Scott Hildenbrand wrote:
Sheldon wrote:
Scott Hildenbrand wrote:
Scott Hildenbrand wrote:
Yet more research for the coming season and yard improvements. 
I'm trying to decide just what I can plant on the side of the drainage
culverts that run along the side and back of my property. The wonders of
living on the skits of a subdivision development.
Anyway, I was thinking maybe removing some of the rubble rock and
planting Joe Pye weed planted every so often along the ditch, which is
6' deep and 6' wide with about a 45 degree pitch.
Currently there is a crappy looking grass that grows in the area, along
with some other weedy flowers and the only good thing, some morning glory.
Area gets full sun and is fair moisture wise during normal season weather.
So you think it would do well there and be able to choke out some of the
grass and other junk? Or do you think I should look in other directions.
Zone 6b Kentucky, 12" or less of decent soil before solid clay... 
Just in case anyone is bored and wants to see the weedy mess which I'm
talking about, here's a couple of pics.
http://www.hildenbrands.com/gallery/landscape-woes/
There's only 2 things I want to rescue out of here.. There's a small
evergreen ground cover that someone put in which is being choked out,
and an annual flowering vine whos name escapes me at this very moment..
I'll be collecting the seeds from the vine soon so I can put them along
the new fence by the drive.
I'm sure it doesn't look like that from spring through early fall.
You're right.. It's actually a weedy green color before it turns a weedy
brown color..
Even if you repopulate with other diciduous plants it will look
exactly the same this time of year, brown!
True, but it'd look a heck of alot better during the rest of the year.
Possibly, depends what you can get to grow there among all the native
plants... and 200' of ground is a heck of a lot to cultivate by hand,
which will be necessasry to keep the native stuff from crowding out
your new additions.
Were it me, and you're
lucky enough not to have deer, I'd leave what's there and plant
the edge with interesting shrubs and specimen trees, evergreens would
be nice
What's wrong with deer? I happen to love having them come through the
yard when ever they like.
This is funny... um, deer eat most all plants... what you have growing
there now is probably only there because it's not on the deer menu.
If you have deer browsing there you can pretty much forget about
growing anything other than what's already there. However there are
some very nice plants that are pretty much deer proof as well as
excellent wildlife cover; barberry and ragusa rose are just two
As for an edge, ewww.. I dislike the manicured look of a row of hedges.
It's very easy to naturalize, actually easier than to create a formal
garden.
Whole point of removing the useless grasses and weeds and planting other
things is to attract more birds and butterflies.
I can't think of any plant that attracts birds and butterflies that
deer won't devour.
Not have pretty bushes and trees...
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Besides, I've already got trees close to the ditch, my huge
pecan, black walnut and plums.
You neglected to include those in your pictures.... and those are bare
half the year... evergreens would be more pleasing dispersed amongst
what's already there... deer generally don't eat spruce... I have
literaly thousands of Colorado blue spruce and Norway spruce on my
property, the deer seek it out for shelter but don't ever give it even
a nibble... they don't bother white pine either.
You have two other choices, leave it as is for attracting
the wildlife you will enjoy all winter,
Wild grasses do little to attract wildlife beyond acting as a shelter
which other plants can do better.
If you can get them to grow/survive... and it depends what you
designate wildlife; snakes, frogs, toads, salamanders, turtles/
tortoises mice, and much more are all on my wildlife list.
or straddle the ditch with a
wide mower and give it a rough haircut so it won't be so conspicuous.
At 6'x6' wide straddling with a mower is a psychotic idea. Not to
mention that the 6' width is minimum as parts are 8 to 10'.
Nothing psychotic... my 7' mower can handle a 6' width easily, and can
be offset to cut a wider swath.... what's psychotic is to think things
people suggest can't be done. I have a similar ditch on my property
and it continues onto my neighbors land, I mow along my portion but he
dons coveralls and waders and string trims his portion down to nubs
2-3 times a year.
Another choice (if there is a natural water flow) is to create a
pond...
Storm runoff only.
The reason I figured that ditch is there in the first place. But
still you can have a pond or some water feature, suppliment water with
a hose and use a pump to recirculate from one end to the other, line
the ditch and you can create a 200' babbling brook, even have
waterfalls and koi filled meditation pools. Your only limitation is
your imagination, and of course your wallet.
or the illusion of water with a bridge and perhaps span the
ditch with a gazebo.
As stated in the post, the ditch borders my property. Thus I do not have
land rights to the whole thing else I'd be happily slapping up a bridge
or two and making the whole thing more interesting..
If it's not your land you should obtain permission before doing
anything with that ditch, it may even be designated wetlands... you
can buy yourself a very hefty fine and even end up incarcerated.
I would do very careful research regarding that land before doing
anything, especially since it's not your land.