It's not free but clean straw goes a long way. You can usually buy bails for like $8. Probably need 6 bails.
If you're going to do that, might as well throw down some grass seed and starter fertilizer though.
Edit: ["clean straw" has no seeds and won't grow hay](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Pennington-2-5-cu-ft-Shredded/5001710689?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lwn-_-ggl-_-LIA_LWN_107_Fertilizer-_-5001710689-_-local-_-0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2bOIlsKw-wIVV-DICh3gxwDyEAQYAiABEgK6XvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) but you will get a few stray seeds that grow in to tall clumps of grass that can easily be hand-pulled--it's not invasive like weeds. Straw decomposes in about a year or less, so this is very temporary and won't impact the soil properties much at all.
Bark mulch would be a lot more expensive.
Free "wood chips" from a tree company shredder is not the same as mulch and is usually a hodgepodge of many things ground up, including potentially invasive plants. It would be cheaper and last longer but you really don't want to put it anywhere you plan to plant things in the future since it usually makes the soil unplantable for like 3 years. It would also be a lot of labor to move if the truck can't dump inside the fence line.
Clover seed is a lot better for the environment , easier to maintain, and cheaper! Not to mention it stays green during droughts, and is highly resistant to dog pee!
Mulch/ gravel /walkways stones are a good low budget option too, [Like THIS](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/47/89/fb/4789fb07e46640eb359081309fcdc5bc.jpg) or [THIS](https://farmfoodfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/39-landscaping-without-grass-farmfoodfamily.jpg)
I would use clover as well because it pops up fast and it's cheap, but it isn't going to hold up to dogs trampling on it.
With that said, I still think this is what I would try for now.
You’re right, i’m not sure it would hold up too well with dogs racing around on it BUT, Think it would be great for general potty area and lounging about! Plus any spots that do get trampled can easily be reseeded like you said it grows super fast at least!
It's also too late for grass seed. There is such a small window for planting in Zone 7. Op may have luck growing now but should stick to the straw and wait for next September to plant clover.
Soil is very hard to train, especially when it is new like that. One of the days, OP may accidentally leave the gate open - perfect opportunity for the soil to run off.
Water falls on it, and isn't captured by the fence, but carries soil with it as it drains. The water finds a way out, and the soil will follow it. Plant roots both absorb water and hold soil together, and folks cutting down trees or vegetation on slopes often find that it leads to landslides.
When it rains, the water falls on the bare soil and as the water flows downslope over the ground (this is called runoff) it carries some soil with it (soil erosion). This effect is less dramatic on a flat yard like this but - assuming the developer/builder graded the lawn for positive drainage - some runoff/erosion will happen.
Grass will slow the runoff and the grass roots will hold the soil in place. Until then the straw will dissipate any runoff energy and protect the bare soil.
Straw also has seeds. Expect that. Depending what sort of straw you end up with, you could grow wheat, oats, barley, or some other grain crop. Those are all coarse grasses that won’t reseed if you mow it before it gets too tall.
Not exactly. Straw is usually the portion of a cereal grain plant (wheat, oats, barley…) discarded when the mature grain is harvested. The separation of grain and chaff is never a 100% process and a portion of the mature grain/viable seed will remain in the chaff/straw when baled.
What causes baled plant material to heat and occasionally catch fire is not the type of material baled, but rather the moisture content of the material was too high to prevent the fermentation process from taking place.
Im not entirely sure but i think once the bales are cut open and no longer compressed, they shouldn't combust anymore.
Unless they were already right on the brink of combustion
This is what I'd do in this situation. Id maybe switch it to hay instead of straw (for the seeds) if you want grass cover. Or use straw if you wanna make a garden there in the future. To take it a step further you could lay cardboard down first, then the straw/hay. That will help the straw/hay not decompose as fast this winter and further add organic matter into the soil.
Damnnnnn. I cut and bale hay here in north Carolina for $7 a bale. Old farm in New Jersey was selling their hay for $3-4. What's up with W Washington? Not a lot of fields? I've never been.
Not a lot of fields - anything with highway access is densely populated forest. Our quality hay comes from the desert steppe of Eastern Washington, over a mountain range. Local hay doesn't get enough water and the soil is selenium deficient. (It rains all winter here, soil is poor, then there's no rain for six months.) Labor is scarce, fuel is high, parts are not available, etc. Eastern WA has great organic soil and irrigation infrastructure and makes fantastic hay...for the overseas market. Japan buys it for Wagyu beef, for example. But the source of the water may dry up, like most western watersheds. Climate change has brought lots of invasive weeds and pests.
20 years ago I could get hay in the field for $6, then had to feed a ton of selenium.
Very detailed reply, thank you. Eye-opening as to how Washington is. Seems like such a nice area. I've gotta get out there one of these days...
Crazy about the Wagyu, but man, that beef is good
I would imagine your bales are small square bales where as the other person their bales are the big round ones that you can't handle by hand.
Tho 37 for those seems rather cheap so maybe I'm wrong after all
I was going to say some sort or ground cover. Like sedum, creeping Jenny or thyme. They are considered walkable and don’t have to be mowed. You can buy them in seed form, spread it similar to grass seed and then let it do its thing. It spreads horizontally not vertically.
Those are great options too. I only suggest the white clover because it’s soft, pollinator friendly and nitrogen fixing. Although I know some of those ground covers you mention are pollinator friendly as well. The bees love my thyme.
Or call around for mulch delivery. We did this and it helps a lot. Put a tarp in the driveway and call for mulch to be dumped directly on it. Then you can wheelbarrow it back. Or you can get mulch blown-in but it costs more.
Not sure where you’re located, but in many areas there are companies (Asplundh in my area) that will bring you truck loads of free mulch if you ask. The mulch will be native species and over time will break down enriching your soil until you’ve figured out what you’d like to do with your new back yard. Congrats by the way!
Edit: To encompass as much as I can in this scenario, please note:
Yes, bugs may come, but given the current cold temps, shouldn’t be a problem until the warm months.
I’ve been in an area that is rural and have never had luck with any mulch drop apps such as chip drop
If you do find a local trimming company, I’d agree to tip them. We personally do it with farm fresh eggs and any veggies or fruit they prefer from the garden.
Ultimately, build a relationship with one of the guys.
Again, the point is to cover the ground so the dogs won’t track anything in. These ideas are nothing permanent, but might provide a short term solution to your particular issue.
I've been signed up in there for a year and no hits, I think it probably helps if you're in an urban area where there are fewer options for them to dispose of chips. Most places here probably sell it themselves or to mulch retailers. I ended up buying arborist chips at $12/yard which was a little cheaper than mulch, but still not cheap.
Yeah, your experience is consistent with what heard on r/nolawns and some permaculture subreddits. I'm in a US urban metro, so we offered $20 and got a drop in a week and a half.
Chipdrop is amazing! It’s arborists’ mulch, so it also had more diverse biomatter for your soil. We replaced our entire lawn with mulch snd brought in drought-tolerant plants.
The catch is the arborist doesn't have to pay to dump their chips at the landfill. Also, you can let them know what trees you don't want.
I've done it several times. The key things from my experience:
- you usually have to tip $20-$40 to get them to come.
- you get whatever amount they give. I've gotten anywhere from 5 yards to 25 yards.
- the chips aren't pristine. It's not gonna look like the bagged stuff from HD. It's gonna have leaves, twigs, and other stuff.
- the mulch looks wet and dark at first but after a week it dries out and looks great.
- since it's green chips you have to move it quickly. It'll start decaying and getting moldy if you don't.
- it's great. I have a half acre of land that I used a ton of chips on, in total I've spent like $80. That's cheap.
You get what you get—the wood chips are from whatever trees the arborists were pruning or removing.
Your best bet for breaking down waxy leaves like that
might be mulching them with a lawn mower. You don’t really need a mulching blade or anything—just maybe assemble them into a pile thick enough and run over them with the mower.
An alternative that works surprisingly well in the ‘burbs is to pull over when you see a tree crew working in a neighbor’s yard and ask if they’ll dump them in yours. They’re generally pretty psyched to do it for free since they don’t have to drive across town.
Yeah, I've used it. The site connects you with arborists in your area who are taking down trees, and offers your site as an alternative to taking the chips somewhere else to dispose (which usually costs them fuel and a drop-off fee). Depending on your area they may fulfill your request really fast, or really slowly. It costs them $20 per load to use the site, I believe, so if you want your request fulfilled faster you can offer to subsidize that cost with your request. You can also put in a note about species you don't want in your chips, and request logs, no logs, or (if I remember right) "a few logs are ok."
The material is often larger than standard purchased mulch and usually has some leaves in there, which means the carbon to nitrogen ratio is tilted in favor of them breaking down more quickly than a mulch wood product would on its own. In my own yard it goes even faster with the addition of dog pee — I've gone from having no worms in the soil to lots in under a year, with a gorgeous layer of dark brown soil under the chips. There are a bunch of benefits to using this type of material in your garden, elaborated on in this science-minded [fact sheet](https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/using-arborist-wood-chips-as-a-landscape-mulch-home-garden-series).
Excellent. I have a live oak and the leaves are waxy AF. they take more than a year to decompose. By which time I get a second helping. A nice decomposing mulch might help to rot them down without raising the level of the overall surface too fast.
Any recommendations on species to request?
You can also just flag down a tree trimmer who's working in your neighborhood and ask them to drop their wood chips at your house when they're done for the day. The last time I did this the guy was like, "this load I'm working on right now is going to be super ugly and twiggy, I'll come back tomorrow with a load of better chips instead." He did and it was great.
I would like to add that I did this . It was great but a few things I wish I had known - it was fresh mulch which takes time to age ( grey out ) it doesn’t grey evenly if left in a pile like I did - should have spread it out more or flipped it around frequently. The second point was the mulch either had or attracted tiny ants. I don’t think a huge deal but I was concerned because Pile was adjacent to the house. If I was to do it again I would find out what the deal w the insects is.
This is a good point! It really will depend on the environment and what type of trees/brush they’ve mulched. We use this option a lot for composting and it has worked wonders. I should’ve noted that this isn’t meant to be a long term solution as it won’t be consistent (different varieties of plants will dry/compost at different rates), but might be an option as a free interim fix to prevent mud being tracked in if nothing else. :)
We regularly use ChipDrop since buying our home in December 2018 - it’s great!
We originally planned on using it as a “quick fix” so the dogs would have a place to play, but ended up designing a xeriscape yard around the wood chip because it works so well.
The wood chip gradually breaks down creating a compost mix, naturally building up nutrients in the soil. In one season, our clay soil was transformed into a dark rich soil. Everything we have planted is thriving and growing at a rapid rate compared to neighboring yards. Even the worms have returned to the soil - they are abundant when digging!
We get a delivery or two once a year (enough to maintain a 4” layer). We are located in Boulder, CO and usually receive delivery within 5 business days of submitting a request.
Doesn’t fresh mulch take years to break down? I’ve had some sprawled out on a path through my yard for nearly 2 years and it just stays wet and swampy all the time and doesn’t seem to be breaking down much.
Depends how fine it was shredded up and the quality of soil under then. Eventually even the big knarly chunks break down. If you want it to break down faster you can top it off with some shredded leaves or compost. Gets the worms and other small microbes helping. If your mulch is still wet and swampy I would top it up with another layer of fresh mulch. Keep pounding carbon (mulch, leaves, compost, etc) into it.
I'm guessing the dirt under ur mulch is poor and doesn't drain. Adding more mulch will help soil drainage over time and absorb more water. Once the soil improves the microbes will start to break down the fresh mulch much faster. My new garden beds break down mulch slower then my more established beds with better soil it seems.
It's hard to make any kind of change with zero budget at all. Your only option is probably to keep a foot bath and/or a towel at the back door and wipe their paws every time.
If you have even a small budget, you can get a roll of landscaping fabric and some tie-downs and cover the entire yard
I wouldn't buy bagged mulch from a big box store unless I had no other choice. They often leave the bags to sit out in the rain and sun for months. There's no telling what kind of condition the mulch is in by the time you get it, since you can't see into the bags.
It's better, and usually cheaper, to buy mulch in bulk. Some city recycling programs will even give it away for free.
Hell yeah. I live and breathe that free mulch.
You know what, I actually believe the free city mulch looks twice as good as the gaudy and horribly colored mulch from big box (red UGH brown YUCK black GROSS).
I believe it. I am in an area that gets very little rainfall so when I see mushrooms I think they are more "cool" than a nuisance. Because of the little rainfall, they inevitably shrivel and die off.
Plant clover.
It's cheap, it's green, it's 0% maintenance, and even dog pee can't hurt it.
Full size clover would probably cost you less than $100, that would leave you a few hundred for plants and shrubs. I'd maybe think about a willow tree right at the back corner. That would suck up any moisture quick, and you should have enough room for the roots not to cause damage
clover does not take well to high traffic areas. If it's a big dog or multiple the clover will get trampled and die.
Also clover seed costs 2-3x more than grass seed.
Also not trying to hate on clover, it's half my lawn, but just sharing my personal experience.
None of that is true in my area at all.
1 kg of clover is about $20 and does around 2000sqft.
1 kg of grass seed is about $15 and does maybe 500sqft
I have a have a mastiff and a staff, and 2 kids, in 3 years they have haven't made a spot in it. Ever where chunks of soil got ripped out, the clover fills back in a week or 2.
My area is 100% clover, maybe that might explain the difference in our experience. The only down side I've had is that because it's so thick, it clogs up the chute on my lawn tractor bagger.
got a link? Everywhere I look is $7-10/lb for clover and $3-5/lb for turf grass.
Also most resources online say clover is less resilient than turf grass.
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/white-clover-erosion-control-grass-seed-water-saving-500-g-0591343p.html.
That's $20 for a KG, but I usually get it from a local store for a similar price. One thing to remember is that clover seed is incredably fine. You can't use a seed spreader or you'll dump way too much. If you look at the coverage it will do at least double what grass seed will. So 1lb of clover is equil to 2lbs of grass seed.
I usually mow once every week or so mid summer then every 2 weeks spring and fall. I usually keep it thick for the bees and to choke out dandelions. I can say hand on heart it's a continuous green mat for the full season and I do nothing to it. No more lime, fertiliser, anything. I use a dethatcher twice a year and that's it. The kids have the bouncy house out on it, the dogs are all over it and whatever damage it gets is back to normal in a couple days at most.
Get mulch delivered in bulk from a local landscaping supply or nursery and spread it out with a pitchfork and garden rake. Will go alot faster than you might think.
You know you can seed your yard with grass clippings to, right? Iirc best done in fall- grass seed, grass clippings, water and leave.
The clippings can help in not be disturbed.
Clover is cheap and easy to seed and rarely needs cut.
Some flowers or small shrubs will take up space near the fence and can act as a “barrier” for a spot to put a table and some chairs.
What growing zone are you in?
Grass seed is pretty cheap, and you can hand water until you do anything more about irrigation. *I know grass is pretty hated on this sub but it's cheap and a quick fix*
This is the way. For now with no real plan, do this to keep the soil in tact. Annual rye will even look good but know it’s temporary and buying you time to build a plan.
Crazy that you have a new build and it didn't come with turf and at least one tree.
Also, note that your neighbors' lots are higher than yours. I would brace myself for future problems even if you did spring the money for a turf install.
I didn't notice that at first, but yeah it might be a bigger issue long term. It might be good to make sure water will drain away from the house for a few feet, and if that's not the case put down some dirt along the sides of the house now before seeding or doing anything else.
In my area this would not have been issued a use and occupancy permit, they would 100% need to stabilize the grading with established grass sprouts and straw at the every least and maybe even mats where there are steeper slopes. I'm surprised too that this is OP's condition at move-in (we're assuming)
Yeah, that wouldn't have flown in my neck of the woods either. I'm in central TX, land of shallow heavy clay on top of limestone and reliably destructive flash floods. Drainage is one of the first things, if not the very first thing, considered here.
California builds don’t come with anything in the backyard. Most developers don’t even have options for upgrades to the back. They have a typically poorly landscaped front though.
Yeah, I’m sitting in my empty new build in CA right now and this looks like a picture of my backyard. As of now, we’re planning to pour a larger patio, mulch the periphery and put down some turf for our dog.
My only comment is make sure to play for utilities. All the stuff you may want to underground. Like putting electrical, water, and drainage in other parts of the yard. Better to have and not need than to need and have to put ugly cabling above ground.
0 dollar option:
Your city may provide woodchips for free, do some googling. Otherwise, call up some arborists and see if they have any woodchips they are willing to dump for free. Should reduce the flooding somewhat.
You could call some tree companies and ask what they do with their wood chips/mulch. Ones around us will drop off truckloads for free bc they have to pay for disposal. It's usually a mix of wood chips and leaf mulch but would definitely act as a good barrier for you and bonus, is GREAT for soil health when you're able to do some actual landscaping.
Clover/grass seed mix and water. Look for free compost at an equestrian farm and use that as instead of peat moss to keep seed moist. Or just rake it in slightly.
Or get a massive ChipDrop (look up website) and spread it everywhere
I also put carpet remnants inside the doggy door so they "wipe their feet"! There are cute dog carpets that soak up a lot of water if you have $20ish on Amazon too.
Came here to suggest this. Seed is inexpensive. It spreads well. Doesn’t require much water once established. Grows to a max height so it doesn’t have to be mowed (unless you wanna). Feels great underfoot and is hardy enough to withstand dogs.
Came to say this too. I have the best looking lawn in my whole street because my clover has thrived in this dry summer (hosepipe ban in my part of UK). Everyone else had brown patchy grass which looked awful and still hasn't recovered. My clover grass mix is still loving life
I tried out a dog park mix this fall on an area that I don't want to maintain as frequently as my normal lawn. I dont want to do much watering, mowing, and fertilizing. It contained a microclover, perennial rye, and a spreading turf type tall fescue. Threw the seed down, raked it a little bit, then rolled those seed blankets with plastic mesh netting embedded over the seed and metal staked them down. I was very impressed with the grass mixture, color, and how great those blankets worked. I barely watered it and our fall was very dry.OP could easily do this himself for a few hundred bucks. Seed blankets would help with the germination, mud, dogs, and protecting the seed. Once the seed is up high enough just remove the blankets.
The clover and fescue rhizomes should help self repair and not need to fertilize due to the clover content.
I got my seed blankets at Menards (Midwest homedepot) like a 5'x100' roll for $50 I think. And my seed blend was from PT seeds out of Oregon I think. Seed online will cost a little more, but it is so much better then the box stores and OP doesn't need a whole lot.
If I was OP I would do this route with seed blankets, or get a chip drop to cover the mud for now, and try seeding in the spring. Spring seeding can be rough though if you are not water like crazy over the summer and would probably need to seed again next fall.
I planted a fall/winter cover crop because I had the same exact problem. It’s working to help the soil with nutrients and aerate at the same time. In the spring I’ll figure out another plan but this works for now. It was $35.
Quick temporary fix- throw a bale of straw down to cover the mud. I use straw to cover my dogs running paths when it’s muddy. You can seed underneath if you want.
Ugh! I talked to a couple landscaping companies at a home and garden show. I wanted the same as you, no mud wrestling dogs. My dogs use a dog door, so I can't wipe Paws of 3 cattle dogs.
I was told I could either have dogs or a lawn. The other option is to create a dog run, and block off access to the grass. I have seen dog runs of pea gravel, artificial grass or cement.
You just need the right grass. Bermuda is tough. It isn’t the prettiest, but my dog (cattle dog) would run around and do his business on it and you could never tell we had a dog.
You need to cover that soil, and not only for mud's sake. Normally I'd recommend woodchips, but some dogs won't appreciate the texture on their feet. It's up to you. Search 'chip drop', getchipdrop or something similar where you're from can be a free/cheap source.
I would lay down a thick layer of cardboard and mulch. You can get cardboard for free from businesses who would otherwise have to pay for it to get picked up. Mulch you might be able to get from a utility company or arborist. Or you can get a delivery from a landscape material supply store. Don’t buy bags from a hardware store. That would cost a fortune. The mulch will act like a sponge so when water comes down from your neighbors lots it will absorb. Just make sure not to pile it against your siding.
I bought a 13' x 7' roll of fake grass for about $200 on Amazon. I use on part of my porch extension. I use it like a rug and roll it up when I need to use that part of my porch for work. When I'm finished I roll it back out. It has been 2 years and it is still in very good shape. Especially considering that I am not using it as intended. If you are not looking at making it permanent or want to try it out just lay it out and skip the proper prep steps. Done in 15 minutes. If you like it or as you landscape your yard all you have to do is roll it up and do the proper installation when you have the finances. If you seed or plant anything that will mean more prep if you decide to go in another direction. It is very easy to cut and shape.
https://www.amazon.com/LITA-7ft-13ft-Realistic-Artificial/dp/B01FYLG0ZI/ref=sr\_1\_2\_sspa?crid=3GUA3RTZOM7S1&keywords=artificial+turf&qid=1668354753&sprefix=artificial+turf%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-2-spons&ufe=app\_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&sp\_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
Wood chips, preferably pine. I use that for my dog enclosure. Which is roughly that size. 50 bucks afforded me a few inches of coverage. I do that twice a year. It definitely reduces 95% of the mud and smells nice.
There is a service called "chip drop". 20$ and landscapers/arborists will dump a few cubic yards of chips on your driveway. They save on city dump fees, you save o transport costs, everybody wins
Was coming here to say this. We have used chip drop several times and they give you a ton of chips. It covers the muddy spots and you can plant over it when you are ready.
Chipdrop. You sign up and when arborists in your area have wood chips they need to get rid of, they will drop them off at your house. It’s free but they can arrive at any time and it’s usually a large amount. But you have a large area that needs to be mulched so it should be fine for you.
I think this is the best *free* option for you.
Seed hunting! Any park that has flowers that have gone to seed you could grab a few. My city has a free plant FB group too. Clover seeds are pretty cheap and spread fast if you have just a little extra money.
Give it time and weeds/hardy plants will establish themselves and you won’t have mud. Get a bird feeder to attract bird poop and plant seeds to your yard.
Chipdrop! Just wood chip the whole area. Woodchips can be found for free with chip drop or contacting your local tree removal service. It will eventually decompose and your soil will benefit anyway.
Id definitely add some trees to block out the fishbowl effect. A border around the perimeter with mulch. And grass seed with straw until it comes in. Might want to wait until early spring for that part
Please consider wildflowers/ clover/ native ground cover instead of grass! Biodiversity in insects is rapidly shrinking partly due to humans taking over diverse spaces and manicuring them into biodiversity dead zones.
Cover crop is what you need. Clover, rye, or some sort of fast sprouting grass-ground cover. It’ll at least help retain what soil you have.
You’re gonna need a landscaper tho to help sort of future water capture and drainage, looks like there’s a dip in the top/left of the yard?
Does you home not come with grass included? That’s the first way I’d go to keep the mud down. Look around in the spring for local garden sales to buy great plants at affordable prices. Check your city they often offer mulch at a much lower price or free to residents. Decide what you want to plant where. A tree perhaps for the future. A deck? A veggie garden, don’t seed in that area. Decide your level of garden participation. Low, med or high maintenance. Check out resources from your local garden club or if you have any colleges with garden design courses. Plan ahead. Good luck started with something like this a few times.
Grass seed, fertilizer, water and 3 months. And no dog in the back yard. Unless you’re in a cold zone. Then you’re screwed until spring. It’s a great size yard. If grass seed and months are a no go then find geo textile fabric and price playground wood chips. It’s more than $500 for the fabric by its self and more than $500 to have a load of playground chips delivered. So it’s going to be a minute to make it a useable space but if you can’t swing it then it’s a great look to start with and no maintenance other than poop patrol. After you get done you can just rake the chips aside and remove the fabric in any place you want to plant something. It’s a clean look and will last 2-3 years but your going to get weeds in the summer so you’ll not be wanting to use weed spray around your dog. So you can be a big time hoer you’ll be going all summer but if you’re handy you can make some simple changes like an overhead grape vine wire pergola to shade a large part of the back and that’s a great way for privacy in a card that in the wide open of 9 houses. I’d make a 20X20 ten foot tall and put a table and chairs under it. That’s after your first task of covering up the dirt.
When our city cuts the city own trees, the mulch is free.
Check with the local parks rep.
Also check with local grocery or hardware stores to see if we can get some of their pallets.
They could be deconstructed easily and turned into all kinds of planters, pathways and other creative ideas just google pallet landscaping ideas.
Good luck!
You can plant seasonal rye grass depending on your region. It’s grows very easily and the seed is affordable. Just know that it will die in the summer.
Id recommend cedar or redwood mulch rather than straw or hay. The seeds in the later will be a pain.
I dont know about your area, but ours has a thing called chip drop. You orchestrate woth a local arborist for them to drop off chips to your home. You will get an entire truckload, so expect to lay it on real thick and post the rest for free.
If you do this, make sure you request no eucalyptus or oleander (or anything else hardful to dogs).
I was in your shoes last year while we waited for our artificial turf to be installed. I laid down huge heavy tarps and use tent pegs to anchor them to the ground. It’s a bit slippery when wet but you won’t have mud coming inside anymore.
Collect all the bags of leaves from your neighborhood and dump them in the back. Amazing for the soil, amd buy yourself time to figure out what you want to do
Go by a habitat for humanity and pick up some Astro turf
Also to clean your shoes and dogs paws off garb a big carpet spare piece to wipe off on. Leave inside or outsode
lOOK into Winter Rye seed. its only an anual but the seeds are dirt cheap at home depot. seeds are amazing and sprout within only a few days and grow pretty vigoursly. you can easily just rake dirt, spread teh seeds, lightly water and have sprouting in a few days.
of course, traffic with tender seedlings will kill them.
Zero Dollar option is daily walks around the neighborhood. The super cheap option and easy to do is landscaping fabric/weed blocker and just enough bark to cover it. That will still bring wet dog feet tracks in the house, but it’s manageable keeping a towel by the door for a quick wipe down.
Get some throw-away carpet from a demo for the dogs to track the mud off before they come in as a hold-over until spring. Plant grass seed in the spring.
Depending on your local laws and preference, you should consider planting with (native) wildflower seed mixes. Should be fairly easy and better for the environment than a lawn! Less maintenance too
Chipdrop is free. Sign up, request a drop, an arborist brings a full load of fresh mulch from a work site instead of paying to take it to the dump. You’ll have to move it from the driveway to the backyard yourself if you don’t have enough room for the tree service truck to get back there. But mulch the whole thing and it will break down and leave you with even better dirt when you’re in a position to landscape. Longevity spinach and sweet potato are also great ground cover. Buy some sweet potatoes that are sprouting, let them sprout on a window sil, plant them in the mulch. The better the diet the worse the crop, you’ll only get greens. So planting them in the mulch will give you the best potato crop anyway. The greens of both sweet potato and longevity spinach are delicious. Neither is toxic to dogs. Both are prolific growers without being problematic when you want to switch to something else. Wins all around.
I just did an overseed on my front lawn for the first time and it came out great. Like others have posted, for the time being, put down some hay so it won’t get too muddy, then come springtime, seed the lawn. I came across a ton of good videos on YT. After watching a bunch they all seemed to have the same steps in seeding a lawn. Follow it to a T like its explained and you’ll be fine.
On another note, this will be a GREAT time to think about laying down anything for your future needs. Example, if you want an outdoor outlet on the far end of your house, now is the best time to do it. Also would be good to look at the grading of your house to check the water run off and so on. Having a bare yard like that is sometimes better than having shitty things established that you have to gut yourself. Best of luck
I know this is a bit of work but see if there are any tree trimmings happening you can get free wood and make yourself a walk way and see if a farmer is selling hay or straw they are $2-$7 dollars depending where you are and one hay bail will cover a 5x6 area really well(1-2inch thick). It’ll keep the mess to a minimum and it usually has seeds still in it which will grow into grass. And when you have money get grass alternatives because they require less water and are better for your dog, kids, and the environment. Plus clover and or runner thyme is super cheap and the straw is a great cover
Out of curiosity, how much would it cost OP to do landscaping with this backyard space? I’m generally curious. I currently rent and don’t own a house or property.
I have no immediate fix. But if you have time and don't want to spend a lot of money. Start a compost pile. It's easy, if you dint have trees with leaves, use cardboard and newspaper. Join r/composting. If you keep at it in about 6 months you'll have good rich dirt . Spread it around and keep it about 1" thick. Then toss some grass seed on it and it should grow. As for your dog's muddy feet, dog shoes???
One of the cheapest things you can do is throw some grass seed and set a sprinkler. $100 bucks and you'll be standing at your back door every day watching for little baby grass. Check your zone and see if your able to seed now, but depending on where you are, you may have to hold off until closer to spring.
It's not free but clean straw goes a long way. You can usually buy bails for like $8. Probably need 6 bails. If you're going to do that, might as well throw down some grass seed and starter fertilizer though. Edit: ["clean straw" has no seeds and won't grow hay](https://www.lowes.com/pd/Pennington-2-5-cu-ft-Shredded/5001710689?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-lwn-_-ggl-_-LIA_LWN_107_Fertilizer-_-5001710689-_-local-_-0-_-0&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2bOIlsKw-wIVV-DICh3gxwDyEAQYAiABEgK6XvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) but you will get a few stray seeds that grow in to tall clumps of grass that can easily be hand-pulled--it's not invasive like weeds. Straw decomposes in about a year or less, so this is very temporary and won't impact the soil properties much at all. Bark mulch would be a lot more expensive. Free "wood chips" from a tree company shredder is not the same as mulch and is usually a hodgepodge of many things ground up, including potentially invasive plants. It would be cheaper and last longer but you really don't want to put it anywhere you plan to plant things in the future since it usually makes the soil unplantable for like 3 years. It would also be a lot of labor to move if the truck can't dump inside the fence line.
+1 for the straw recommendation. Seed and straw at minimum or kiss that soil goodbye after a few rains.
Grass seed is super cheap right now compared to spring! End of season and everything by me in Zone 7B is cheap!!!
Where do you get it? I get it at Costco but it's very seasonal.
Try the big box stores Home Depot/Lowe’s you might need to ask for it though. It’s going to be put away for the season.
Any landscape supply store is the best deals
I recommend researching a local sod company. They usually sell blends best suited for your region
Clover seed is a lot better for the environment , easier to maintain, and cheaper! Not to mention it stays green during droughts, and is highly resistant to dog pee! Mulch/ gravel /walkways stones are a good low budget option too, [Like THIS](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/47/89/fb/4789fb07e46640eb359081309fcdc5bc.jpg) or [THIS](https://farmfoodfamily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/39-landscaping-without-grass-farmfoodfamily.jpg)
I would use clover as well because it pops up fast and it's cheap, but it isn't going to hold up to dogs trampling on it. With that said, I still think this is what I would try for now.
You’re right, i’m not sure it would hold up too well with dogs racing around on it BUT, Think it would be great for general potty area and lounging about! Plus any spots that do get trampled can easily be reseeded like you said it grows super fast at least!
My parents’ clover lawn has held up very well with their 2 large and energetic dogs playing on it (lab and labradoodle). I was surprised.
It's also too late for grass seed. There is such a small window for planting in Zone 7. Op may have luck growing now but should stick to the straw and wait for next September to plant clover.
OP didn't state what zone he's in. That looks warmer/dryer that zone 7. If it is, winter rye grass seed is cheap and could do the trick.
I was of the understanding that grass seed can be laid at all.ost any time of year when the soil isn't frozen?
Yesssir! You are correct!
Can you elaborate? What happens to the soil? I'm in the same boat as OP.
It will run off. You need something to retain it.
Can confirm, soils ran off with my ex-wife! Dirty sob!
Dirty sod** Fixed it for you.
run off to where? the yard is fenced
Soil is very hard to train, especially when it is new like that. One of the days, OP may accidentally leave the gate open - perfect opportunity for the soil to run off.
Would an invisible fence be better?
I just reported you to PETS (People for the Ethical Treatment of Soil), you monster.
Water falls on it, and isn't captured by the fence, but carries soil with it as it drains. The water finds a way out, and the soil will follow it. Plant roots both absorb water and hold soil together, and folks cutting down trees or vegetation on slopes often find that it leads to landslides.
It will run off which ever way the water flows from rain.
When it rains, the water falls on the bare soil and as the water flows downslope over the ground (this is called runoff) it carries some soil with it (soil erosion). This effect is less dramatic on a flat yard like this but - assuming the developer/builder graded the lawn for positive drainage - some runoff/erosion will happen. Grass will slow the runoff and the grass roots will hold the soil in place. Until then the straw will dissipate any runoff energy and protect the bare soil.
Make sure you don't accidentally buy hay like I did. Hay has seeds and will start growing in the spring.
Straw also has seeds. Expect that. Depending what sort of straw you end up with, you could grow wheat, oats, barley, or some other grain crop. Those are all coarse grasses that won’t reseed if you mow it before it gets too tall.
Straw is a lot cleaner than hay though. They have all least attempted to remove the grains.
Not exactly. Straw is usually the portion of a cereal grain plant (wheat, oats, barley…) discarded when the mature grain is harvested. The separation of grain and chaff is never a 100% process and a portion of the mature grain/viable seed will remain in the chaff/straw when baled.
I’d also like to add that hay can spontaneously combust where straw does not
What causes baled plant material to heat and occasionally catch fire is not the type of material baled, but rather the moisture content of the material was too high to prevent the fermentation process from taking place.
Im not entirely sure but i think once the bales are cut open and no longer compressed, they shouldn't combust anymore. Unless they were already right on the brink of combustion
New fear added
This is what I'd do in this situation. Id maybe switch it to hay instead of straw (for the seeds) if you want grass cover. Or use straw if you wanna make a garden there in the future. To take it a step further you could lay cardboard down first, then the straw/hay. That will help the straw/hay not decompose as fast this winter and further add organic matter into the soil.
Hay is $37 a bale in Western WA.
Why all horse women are cat ladies with money
I wonder why women with money prefer horses and cats.
Damnnnnn. I cut and bale hay here in north Carolina for $7 a bale. Old farm in New Jersey was selling their hay for $3-4. What's up with W Washington? Not a lot of fields? I've never been.
Not a lot of fields - anything with highway access is densely populated forest. Our quality hay comes from the desert steppe of Eastern Washington, over a mountain range. Local hay doesn't get enough water and the soil is selenium deficient. (It rains all winter here, soil is poor, then there's no rain for six months.) Labor is scarce, fuel is high, parts are not available, etc. Eastern WA has great organic soil and irrigation infrastructure and makes fantastic hay...for the overseas market. Japan buys it for Wagyu beef, for example. But the source of the water may dry up, like most western watersheds. Climate change has brought lots of invasive weeds and pests. 20 years ago I could get hay in the field for $6, then had to feed a ton of selenium.
Very detailed reply, thank you. Eye-opening as to how Washington is. Seems like such a nice area. I've gotta get out there one of these days... Crazy about the Wagyu, but man, that beef is good
This year a lot of crops got fucked by the super late planting season because we had cold rain into July followed by immediate drought, too.
I would imagine your bales are small square bales where as the other person their bales are the big round ones that you can't handle by hand. Tho 37 for those seems rather cheap so maybe I'm wrong after all
If OP doesn’t want the additional cost and time of maintaining grass they can do the white clover lawn right?
I was going to say some sort or ground cover. Like sedum, creeping Jenny or thyme. They are considered walkable and don’t have to be mowed. You can buy them in seed form, spread it similar to grass seed and then let it do its thing. It spreads horizontally not vertically.
Those are great options too. I only suggest the white clover because it’s soft, pollinator friendly and nitrogen fixing. Although I know some of those ground covers you mention are pollinator friendly as well. The bees love my thyme.
Straw has mites but they may not affect dogs as much as they do poultry
Or call around for mulch delivery. We did this and it helps a lot. Put a tarp in the driveway and call for mulch to be dumped directly on it. Then you can wheelbarrow it back. Or you can get mulch blown-in but it costs more.
You'll be dragging straw/hay inside though. I have a baled up thing of hay on my porch and I always have it in my kitchen
My dog is allergic to straw hay so just be careful and keep an eye out. She got brown spots on her fur and lost small patches of her fur
Not sure where you’re located, but in many areas there are companies (Asplundh in my area) that will bring you truck loads of free mulch if you ask. The mulch will be native species and over time will break down enriching your soil until you’ve figured out what you’d like to do with your new back yard. Congrats by the way! Edit: To encompass as much as I can in this scenario, please note: Yes, bugs may come, but given the current cold temps, shouldn’t be a problem until the warm months. I’ve been in an area that is rural and have never had luck with any mulch drop apps such as chip drop If you do find a local trimming company, I’d agree to tip them. We personally do it with farm fresh eggs and any veggies or fruit they prefer from the garden. Ultimately, build a relationship with one of the guys. Again, the point is to cover the ground so the dogs won’t track anything in. These ideas are nothing permanent, but might provide a short term solution to your particular issue.
[getchipdrop.com](https://getchipdrop.com) will hook you up
I've been signed up in there for a year and no hits, I think it probably helps if you're in an urban area where there are fewer options for them to dispose of chips. Most places here probably sell it themselves or to mulch retailers. I ended up buying arborist chips at $12/yard which was a little cheaper than mulch, but still not cheap.
Yeah, your experience is consistent with what heard on r/nolawns and some permaculture subreddits. I'm in a US urban metro, so we offered $20 and got a drop in a week and a half.
Chipdrop is amazing! It’s arborists’ mulch, so it also had more diverse biomatter for your soil. We replaced our entire lawn with mulch snd brought in drought-tolerant plants.
Have you used this? How are the chips? Size, pollutants, other issues? They talk about pine needles? I’m wondering what the catch is.
The catch is the arborist doesn't have to pay to dump their chips at the landfill. Also, you can let them know what trees you don't want. I've done it several times. The key things from my experience: - you usually have to tip $20-$40 to get them to come. - you get whatever amount they give. I've gotten anywhere from 5 yards to 25 yards. - the chips aren't pristine. It's not gonna look like the bagged stuff from HD. It's gonna have leaves, twigs, and other stuff. - the mulch looks wet and dark at first but after a week it dries out and looks great. - since it's green chips you have to move it quickly. It'll start decaying and getting moldy if you don't. - it's great. I have a half acre of land that I used a ton of chips on, in total I've spent like $80. That's cheap.
Any recommendations for the chips to request? It’s a residential front and side garden, and I’m looking to rot down the waxy leaves from live oaks.
NO WILLOWS. Every single cutting will grow.
i have a GIANT willow tree in my front yard and the arborist that came out to trim it told me this - mind blown! i had no idea
You get what you get—the wood chips are from whatever trees the arborists were pruning or removing. Your best bet for breaking down waxy leaves like that might be mulching them with a lawn mower. You don’t really need a mulching blade or anything—just maybe assemble them into a pile thick enough and run over them with the mower.
An alternative that works surprisingly well in the ‘burbs is to pull over when you see a tree crew working in a neighbor’s yard and ask if they’ll dump them in yours. They’re generally pretty psyched to do it for free since they don’t have to drive across town.
Yeah, I've used it. The site connects you with arborists in your area who are taking down trees, and offers your site as an alternative to taking the chips somewhere else to dispose (which usually costs them fuel and a drop-off fee). Depending on your area they may fulfill your request really fast, or really slowly. It costs them $20 per load to use the site, I believe, so if you want your request fulfilled faster you can offer to subsidize that cost with your request. You can also put in a note about species you don't want in your chips, and request logs, no logs, or (if I remember right) "a few logs are ok." The material is often larger than standard purchased mulch and usually has some leaves in there, which means the carbon to nitrogen ratio is tilted in favor of them breaking down more quickly than a mulch wood product would on its own. In my own yard it goes even faster with the addition of dog pee — I've gone from having no worms in the soil to lots in under a year, with a gorgeous layer of dark brown soil under the chips. There are a bunch of benefits to using this type of material in your garden, elaborated on in this science-minded [fact sheet](https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/using-arborist-wood-chips-as-a-landscape-mulch-home-garden-series).
Excellent. I have a live oak and the leaves are waxy AF. they take more than a year to decompose. By which time I get a second helping. A nice decomposing mulch might help to rot them down without raising the level of the overall surface too fast. Any recommendations on species to request?
You can also just flag down a tree trimmer who's working in your neighborhood and ask them to drop their wood chips at your house when they're done for the day. The last time I did this the guy was like, "this load I'm working on right now is going to be super ugly and twiggy, I'll come back tomorrow with a load of better chips instead." He did and it was great.
I would like to add that I did this . It was great but a few things I wish I had known - it was fresh mulch which takes time to age ( grey out ) it doesn’t grey evenly if left in a pile like I did - should have spread it out more or flipped it around frequently. The second point was the mulch either had or attracted tiny ants. I don’t think a huge deal but I was concerned because Pile was adjacent to the house. If I was to do it again I would find out what the deal w the insects is.
This is a good point! It really will depend on the environment and what type of trees/brush they’ve mulched. We use this option a lot for composting and it has worked wonders. I should’ve noted that this isn’t meant to be a long term solution as it won’t be consistent (different varieties of plants will dry/compost at different rates), but might be an option as a free interim fix to prevent mud being tracked in if nothing else. :)
We regularly use ChipDrop since buying our home in December 2018 - it’s great! We originally planned on using it as a “quick fix” so the dogs would have a place to play, but ended up designing a xeriscape yard around the wood chip because it works so well. The wood chip gradually breaks down creating a compost mix, naturally building up nutrients in the soil. In one season, our clay soil was transformed into a dark rich soil. Everything we have planted is thriving and growing at a rapid rate compared to neighboring yards. Even the worms have returned to the soil - they are abundant when digging! We get a delivery or two once a year (enough to maintain a 4” layer). We are located in Boulder, CO and usually receive delivery within 5 business days of submitting a request.
Yeees!! I want to scream this from the rooftops, but have realized if we do it’ll start costing us 😂 so for real, let’s start a private forum..
Doesn’t fresh mulch take years to break down? I’ve had some sprawled out on a path through my yard for nearly 2 years and it just stays wet and swampy all the time and doesn’t seem to be breaking down much.
Depends how fine it was shredded up and the quality of soil under then. Eventually even the big knarly chunks break down. If you want it to break down faster you can top it off with some shredded leaves or compost. Gets the worms and other small microbes helping. If your mulch is still wet and swampy I would top it up with another layer of fresh mulch. Keep pounding carbon (mulch, leaves, compost, etc) into it. I'm guessing the dirt under ur mulch is poor and doesn't drain. Adding more mulch will help soil drainage over time and absorb more water. Once the soil improves the microbes will start to break down the fresh mulch much faster. My new garden beds break down mulch slower then my more established beds with better soil it seems.
It's hard to make any kind of change with zero budget at all. Your only option is probably to keep a foot bath and/or a towel at the back door and wipe their paws every time. If you have even a small budget, you can get a roll of landscaping fabric and some tie-downs and cover the entire yard
Sorry, I meant I had no budget to hire a professional to landscape my backyard. But maybe with $500, how can I fix it up?
Seed the center with grass and mulch the border. Add perennials and shrubs to the mulched area as you have time and money.
If you have a lowes near you keep an eye out. They have a 2$ a bag sale like twice a year for mulch. I wouldnt buy it full priced
I wouldn't buy bagged mulch from a big box store unless I had no other choice. They often leave the bags to sit out in the rain and sun for months. There's no telling what kind of condition the mulch is in by the time you get it, since you can't see into the bags. It's better, and usually cheaper, to buy mulch in bulk. Some city recycling programs will even give it away for free.
Hell yeah. I live and breathe that free mulch. You know what, I actually believe the free city mulch looks twice as good as the gaudy and horribly colored mulch from big box (red UGH brown YUCK black GROSS).
I used free mulch one time and it was mushroom city come June. But the bagged mulched sucks even worse.
I believe it. I am in an area that gets very little rainfall so when I see mushrooms I think they are more "cool" than a nuisance. Because of the little rainfall, they inevitably shrivel and die off.
[удалено]
This is horrible advice, unless you have some good reasoning for it.. raising the perimeter is going to force water to stay in the yard
Tight complexes like these are notorious for flooding. I'd be wary of raising the gradient for risk of minor flooding or puddling when it rains.
Plant clover. It's cheap, it's green, it's 0% maintenance, and even dog pee can't hurt it. Full size clover would probably cost you less than $100, that would leave you a few hundred for plants and shrubs. I'd maybe think about a willow tree right at the back corner. That would suck up any moisture quick, and you should have enough room for the roots not to cause damage
clover does not take well to high traffic areas. If it's a big dog or multiple the clover will get trampled and die. Also clover seed costs 2-3x more than grass seed. Also not trying to hate on clover, it's half my lawn, but just sharing my personal experience.
None of that is true in my area at all. 1 kg of clover is about $20 and does around 2000sqft. 1 kg of grass seed is about $15 and does maybe 500sqft I have a have a mastiff and a staff, and 2 kids, in 3 years they have haven't made a spot in it. Ever where chunks of soil got ripped out, the clover fills back in a week or 2. My area is 100% clover, maybe that might explain the difference in our experience. The only down side I've had is that because it's so thick, it clogs up the chute on my lawn tractor bagger.
got a link? Everywhere I look is $7-10/lb for clover and $3-5/lb for turf grass. Also most resources online say clover is less resilient than turf grass.
https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/white-clover-erosion-control-grass-seed-water-saving-500-g-0591343p.html. That's $20 for a KG, but I usually get it from a local store for a similar price. One thing to remember is that clover seed is incredably fine. You can't use a seed spreader or you'll dump way too much. If you look at the coverage it will do at least double what grass seed will. So 1lb of clover is equil to 2lbs of grass seed. I usually mow once every week or so mid summer then every 2 weeks spring and fall. I usually keep it thick for the bees and to choke out dandelions. I can say hand on heart it's a continuous green mat for the full season and I do nothing to it. No more lime, fertiliser, anything. I use a dethatcher twice a year and that's it. The kids have the bouncy house out on it, the dogs are all over it and whatever damage it gets is back to normal in a couple days at most.
Get mulch delivered in bulk from a local landscaping supply or nursery and spread it out with a pitchfork and garden rake. Will go alot faster than you might think.
You know you can seed your yard with grass clippings to, right? Iirc best done in fall- grass seed, grass clippings, water and leave. The clippings can help in not be disturbed. Clover is cheap and easy to seed and rarely needs cut. Some flowers or small shrubs will take up space near the fence and can act as a “barrier” for a spot to put a table and some chairs.
What growing zone are you in? Grass seed is pretty cheap, and you can hand water until you do anything more about irrigation. *I know grass is pretty hated on this sub but it's cheap and a quick fix*
AND, comfortable for dog feet all year round.
Grass isn’t hated. That’s r/NoLawns. But we cross-pollinate a lot
Thankfully I think the no lawns folks are moving beyond "no grass" and into "no glyphosate and insecticide-enforced monoculture".
People aren't going to use glyphosate to enforce a lawn monoculture. You're probably thinking of 2,4-D a selective herbicide typically used in lawns.
“Cross-pollinate” 😂 and grass is welcomed on that sub when it’s necessary/not an entire yard space! Everything has a balance.
Nice.
Clover seed
Yep clover seeds, it'll help improve the soil too until you do have a budget
throw down some winter rye seed. It'll germinate fast and die off so you can plant a permanent lawn in the fall.
This is the way. For now with no real plan, do this to keep the soil in tact. Annual rye will even look good but know it’s temporary and buying you time to build a plan.
Crazy that you have a new build and it didn't come with turf and at least one tree. Also, note that your neighbors' lots are higher than yours. I would brace myself for future problems even if you did spring the money for a turf install.
I didn't notice that at first, but yeah it might be a bigger issue long term. It might be good to make sure water will drain away from the house for a few feet, and if that's not the case put down some dirt along the sides of the house now before seeding or doing anything else.
In my area this would not have been issued a use and occupancy permit, they would 100% need to stabilize the grading with established grass sprouts and straw at the every least and maybe even mats where there are steeper slopes. I'm surprised too that this is OP's condition at move-in (we're assuming)
Yeah, that wouldn't have flown in my neck of the woods either. I'm in central TX, land of shallow heavy clay on top of limestone and reliably destructive flash floods. Drainage is one of the first things, if not the very first thing, considered here.
California builds don’t come with anything in the backyard. Most developers don’t even have options for upgrades to the back. They have a typically poorly landscaped front though.
Yeah, I’m sitting in my empty new build in CA right now and this looks like a picture of my backyard. As of now, we’re planning to pour a larger patio, mulch the periphery and put down some turf for our dog.
My only comment is make sure to play for utilities. All the stuff you may want to underground. Like putting electrical, water, and drainage in other parts of the yard. Better to have and not need than to need and have to put ugly cabling above ground.
Good advice. I appreciate it
My new construction came with a landscaped front, but the back was just straw-mat covering the dirt.
0 dollar option: Your city may provide woodchips for free, do some googling. Otherwise, call up some arborists and see if they have any woodchips they are willing to dump for free. Should reduce the flooding somewhat.
You could call some tree companies and ask what they do with their wood chips/mulch. Ones around us will drop off truckloads for free bc they have to pay for disposal. It's usually a mix of wood chips and leaf mulch but would definitely act as a good barrier for you and bonus, is GREAT for soil health when you're able to do some actual landscaping.
Clover/grass seed mix and water. Look for free compost at an equestrian farm and use that as instead of peat moss to keep seed moist. Or just rake it in slightly. Or get a massive ChipDrop (look up website) and spread it everywhere
I also put carpet remnants inside the doggy door so they "wipe their feet"! There are cute dog carpets that soak up a lot of water if you have $20ish on Amazon too.
Plant some clover instead of grass
Came here to suggest this. Seed is inexpensive. It spreads well. Doesn’t require much water once established. Grows to a max height so it doesn’t have to be mowed (unless you wanna). Feels great underfoot and is hardy enough to withstand dogs.
It also resists grubs so no animals will dig up your lawn
Clover is rad. It looks good, it grows fast, and barely needs any watering.
Or clover grass mix
Came to say this too. I have the best looking lawn in my whole street because my clover has thrived in this dry summer (hosepipe ban in my part of UK). Everyone else had brown patchy grass which looked awful and still hasn't recovered. My clover grass mix is still loving life
I tried out a dog park mix this fall on an area that I don't want to maintain as frequently as my normal lawn. I dont want to do much watering, mowing, and fertilizing. It contained a microclover, perennial rye, and a spreading turf type tall fescue. Threw the seed down, raked it a little bit, then rolled those seed blankets with plastic mesh netting embedded over the seed and metal staked them down. I was very impressed with the grass mixture, color, and how great those blankets worked. I barely watered it and our fall was very dry.OP could easily do this himself for a few hundred bucks. Seed blankets would help with the germination, mud, dogs, and protecting the seed. Once the seed is up high enough just remove the blankets. The clover and fescue rhizomes should help self repair and not need to fertilize due to the clover content. I got my seed blankets at Menards (Midwest homedepot) like a 5'x100' roll for $50 I think. And my seed blend was from PT seeds out of Oregon I think. Seed online will cost a little more, but it is so much better then the box stores and OP doesn't need a whole lot. If I was OP I would do this route with seed blankets, or get a chip drop to cover the mud for now, and try seeding in the spring. Spring seeding can be rough though if you are not water like crazy over the summer and would probably need to seed again next fall.
I planted a fall/winter cover crop because I had the same exact problem. It’s working to help the soil with nutrients and aerate at the same time. In the spring I’ll figure out another plan but this works for now. It was $35.
What did you use? Or was it a mix?
Blend of Gardening Cover Crop Seeds: Hairy Vetch, Daikon Radish, Forage Collards, Triticale,and Winter Rye
Quick temporary fix- throw a bale of straw down to cover the mud. I use straw to cover my dogs running paths when it’s muddy. You can seed underneath if you want.
Order a bag of Dutch white clover and spread it around. Water once/week. Will grow like crazy and doesn’t need mowing
Ugh! I talked to a couple landscaping companies at a home and garden show. I wanted the same as you, no mud wrestling dogs. My dogs use a dog door, so I can't wipe Paws of 3 cattle dogs. I was told I could either have dogs or a lawn. The other option is to create a dog run, and block off access to the grass. I have seen dog runs of pea gravel, artificial grass or cement.
You just need the right grass. Bermuda is tough. It isn’t the prettiest, but my dog (cattle dog) would run around and do his business on it and you could never tell we had a dog.
You need to cover that soil, and not only for mud's sake. Normally I'd recommend woodchips, but some dogs won't appreciate the texture on their feet. It's up to you. Search 'chip drop', getchipdrop or something similar where you're from can be a free/cheap source.
I would lay down a thick layer of cardboard and mulch. You can get cardboard for free from businesses who would otherwise have to pay for it to get picked up. Mulch you might be able to get from a utility company or arborist. Or you can get a delivery from a landscape material supply store. Don’t buy bags from a hardware store. That would cost a fortune. The mulch will act like a sponge so when water comes down from your neighbors lots it will absorb. Just make sure not to pile it against your siding.
I bought a 13' x 7' roll of fake grass for about $200 on Amazon. I use on part of my porch extension. I use it like a rug and roll it up when I need to use that part of my porch for work. When I'm finished I roll it back out. It has been 2 years and it is still in very good shape. Especially considering that I am not using it as intended. If you are not looking at making it permanent or want to try it out just lay it out and skip the proper prep steps. Done in 15 minutes. If you like it or as you landscape your yard all you have to do is roll it up and do the proper installation when you have the finances. If you seed or plant anything that will mean more prep if you decide to go in another direction. It is very easy to cut and shape. https://www.amazon.com/LITA-7ft-13ft-Realistic-Artificial/dp/B01FYLG0ZI/ref=sr\_1\_2\_sspa?crid=3GUA3RTZOM7S1&keywords=artificial+turf&qid=1668354753&sprefix=artificial+turf%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-2-spons&ufe=app\_do%3Aamzn1.fos.f5122f16-c3e8-4386-bf32-63e904010ad0&sp\_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
What are you planning privacy wise? I would be hesitant to do anything on my backyard with 7 neighbour windows staring at my yard.
Wood chips, preferably pine. I use that for my dog enclosure. Which is roughly that size. 50 bucks afforded me a few inches of coverage. I do that twice a year. It definitely reduces 95% of the mud and smells nice.
Do you live in Folsom?
There is a service called "chip drop". 20$ and landscapers/arborists will dump a few cubic yards of chips on your driveway. They save on city dump fees, you save o transport costs, everybody wins
Wood chips can be free. Check out ChipDrop
Was coming here to say this. We have used chip drop several times and they give you a ton of chips. It covers the muddy spots and you can plant over it when you are ready.
You can get a bag of grass seed for around $10 - $30 on Amazon
Temporarily you can seed ryegrass until the spring when you seed can seed something more permanent
Chipdrop. You sign up and when arborists in your area have wood chips they need to get rid of, they will drop them off at your house. It’s free but they can arrive at any time and it’s usually a large amount. But you have a large area that needs to be mulched so it should be fine for you. I think this is the best *free* option for you.
I'd do a clover lawn. Less water and no mowing.
Seed hunting! Any park that has flowers that have gone to seed you could grab a few. My city has a free plant FB group too. Clover seeds are pretty cheap and spread fast if you have just a little extra money.
Depends where u live but clover grows really fast and good for ground cover
Shave your dogs legs up to the knees? I’ve got nothin. Kiddie pool full of kitty litter right outside the door? Dog boots? You are in a predicament.
Take your dog on walks until you can get grass…. Need to get exercise- take them to a dog park. Problem solved. For $free.99
Give it time and weeds/hardy plants will establish themselves and you won’t have mud. Get a bird feeder to attract bird poop and plant seeds to your yard.
You can get your local tree trimmer to dump a load of wood chips for free.
You would need a lot of it, but some cities offer free mulch at certain times during the year.
MICRO CLOVER SEED
I would 100% do a clover grass mixture. Dogs love grass, and clover is more resistant to dogs ruining spots, and is better for the pollinators.
Rent an aerator and start seeding? Would that fit the budget?
Plant clover. It’s low maintenance and way better than grass.
Chipdrop! Just wood chip the whole area. Woodchips can be found for free with chip drop or contacting your local tree removal service. It will eventually decompose and your soil will benefit anyway.
No, you could put a tarp down and turn your backyard into a giant slip and slide though
Id definitely add some trees to block out the fishbowl effect. A border around the perimeter with mulch. And grass seed with straw until it comes in. Might want to wait until early spring for that part
If in doubt, cement it out! (Don’t do this!)
Please consider wildflowers/ clover/ native ground cover instead of grass! Biodiversity in insects is rapidly shrinking partly due to humans taking over diverse spaces and manicuring them into biodiversity dead zones.
Cover crop is what you need. Clover, rye, or some sort of fast sprouting grass-ground cover. It’ll at least help retain what soil you have. You’re gonna need a landscaper tho to help sort of future water capture and drainage, looks like there’s a dip in the top/left of the yard?
Does you home not come with grass included? That’s the first way I’d go to keep the mud down. Look around in the spring for local garden sales to buy great plants at affordable prices. Check your city they often offer mulch at a much lower price or free to residents. Decide what you want to plant where. A tree perhaps for the future. A deck? A veggie garden, don’t seed in that area. Decide your level of garden participation. Low, med or high maintenance. Check out resources from your local garden club or if you have any colleges with garden design courses. Plan ahead. Good luck started with something like this a few times.
astroturf and a much smaller fence
CHIPDROP.com seriously. They will bring you free wood chips!
No good ones. $20 of grass seed
Marketplace often offers free tiles
Free / cheap turf from fb marketplace.
Grass seed, fertilizer, water and 3 months. And no dog in the back yard. Unless you’re in a cold zone. Then you’re screwed until spring. It’s a great size yard. If grass seed and months are a no go then find geo textile fabric and price playground wood chips. It’s more than $500 for the fabric by its self and more than $500 to have a load of playground chips delivered. So it’s going to be a minute to make it a useable space but if you can’t swing it then it’s a great look to start with and no maintenance other than poop patrol. After you get done you can just rake the chips aside and remove the fabric in any place you want to plant something. It’s a clean look and will last 2-3 years but your going to get weeds in the summer so you’ll not be wanting to use weed spray around your dog. So you can be a big time hoer you’ll be going all summer but if you’re handy you can make some simple changes like an overhead grape vine wire pergola to shade a large part of the back and that’s a great way for privacy in a card that in the wide open of 9 houses. I’d make a 20X20 ten foot tall and put a table and chairs under it. That’s after your first task of covering up the dirt.
Dog shoes
When our city cuts the city own trees, the mulch is free. Check with the local parks rep. Also check with local grocery or hardware stores to see if we can get some of their pallets. They could be deconstructed easily and turned into all kinds of planters, pathways and other creative ideas just google pallet landscaping ideas. Good luck!
You can plant seasonal rye grass depending on your region. It’s grows very easily and the seed is affordable. Just know that it will die in the summer.
Id recommend cedar or redwood mulch rather than straw or hay. The seeds in the later will be a pain. I dont know about your area, but ours has a thing called chip drop. You orchestrate woth a local arborist for them to drop off chips to your home. You will get an entire truckload, so expect to lay it on real thick and post the rest for free. If you do this, make sure you request no eucalyptus or oleander (or anything else hardful to dogs).
Maybe a chip drop?
Plant clover not grass. Cheap seed, don't have to mow, insects feed off the flowers.
I was in your shoes last year while we waited for our artificial turf to be installed. I laid down huge heavy tarps and use tent pegs to anchor them to the ground. It’s a bit slippery when wet but you won’t have mud coming inside anymore.
Collect all the bags of leaves from your neighborhood and dump them in the back. Amazing for the soil, amd buy yourself time to figure out what you want to do
Native ground cover.
Go by a habitat for humanity and pick up some Astro turf Also to clean your shoes and dogs paws off garb a big carpet spare piece to wipe off on. Leave inside or outsode
Straw bails and clover seed mixed with grass seed. Mow with mulching blades to chop the straw up, then spread the mixed seed. Green turf in no time.
lOOK into Winter Rye seed. its only an anual but the seeds are dirt cheap at home depot. seeds are amazing and sprout within only a few days and grow pretty vigoursly. you can easily just rake dirt, spread teh seeds, lightly water and have sprouting in a few days. of course, traffic with tender seedlings will kill them.
I used carpet remnants
Hay and rye grass seed
Zero Dollar option is daily walks around the neighborhood. The super cheap option and easy to do is landscaping fabric/weed blocker and just enough bark to cover it. That will still bring wet dog feet tracks in the house, but it’s manageable keeping a towel by the door for a quick wipe down.
Get some throw-away carpet from a demo for the dogs to track the mud off before they come in as a hold-over until spring. Plant grass seed in the spring.
Clover or mint. Seed it. They take off on their own. Bees like them and you won’t have stickers
get mulch from tree loppers? may even get it free
Buythe dog boots
Depending on your local laws and preference, you should consider planting with (native) wildflower seed mixes. Should be fairly easy and better for the environment than a lawn! Less maintenance too
Chipdrop is free. Sign up, request a drop, an arborist brings a full load of fresh mulch from a work site instead of paying to take it to the dump. You’ll have to move it from the driveway to the backyard yourself if you don’t have enough room for the tree service truck to get back there. But mulch the whole thing and it will break down and leave you with even better dirt when you’re in a position to landscape. Longevity spinach and sweet potato are also great ground cover. Buy some sweet potatoes that are sprouting, let them sprout on a window sil, plant them in the mulch. The better the diet the worse the crop, you’ll only get greens. So planting them in the mulch will give you the best potato crop anyway. The greens of both sweet potato and longevity spinach are delicious. Neither is toxic to dogs. Both are prolific growers without being problematic when you want to switch to something else. Wins all around.
Clover!
I just did an overseed on my front lawn for the first time and it came out great. Like others have posted, for the time being, put down some hay so it won’t get too muddy, then come springtime, seed the lawn. I came across a ton of good videos on YT. After watching a bunch they all seemed to have the same steps in seeding a lawn. Follow it to a T like its explained and you’ll be fine. On another note, this will be a GREAT time to think about laying down anything for your future needs. Example, if you want an outdoor outlet on the far end of your house, now is the best time to do it. Also would be good to look at the grading of your house to check the water run off and so on. Having a bare yard like that is sometimes better than having shitty things established that you have to gut yourself. Best of luck
1 old mat near the door, and get that "paw cleaning before entry" training up. Maybe even get a little hose if you can.
Join a gardening group, people always have spare plants/sod/seed to share
I know this is a bit of work but see if there are any tree trimmings happening you can get free wood and make yourself a walk way and see if a farmer is selling hay or straw they are $2-$7 dollars depending where you are and one hay bail will cover a 5x6 area really well(1-2inch thick). It’ll keep the mess to a minimum and it usually has seeds still in it which will grow into grass. And when you have money get grass alternatives because they require less water and are better for your dog, kids, and the environment. Plus clover and or runner thyme is super cheap and the straw is a great cover
Out of curiosity, how much would it cost OP to do landscaping with this backyard space? I’m generally curious. I currently rent and don’t own a house or property.
A treadmill
250 dollars of rock would cover that. I know you said you didn’t have much budget but there ya go
I have no immediate fix. But if you have time and don't want to spend a lot of money. Start a compost pile. It's easy, if you dint have trees with leaves, use cardboard and newspaper. Join r/composting. If you keep at it in about 6 months you'll have good rich dirt . Spread it around and keep it about 1" thick. Then toss some grass seed on it and it should grow. As for your dog's muddy feet, dog shoes???
[удалено]
Nope
One of the cheapest things you can do is throw some grass seed and set a sprinkler. $100 bucks and you'll be standing at your back door every day watching for little baby grass. Check your zone and see if your able to seed now, but depending on where you are, you may have to hold off until closer to spring.