Newly cut roads / erosion control

Cedar Ridge

Active Member
Hey guys.

I’m just about to finish up having a few miles of new roads cut around and through my property and I’m wondering what everyone uses for erosion control. The road will get a lot of shade in most places and I need it to be something I can plant in the next month or so. If it could provide nutrition for the deer and turkey that would be a bonus but I’m really more focused on getting something established to cut down on erosion and minimize the mud I have to travel through. I have plenty of plots and food on the property so I’m ok with something that deer don’t even eat.

I don’t want it to be something I’m going to have to replant every year. Also, since I will have around 3 miles of road to plant, I need it to be something that won’t break the bank too bad if possible.

I’m located in South Central KY so really only looking for solutions that would work in this part of the country.

Thanks in advance!
 
What you are saying sounds like you may want to consider ryegrass. Not a good choice to feed deer, but for erosion control it's great because it reseeds itself, which is something most deer plantings don't do well.I'd try a little white dutch clover in the mix, it does well on trails and in shade and provides nitrogen for the ryegrass.
 
Cereal grain rye can also be useful for a nurse crop in establishing new growth in marginal areas, this stuff grows about anywhere and leaves a free layer of straw behind to help slow erosion. I saw that the state used cereal rye last summer along the turnpike in new construction areas for erosion control.
 
Cereal grain rye can also be useful for a nurse crop in establishing new growth in marginal areas, this stuff grows about anywhere and leaves a free layer of straw behind to help slow erosion. I saw that the state used cereal rye last summer along the turnpike in new construction areas for erosion control.

Is May a reasonable time to plant winter rye as a cover crop? Never thought about using it as a nurse crop for my access road mix but that sounds like a pretty good idea. What percentage or pound per acre would be reasonable if using it as a nurse crop for ryegrass and white clover? Again, this is intended for access, not attracting deer.
 
Summer heat will kill cereal rye
My perennial clovers also go dormant and act more like reseeding annuals in our east texas summers

bill
 
Nights are in the 50’s with highs in the low 80’s in my neighborhood.

I’m having second thoughts about planting ryegrass (not cereal rye) on my access roads.

My concerns after listening to one of the MSU deer lab podcasts.

1) deer will eat ryegrass. I don’t want them on these roads.

2) extremely hard the get rid of ryegrass. Not a big concern on the roads I plant it on but...will it spread all over? I definitely don’t want it off the roads.

Is there something better to plant for erosion control that deer won’t eat? Not as invasive? I have big erosion concerns and really need to plant something.


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I've used millet. It works real well. Came up quick and got tall. It did die off later which was fine because we seeded bermuda. I wouldn't be afraid of annual rye but the temps may get too warm too quick to get a good stand.
 
Is May a reasonable time to plant winter rye as a cover crop? Never thought about using it as a nurse crop for my access road mix but that sounds like a pretty good idea. What percentage or pound per acre would be reasonable if using it as a nurse crop for ryegrass and white clover? Again, this is intended for access, not attracting deer.
I'd still advise considering some ryegrass with the mix, deer really don't care for it and only eat it if they have nothing else, and it's not hard to control. Cereal rye should be fine in early May, I'd do 50 lb per acre as part of a mix.
 
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