growing grass on a slope

[echo4747]

I have a small area in my yard that has a fairly steep slope that I would like to plant some grass seed. In the past whenever it rains or when I water, almost all the seed washes away before it sprouts. Does anyone have any homemade seed binder recipes or other suggestions? I know sod is an option..but I would rather not spend the money on sod when I already have plenty of grass seed mixture that is of the same variety as the rest of my lawn. I went to both home depot and lowes (in my area) and neither store sold any binder/soil tackifier.

 

[cabri]

Seed and then place straw over the seed.

Also, consider doing a section at a time,putting hay bales between sections to help slow runoff. Once the seeded section has been established; seed where the bales were

 

[NetWareHead]

Sod and secure with stakes. (home depot has cheap sod)

Ive also seen grass successfully grown on steep slopes by unrolling chicken wire and laying it down on the ground (secure to ground with stakes.) Plant the grass seed on that with hay. The chicken wire gives more anchorage to the roots.

 

[vi edit]

Check around with landscape stores and get the erosion control seed blankets. You use the yard staples to pin them in place. Seed, rake, cover and water. Those blankets can stay there for months. They have straw woven between plastic grids. The straw will eventually break down and you'll pull the blanket up once the grass is coming in.