Covering dirt/mud spots

[Reel_Big_Fish]

I've got a few areas of exposed dirt, which has become mud, that I want to cover for the winter. When we let the dog out, he chases the squirrels and goes right through the dirt and then tracks everything back in the house. I haven't been able to do what we want to do with the areas and probably won't until Spring.

So my question is, what would be the best option to cover the areas for the winter. Whatever it is probably won't completely keep the dog from getting dirty, but I'm thinking it will help. I was thinking about getting a couple of bails of hay and lay down. I figured it would be easy enough to rake up in the Spring and dispose of. If that's the case, what's the cost for a bail, and where can I get them in the Vancouver area? If not hay, what would be good to lay over the areas of dirt? We have plans for the areas, so the remedy would need to be able to be removed easily. The total area that needs to be covered is probably around 500 square feet.

[OceanBlue]

I don't think I'd use hay or straw. You probably don't want weeds growing in that area, right? If there's nothing there and you don't want anything there, I'd suggest some heavy black plastic. You can cover that with bark dust, gravel or river rock if you don't want to look at the plastic.

[Jsail]

You could lay sod. It may not grow well if the area isn't prepared for it, but if you don't want grass there that may be good.
A 2 x 5 piece of sod cost $3.00 delivered.

[Dave G]

I guess land mines are out of the question? (Just joking)

[wsuweston]

Bark is good, but could lead to feas

[Reel_Big_Fish]

I didn't think about the hay leading to weeds. So that's out of the question.

Sod may work for one of the areas. I may just look at doing the heavy plastic, or maybe even the weed barrier stuff. I think I have a partial roll in the shed that will do the trick.

Thanks for the ideas folks!

[fishkisser]

You can fill in the low spots with river sand to keep the puddles down and then tarp... Sod roots great in damp sand...:smile:

[Sweet Melissa]

We had a similar problem, only our whole yard was mud. Get yourself some annual grass seed at a feed store. It will only last a season, the roots will not be deep, it's not expensive, and if you get on it, you will have grass pretty soon.