The creek rehab project is done. Laying the sod was the last step.
Here’s the before and after.
The project was to mitigate erosion and stabilize the land bridge. We’ve seen heavy rain, and it worked as intended. I’m done, but the land bridge will improve with time. The banks will grow out and dirt will settle in the cracks, so won’t look like a patch work. The concrete bag paper will continue to slough off. As I encounter surplus rocks, I will chuck them in the creek. By fall, the grass will grow in on the bridge deck and the panzer tracks will flatten.
Sod was used on the banks because grass seed might wash away and wouldn’t grow until the fall. The banks would erode in that time. The sod came from a spot in the lawn where the fire pit is going.
Sod is quite heavy when the ground is wet and it’s roughly scooped up with the panzer bucket. The best approach was to scoop up two patches at the top of the hill, drive through the woods down to the bridge, and lay the patches. Neither of us were sure that I wanted Sparky’s help.
Sparky would have been happy to relax in the house, but I like to include him when I can. Sparky is prone to sneaking off when I’m not looking. He doesn’t run away, but casually sniffs around until I get distracted, then he’s gone. He may be on the other side of a bush, or, as he did at Keith’s house, be two lawns away.
No need to worry, Sparky was a prince. He lounged under a tree while I worked.
To save the lawn, the panzer was driven through the woods between the sod mine and the bridge. Sparky didn’t want to follow. I was worried that he might wander off while I was out of sight. No problem. When I switched locations, Sparky ran over to lounge under a nearby tree.
Is that your own front end loader?
Yes, it’s a mini-skid steer. It takes different attachments in front. Joe really wants me to get a grapple for handling logs.
that looks really great!
And Sparky likes it. Along with his other attributes, Sparky is a bit of a ditch pig. He has gone down into the creek before, so he likes the new improved creek bank.
Well done. The sod gives it a completed look.