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groundcover replacement for grassy ditch

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Posted by rocky110501 z5 WI (My Page) on
Mon, Sep 6, 04 at 12:37

Hi - i was wondering if someone could help me? We have a long, full sun, shallow (5' deep at most) ditch in our front yard that runs along our road. We don't want to mow the grass there anymore b/c it's a pain. A nursery lady suggested a few main plantings of 'calgary carpet' junipers along the long ditch since they can spread to 10'. Then she suggested mixing in some daylilies sporadically. Then she suggested, filling in the rest of the area with pachysandra (green carpet) to block weed growth. Does this sound like a good idea? I'm in WI (zone 5). I was just concerned b/c everywhere i look it says pachysandra is a shade plant. I really like the pachysandra and the nursery woman said that full sun would be fine for it. What do you think? I appreciate any suggestions.

Thank you very much!
A young, unexperienced gardener.

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RE: groundcover replacement for grassy ditch

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i'm just adding some more information to my previous posting - sorry, forgot to mention that the soil type is clayish to normal soil if that helps? Maybe a little gravel since it's next to road?? Also, the spring thaw is the wettest time for the ditch, but this doesn't last that long unless it's unusually wet spring. Drains well too.

Rocky110501

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RE: groundcover replacement for grassy ditch

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i personally dont care for junipers and daylilies - not that it doesnt look nice - just that it seems overused to me .... you might want to look into planting it in a natural native wildflower meadow - mixed with native grasses - some people dont like that look either - but i think its different and can be quite beautiful....

Here is a link that might be useful: clay soil praire mix

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RE: groundcover replacement for grassy ditch

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As it's such a long area, might it be useful to start these plants, grow them on, and plant them as 'plugs' when the clay is workable? I wouldn't fancy delving in the bottom of the ditch until it's had time to drain after the spring flush.

And if the plants were planted out as seedlings, it would be possible to pick the habitat/zone of the ditch that would suit.

The main hassle I could see would be the care needed over a couple of years, maybe, to reduce competition from the existing grasses. Or would it be safe to use a herbicide to clear the grass before planting and mulching?

  
 

 

 


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