Green Thumb Part Deux

[pbwalker]

I didn't want to hijack the other thread with something unrelated. I've got a completely different issue.

I've got 110 trees on my 1 acre lot. Suffice to say, there are some areas that are shaded 90% of the time and are slow to drain. One of those areas is near my shed. It turns in to a mud pit when it rains and stays that way for quite a while. I'm tired of tracking in mud.

Can anyone recommend a good ground cover that can withstand moderate foot traffic? I'd rather not go the route of gravel / rock, but will if I absolutely have to. Brass Button? English Ivy? Mulch?

TIA!

[sjfcontrol]

Concrete

[The Annoyed Man]

I don't know much about ground cover, but couldn't it be managed by proper drainage?

[jmra]

St. Aug grass likes shade.

[RPB]

I have a green thumb growing goathead stickers as ground cover, they are real resilient and my yard is green while the rest of the neighborhood is dead from drought, but .... that's worse than tracking in mud, they love carpeting.

[strider67]

I don't know much about ground cover, but couldn't it be managed by proper drainage?

TAM, I am by no means an expert on the subject, but we have a similar problem where we live, and we have VERY FEW trees. Some places simply deal with soil types which soak up moisture and take forever to dry out. We are currently reviewing our options, as well, as our horses will be walking in slop for the next month after these last rains.

[DocV]

I have several shady spots from large live oaks where the Saint Augustine will not grow. Try some Fescue seed from Tractor Supply. It is shade, heat and, allegedly, drought tolerant.

[The Annoyed Man]

I have several shady spots from large live oaks where the Saint Augustine will not grow. Try some Fescue seed from Tractor Supply. It is shade, heat and, allegedly, drought tolerant.

Yes, fescue will do well in the shade. It will also eventually invade your St. Augustine.....as happened in my front yard. Only I didn't plant fescue. Someone in the neighborhood over-seeded, and some of it got windborn into my lawn.

I don't know much about drainage either, but it occured to me that maybe a small shallow trench leading away from the center of the area, back filled with gravel and sand, and then planted over with the sod, might give a place for water to drain off to. Or, maybe it's a dumb idea. But that's what popped into my head........but then it's not uncommon for something silly to pop into

SQUIRRELS!!!!