Knoxville, TN

[Lovebnretired]

Knoxville, TN. has had almost daily hard down pours everyday to every other day for a week [its Aug 1, 2008].
Just moved in new home this year. Whole property is on a slant to back door neighbors. Lawn has very little grass, weeds are mostly wild violets here.
Right now the biggest problem is trying to keep my top soil from the neighbors lawn. I am guessing I loose a little more than a 1/4" everywhere at each down pour. The hay just goes alone with it. I am afraid of digging anywhere - it may be a gaping hole the next day!

RAIN - RAIN - GO AWAY

and come again next week!

Lovebnretired

[ok_nurse]

We had the first rain in a month on Tuesday night. We got a wopping 1/4 inch of the precious stuff here! Woo hoo!
I would start planting to keep that ground from rolling away!. Willow trees take huge amounts of water and will help to sop up the excess. Personally, I would plant a few fruit trees and put flowering bushes on the border. Rock and natural looking irrigation to a sink hole with water loving plants is an option too. There are plenty of those to choose from and you could make a lovely garden.

[SDB777]

Sounds like a terrace is in order. Imagine...rock walls lined with beautiful flowering plants. Or a stepping waterfall... Or, I dunno?

By stepping the yard and controlling the water flow, you'll be much happier. The grass and the topsoil will be much happier.







Scott (did I mention rocks?) B

[pooh]

Rocks rocks we all love rocks

[Lovebnretired]

Thanks for your replys.

I have seeded and over seeded the lawn twice now this year. It just floods it all to pools in some places. As long as the daily/bi-daily down pours continue I am not seeding again. I have put rocks I've gathered up in the stream lines here and there to help keep some top soil in place.
Today is Sat. and I went out and bought rolls of a black cloth errosion control. I have laid it down and staked it in place. Finished just 15 mins. before todays down pour started. It worked great. I have yards of material for normal sewing and am considering putting it down tomarrow. This has been a $$$ thing so far.
I will remove all cloth when these stormy days pass. Knoxville is normally in the middle of a dry to drought most of the time the months of July and August. This year is so unusual.
The hostas, in the new raised bed, are even rotting where the stem touches the dirt . Of course, I expect them to shoot back up.

Lovebnretired

[Lovebnretired]

Weather update.
Has not rainned in a week and a half now. So now everything needs water HA HA!
Weather man says it will rain again off and on for one week starting tomarrow.

[jdkline]

Feast or famine......flood or drought.
Deb

[Lovebnretired]

SDB777

You replyed to this thread I made some time ago concerning all the rain here in Knoxville, Tn washing away my top soil.
I just wanted to let you know I have taken your advise and gathered rocks - lots of them. I have created terraces as you suggested.
I am proud to say I have finished placing all the 1st layers of rocks and will start mulching. Finished just in time it seems the weather man says it is going to rain again for 7 days off and on starting tomarrow.

Placing rocks so they look right and fit correctly was a hard job but I did it. I will post pictures in my album pages when I figure out how.

Thanks
Lovebnretired

[jdkline]

Way to go!! Hope that works for you. Your right, placing rocks just right is hard. I love rocks but I can never place them in a way that I like. Hopefully the terracing will work for you. And yes, we would love to see pics.
Deb

[bhscarlett]

I have to water in cool of am, and cool of evening, at least my plants,, that is,, and my garden, had three tomatoes today,, yummy better boys,, not as big i dont think from not too much rain, and too hot and late start,, those are my guesses because i try to nuture them some... there is nothing like fresh fruit and veges, and no chemicals,, blessings, beth,, and no outbreaks either,,

[Lovebnretired]

Rain Water washing away top soil update.
Like I said I did get loads of rocks and have trellised 1/2 of the front lawn into one giant garden bed.
It rained last night and God blessed my work. None of the mulch nor any top soil in that area moved/washed away at all.

Thank YOu for suggesting that. Now I just have 6 other places that wash away to tackle. One down - Six to go......... work, work, work,

[unicorn2564]

Work work work is right. Winter is the only rest time we get!!!

[SDB777]

Ah....winter. The time we southerns tend to use as the heavy rock moving project time. With the semi-cool temps(20-45*F) around here I enjoy doing the 'hard work' then.

Glad the terrace saved your topsoil! In the long run it will be less work....and the benefits of having those huge flower beds....WOW!




Scott (what's this winter thing) B