go to lowes or someplace im sure they have that
Reply:If you make some mini-terraces, that are partially levelled off, you will create small flatter areas where the water will not wash down as much, but will collect and sink in. This will work better if are not looking for a lawn with wild flowers in it, but a general wild flower area. Most plant seeds benefit from having a few inches between them, so you could start by sowing into these areas. As the plant roots take hold, the soil overall will be less likely to wash away too.





You could also help the seeds if you are able to cover them in anyway - this will help preserve moisture too, though I realise that 100 yards is a long area to cover. Otherwise, consider sowing seeds into pots, and planting them out when they have germinated, so the seeds aren't at the whim of water washing them away. You could start with the larger plants, for example, (you mention you want height for privacy) which will give more immediately noticeable results as they start to grow.





Having worked on hilly areas before, I've found sowing into pots to be easier for me to get to water, coupled with smaller levelled areas up the hill helping to retain water to be the best approach. If you have any drinking bottles, cut them in half, and place over your seeds, as this will help stop them from drying out - though I realise that you'd need a fair few in a large area.





Hope this helps. Good luck! Rob
Reply:First, you shouldn't be raking out the bigger rocks, as they could very well be one of the few things preventing erosion on a such a steep, man-made embankment. And based on those "little avalanches" you mention, it seems EROSION is your first concern. For without a strong root system on a steep embankment, you'll be fighting an uphill battle.





Hence super deep-rooting, perennial ground cover (such as vetch) will enable you to build a strong root system to keep the soil in place and prevent erosion. I suggest you start researching deep-rooting perennials that have large seeds--like Hairy vetch--and less likely to be blown away. Ironically, around those ugly rocks is a good place to start planting.