Need advice on hay field material

[Anonymous]

I'm in the early stages of planning and building an outdoor garden railroad near Ohio Amish country. Part of my railroad will include an Amish farm with a hay field during fall harvest. Does anyone have suggestions for what to cover the ground with to make it look like recently cut hay. I've already made the hay wagon by converting a Lemax Christmas tree wagon which I got really cheap in an after Christmas sale. For that I used unraveled twine for the hay and it looks pretty good. It would take a lot of twine to cover a whole farm field. Any ideas? Thanks

[Rastun]

Sorry,  I'm not going to be much help here, since I can't think of something that would stay at that look year round. If you used a ground cover that dies off every year at least in the fall you would have the proper look. I think you'll find most people with garden railraods outside ton't try to model a specific time of year, since the garden is always changing through out the year.

Jack 

[two tone]

Hi I use the grass that you see in fruit and veg shops I find it stands sun and rain remember the ten foot rule. If it looks  ok from that distance your ok Hope this helps

[Rene Schweitzer]

There's a plant called "living astro-turf" that might fit your needs, Zones 5-8. Here's a description as written by Pat Hayward:

The waxy, bright-green leaves form extremely tight rosettes as the plant spreads outward. Its common name, "living Astro-turf", describes it perfectly. It is a slow growing, rock-garden-type plant that needs well-drained soil to be at its best. Small-scale leaves and tiny flowers make it perfect for small garden-railroad "lawns" or other areas where a non-invasive groundcover is needed. This Bolax can survive in colder climates but may need snow cover or other protection to make it through harsh winters. It is somewhat rare at garden centers, but can usually be found through rock-garden or other specialty nurseries.

[dwbeckett]

try some indoor/outdroor grass ligtly spray painted with flat yellow and brown for color varation. I had some down in my yard for a joke it was still good after 5 years. I don't think you can find a shagg rug trimed and brushed the color your after. 

[Dick Friedman]

What works in the small scales works in the large ones too!  I cut up large amounts of redwood fence material for ties, beams, bents, etc. on a table saw.  Since the blade is wider than some of my wood, I get lots of sawdust, some of it fairly coarse.  Lay about 1/2 inch of it on the ground.  The bugs and weeds don't like it, and although pretty red at first, it tones down pretty niclely.  You can see pix on my web page: <http://home.pacbell.net/rfriedma/svgrs/gardenrwy.htm> in the corral by the farmhouse.