What to do with newly graded road?

EarthySpirit

5 year old buck +
Someone is cutting a new road for me as access into my land, but I'm not sure what to put on it. I don't necessarily care to use it for deer attractant. My main concern is to minimize erosion and to be a path for my ATV. But if I can accomplish both that is just fine with me. The work is probably going to be done in the month of December. What kind of vegetation do you all recommend I put down on this new road, especially given the time of year? Im in Northern Kentucky, by the way. Thanks for any advice.
 
Someone is cutting a new road for me as access into my land, but I'm not sure what to put on it. I don't necessarily care to use it for deer attractant. My main concern is to minimize erosion and to be a path for my ATV. But if I can accomplish both that is just fine with me. The work is probably going to be done in the month of December. What kind of vegetation do you all recommend I put down on this new road, especially given the time of year? Im in Northern Kentucky, by the way. Thanks for any advice.

Where are you? We build access roads in our business and I suggest some type of "reclamation" mix. If you are anywhere from Indiana to northern PA, you are very likely to have a reclamation mix available at a co-op. It will have lots of Birdsfoot Trefoil in it, annual rye, several clovers including yellow sweet clover that has a deep root and some other things. The rye takes off quick and helps prevent erosions, the birdsfoot takes a little longer, but is one of my favorites for reclamation. It grows just about anywhere and spreads well. Some say it is a good foodplot seed, don't buy that because I have never seen any of it nipped or eaten.


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Where are you? We build access roads in our business and I suggest some type of "reclamation" mix. If you are anywhere from Indiana to northern PA, you are very likely to have a reclamation mix available at a co-op. It will have lots of Birdsfoot Trefoil in it, annual rye, several clovers including yellow sweet clover that has a deep root and some other things. The rye takes off quick and helps prevent erosions, the birdsfoot takes a little longer, but is one of my favorites for reclamation. It grows just about anywhere and spreads well. Some say it is a good foodplot seed, don't buy that because I have never seen any of it nipped or eaten.


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Thanks WTNUT. As I said in the post, I'm from Northern Kentucky. Thanks for the tip! I'll check with my local co-op to see if they have anything like you describe. Thanks again!
 
Only thing I will add is make sure the reclaim mix has some sort of sod forming or bunch type perennial grass in it. I would look for orchardgrass or timothy. If the mix doesn't have it you can add these as well. These perennials will hold the soil long term while the annuals in the reclaim mix can get an early start. These grasses also are not high on the deer preference list at least as far as I have seen.

Main issue you are going to have is getting anything to germinate now. December has rolled in here and acts like it's going to stay so I'm not sure even rye will germinate here right now. You may have to wait until early spring to seed (frost seed). Seeding now - if it doesn't germinate may accomplish nothing more than feeding the birds!

Depending on the size of the area - covering the seed with straw may help as well.
 
Thanks J-Bird!!!
 
I second the use of rye. I always put a mix of grass seed and winter rye. The rye will pop up fast(with in days) and act as a cover crop for the grass seed. I don't think it would hurt to add some clover if you want to have something the wildlife could use.
 
I second the use of rye. I always put a mix of grass seed and winter rye. The rye will pop up fast(with in days) and act as a cover crop for the grass seed. I don't think it would hurt to add some clover if you want to have something the wildlife could use.

I kinda like the idea of mixing in all three: rye (for early cover as you say), grass and clover as well. I may put down Rye in March, then put down the other two a bit later unless its ok to just put down grass seed before frosts are over. Would that work?
 
I know it would work great with the clover to frost seed it. The winter rye will germinate at somewhere around only 34 degrees. I would think the grass seed would stay dormant till its ready to germinate, but I don't know for sure.
 
My roads end up being Buffalo grass. Nothing else handles the constant driving and compaction. Tough stuff that holds soil well. May not be suitable for your zone though... I don't know about that.
 
Thanks for the tip, I'll ask our local co-op about Buffalo grass.
 
Just fair warning, it's expensive seed. I've never bought it but have looked at prices (there is a reason I've never bought it). It's native here and when compaction is involved it out competes everything else.
 
I have a hill on my driveway system that washed out due to a torrential rain this last summer. I contacted my seed dealer and they suggested and I bought a blend of two types of fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and annual rye. I was able to get it planted in late summer and it took great. Disk, spread and roll in just like a food plot. I asked the two fellows who have access to my land, a beekeeper and a farmer, to stay off this road while the seed was establishing itself. My mistake for not blocking the road as one of these guys drove over the road while the seed was still coming up. Left an obvious set of tire tracks. Neither would admit to the offense. I plan on top seeding this area come spring to fill in any spots that need attention. This time the road will be blocked to keep idiots off of it.
 
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Thanks for all the advice guys. I've settled on a mixture of rye, clover and timothy grass.
 
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