"JMac" wrote in message ...
My problem is that I don't have time to properly prepare the soil (I'm doing
about 30% of the home building myself). The builders "final grade" is just
pushing about the top soil they skimmed of before digging the basement (it's
probably not all that bad of soil but defiantly needs a little work before
it is ready to be a full time lawn) its full of stone, twigs and the like.
In a perfect world (that would be next spring) I'll augment the soil with
compost and till it in, than power rack the rock and other crap out before I
plant a lawn. The house will not be done for another 4 week but I do have
water.

What I'm looking for is something to hold the soil in place so I don't have
to live surrounded by mud all winter. It is a walk out lot so there is a
slope to the land and I'd like to stop any erosion.

I'm in need of a quick fix, something I can grow over top of what is there
and wont cause me problems next spring when I try to do it right.

Once again this is Mid Michigan and the nights (and days) are stating to get
cool.

Any ideas of what I can get to grow?


"JMac" wrote in message
...
Please excuse this newbie question.

I'm having a home built in mid Michigan and the final grade was just done.
I
do not want to suffer through the fall and winter with a muddy yard (I've
got a big dog and 3 young children). Is there anything I can plant now
that
will hold the soil in place and act as a nutrient in the spring when I
plan
on putting in my lawn & garden?

Seems that once I heard of growing alfalfa and plowing it under in the
spring, that this would supply the soil with a good nutrients and be a
good
source from which to plant grass.

I'm running out of time and am desperate to get something in that will
hold
the soil in place (I've got some slopes that I don't want to erode).

Does any body have a suggestion that might take root yet this year, not
look
to ugly through the winter and create a positive base from which to build
my
lawn on in the spring? (I know that's asking a lot)

Any help, ideas, urls are welcome!!





First problem you have, is your list of requirements is mutually
exclusive:


1 - You want something to put down now which you can build on in the
spring when you have time.

2 - But, you indicate the soil is not properly prepared, is full of
stones, twigs, etc.


Whatever you plant now will make it much harder to fix number 2 in the
spring.

So, I can see two alternatives:

1 - Get the soil straightned out now and quickly seed with whatever
will be your final lawn. This would be my first choice, even if you
have to pay someone to do it.

2 - Seed with annual ryegrass which will give you a quick, cheap
cover, tht looks good, prevents erosion, etc, then straighten out the
lawn in the spring. However, not only will that be much harder,
spring is not the best time to be planting a new lawn.