In the area we live in NC our yard is nothing but rocks and clay. We would like to plant some kind of ground covering to help with soil errosion but that would also be food for the 2 goats. It doesn't have to look pretty but does need to be hardy and easy to grow. I'm tired of lookng at bare dirt and the weeds, poison ivy, brambles etc.. Would some kind of grass fill this requirement? If so what kind? Any other suggestions?

-- anita (anitaholton@mindspring.com), October 02, 2001

Answers

just plant a garden and you will have more grass than you know what to do with...hehehehe

-- paul a coleman (wormfarmerone@yahoo.com), October 02, 2001.

What about something like some of the creeping thymes? I know my mom has planted them in very clay-ey soil and it spreads like crazy. She's had most success with Wooly Thyme. It's very low and hardy, and you can walk on it. It's just like a carpet. Don't know if it's safe internally for goats, but don't see why not. Good luck, Anita.

-- Rheba (rhebabeall@hotmail.com), October 02, 2001.

you might want to take a look at Crownvetch. It's a hardy perinnial. Grows fast, spreads quick, pretty pinkish/purple flowers for a few months, isn't killed off by mowing. Used for erosion control, ditches, slopes, etc. Seen on alot of roadsides in the mid atlantic states. Should grow good in NC, does ok in poor soil, just need some rain once in a while. It gets kind of bushy, maybe about 2' high or so. Goats eat it.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), October 02, 2001.

Mint grows well (and quickly!) in poor soil. I don't know if the goats will like it but it certainly would give them fresh breath.

-- Nancy Woodward (NAWoodward@lakewebs.net), October 02, 2001.

forgot to mention, crownvetch is a relative to clover so it's probably fairly nutritious. Maybe you could mix it with some good clover too.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), October 02, 2001.

Vicky from TX that does goats would know. Perhaps someone could tell you a goat forum to ask at. If you do that, please report back to this forum. Some of us don't have the particular animals that are asked about but are interested, or maybe want to "someday" have those animals ( but not interested enough to go seek answers elsewhere).

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), October 02, 2001.

You could always wait for kudzu to catch up to your area - but if you plan on planting it, do it at night or you may be shot on sight! Wire grass is another invasive, can't-kill-it weed around NC, and it doesn't get very high, so if you're looking for something that will grow, grow, grow and never die, try that!

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), October 03, 2001.