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Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Tuff Turf Hillside Stabilizer
Erosion control seed blend for slopes, banks, and disturbed soil. 16% nitrogen-fixing legumes + deep-rooting grasses. Zero-fertilizer once established. USDA Zones 3-7.
Old Cobblers Farm™ Wicked Tuff Turf Hillside Stabilizer
An erosion-control blend engineered for slopes, banks, and disturbed soil where establishment is difficult and permanent stabilization is critical. Unlike ornamental lawn mixes, this formula prioritizes root development, soil binding, and survival in challenging conditions over appearance. The 16% legume content (Alsike Clover + Empire Birdsfoot Trefoil) provides nitrogen fixation that sustains the stand on poor soils without fertilizer access. Empire Birdsfoot Trefoil drives a 3-4 foot taproot that anchors soil on slopes no lawn grass can match.
Category
Mix
Type
Erosion Control Mix
Scientific Name
Multi-species blend
Zones
3-7
Brand
Wicked Tuff Turf
What Is It ?
An erosion-control blend engineered for slopes, banks, and disturbed soil where establishment is difficult and permanent stabilization is critical. Unlike ornamental lawn mixes, this formula prioritizes root development, soil binding, and survival in challenging conditions over appearance. The 16% legume content (Alsike Clover + Empire Birdsfoot Trefoil) provides nitrogen fixation that sustains the stand on poor soils without fertilizer access. Empire Birdsfoot Trefoil drives a 3-4 foot taproot that anchors soil on slopes no lawn grass can match.
How to Apply ?
Step 1
Rough-grade slope and remove loose debris
Step 2
Apply low-nitrogen / high-phos starter fertilizer
Step 3
Spread seed (6-8 lbs/1k sq ft new; 3-4 lbs overseed)
Step 4
Install erosion blanket and secure with staples
Step 5
Water if accessible (or rely on rainfall)
Step 6
No traffic during establishment; 12-24 mo to stabilize
Best For
Slopes and banks over 15% grade|Highway and roadway cuts and fills|Retention pond banks and swales|Stream banks (above normal water level)|Construction sites requiring permanent erosion control|Ditches and drainage channels|Any disturbed soil requiring stabilization with minimal maintenance
FAQs
1.
What is the Hillside Stabilizer?
The Wicked Tuff Turf Hillside Stabilizer (New Hampshire Slope 44) is an erosion-control seed blend engineered for slopes, banks, and disturbed soil where establishment is difficult and permanent stabilization is critical. It contains 43% creeping red fescue, 33% perennial ryegrass, 8% redtop, 8% alsike clover, and 8% Empire birdsfoot trefoil. Unlike ornamental lawn mixes, this formula prioritizes root development, soil binding, and survival in challenging conditions over appearance.
2.
What does 85/80 Kentucky bluegrass mean in this mix?
The Hillside Stabilizer works on slopes from 15% to 50%+ grade. Establishment method varies by steepness: 15-30% grade can be seeded, raked, and rolled with optional erosion blanket. 30-50% grade should use erosion control blanket stapled at 1-foot intervals or hydroseeding. Slopes exceeding 50% require hydroseeding with tackifier—broadcast seed alone will wash away before germination. Seed at 6-8 lbs per 1,000 sq ft for standard slopes, increasing to 8-10 lbs for steep slopes.
3.
How much clover is in the All Purpose Lawn Mix and will it be visible?
Redtop (Agrostis gigantea) is included for its ability to establish on wet, acidic, compacted, and disturbed soils where finer turfgrasses fail. Redtop spreads aggressively via stolons and rhizomes—a weakness in ornamental lawns but a critical strength for erosion control. It colonizes bare, difficult ground faster than most grasses, providing immediate soil stabilization while slower species (fescue, trefoil) develop. Redtop is rarely used in lawn mixes but is invaluable for stabilization applications.
4.
Does the Hillside Stabilizer need fertilizer after establishment?
Minimal to none. The 16% legume content (8% alsike clover + 8% Empire birdsfoot trefoil) fixes atmospheric nitrogen at 80-150 lbs per acre annually, sustaining the grass components without synthetic fertilizer. A low-nitrogen starter fertilizer (high phosphorus) at planting aids initial establishment, but established stands on slopes typically require zero ongoing fertilization. This self-sustaining characteristic is essential for slopes where fertilizer application is impractical or impossible.
5.
How long does the Hillside Stabilizer take to fully stabilize a slope?
The All Purpose Mix performs in 3-8+ hours of direct sunlight. Optimal performance is at 4-6 hours. In shadier spots (3-4 hours), creeping red fescue carries the stand. In full sun (8+ hours), tall fescue tends to dominate over time. For less than 3 hours of direct sun, the Sun & Shade Mix is a better choice with its 65% fine fescue content designed specifically for heavy shade. The All Purpose is best described as a moderate-shade-tolerant blend.
6.
What fertilizer program does the All Purpose Lawn Mix need?
Apply 2-3 lbs nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft annually, with the white clover component providing an additional 0.5-1 lb N through biological fixation. Fall fertilization (September-October in zones 4-6) produces the best results. A simple program: 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in September, 1 lb in late October, and optionally 0.5-1 lb in late May. Avoid heavy spring nitrogen which promotes disease and weed pressure. Slow-release or organic fertilizers complement the clover's natural fertility contribution.
7
What are the best applications for the Hillside Stabilizer mix?
Primary applications include residential slopes and banks over 15% grade, highway and road cuts and fills, retention pond banks and swales, stream banks above normal water level, construction sites requiring permanent erosion control, ditches and drainage channels, dam faces, and any disturbed soil requiring stabilization with minimal ongoing maintenance. It is not suitable for flat ornamental lawns (it will look weedy with redtop and legume flowers), high-visibility areas expecting manicured turf, or high-traffic paths.