Mix native grass seed and top soil together in equal parts, and spread a 2-inch layer over the soil on the sides of the ditch. Secure erosion netting over the seeds with wooden stakes. Spread a thin layer of straw over the netting to keep the seeds moist until they germinate.
Can you plant grass in a ditch?
Covering a ditch with grass reduces soil erosion caused by fast-running water. Most ditches alternate between dry and wet, so grass planted along the banks or in the ditch must be adaptable to the fluctuation in moisture. Pick ornamental grass varieties that match the growing conditions along the ditch.
How do you spruce up a drainage ditch?
12 Easy Ways To Spruce Up Your Drainage Ditch! 1. Fill Your Ditch With Rocks. One of the easiest ways to make your drainage ditch look good is to just fill it with rocks or pebbles. You can find a ... 2. Use Commercial Grates. 3. Create A Dry Creek Bed. 4. Use Plants To Disguise Your Drain. 5. ...
What to plant in a drainage ditch?
The drainage ditch is filled with pebbles and some larger rocks and then planted with irises. You can use any plants that don’t mind having wet feet like Canna lilies, Elephant’s ears, Cattail and many varieties of ferns. These plants will thrive in the wet conditions and also add a splash of color.
Will evergreen grasses grow in a ditch area?
Shade-loving evergreen grasses need some protection from the sun, which can burn their blades. Although ditch areas tend to stay moist, extreme sun can dry out the area.
How do you grow grass in a drainage ditch?
If you want to plant grass in the drainage ditch, lay landscape cloth over the gravel in the bottom, then cover the cloth with more gravel or stones. Place about an inch (2.5 cm.) of topsoil over the gravel before planting grass seeds.
What grows well in a ditch?
ANSWER: Grasses are the very best plants to use for erosion control—especially on slopes—because of their extensive fibrous root systems that are very effective in holding the soil in place. Additionally, they are easy to start by seed.
How do you landscape a ditch?
Adding Stone and Landscaping Your Drainage Ditch Add some stone to the bottom of the drainage ditch. Then, remove unsightly weeds or plants from the sides. Be sure not to strip the sides of all plants all at once! Stripping could cause erosion of the soil into your drainage area.
What kind of grass is best for erosion control?
Naturally deep-rooted grasses that establish quickly, such as turf-type tall fescue grasses, are excellent choices for erosion-prone spots. Fast-germinating annual and perennial ryegrasses help stabilize slopes quickly and control erosion while deeper rooted grasses become established and take hold.
What is a good ground cover for a ditch?
Evergreen Ground Covers Stonecrop or sedum (Sedum spp.) grow well on sunny ditch banks. Stonecrop species range in size from a few inches to 2 feet tall but all spread or creep. Sedum can be evergreen or semi-evergreen and grow in a variety of colors and sizes.
What do you fill a ditch with?
Cover With Topsoil Covering a drainage ditch is the last step. Create a blanket over the gravel with 3 inches of topsoil. Plant sod or grass seed over the topsoil. Apply water to the seed or sod daily for two weeks after planting, then every other day for an additional two weeks.
Should I put rocks in my ditch?
Lining a ditch with rock enhances any ditch. It improves water flow through the ditch, can trap trash and sediment and can reduce erosion. A properly maintained ditch lined with rock can even improve the property value of a piece of land.
How do I keep my ditch from eroding?
Vegetation. Vegetation stabilizes soil through the plants' root systems and helps prevent erosion. Leave existing vegetation intact in ditches whenever possible. Seed new ditches with grass, and mulch to hold seeds in place until vegetation is well established.
What is the difference between a trench and a ditch?
A trench is a type of excavation or in the ground that is generally deeper than it is wide (as opposed to a wider gully, or ditch), and narrow compared with its length (as opposed to a simple hole or pit).
What is the quickest growing grass seed?
What type of seeds grow the fastest? Bermuda grass is the fastest-growing warm season grass, germinating in as little as 10 days. Ryegrass, which grows in cool climates, also germinates that quickly.
Are trees or grass better for erosion?
By reinforcing to greater depths, trees add stability to slopes. However, trees are less effective than grass in stabilizing against erosion. Therefore, it is recommended that areas designated for trees be planted with grass.
Does mowing increase erosion?
Upon visiting the property, usually, the main culprit for the streambank erosion is that the property owner has mowed the grass up to the streambank. Mowing up to the streambank causes loss of the riparian area and bank instability, which then leads to bank failure.
What grows well in soil with poor drainage?
List of the Best Plants for Clay Soil With Poor Drainage [Updated] 1.4 4) Roses (Rosa spp.) 1.5 5) Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.) 1.7 7) Plantain lilies (Hosta spp.)
Should I put rocks in my ditch?
Lining a ditch with rock enhances any ditch. It improves water flow through the ditch, can trap trash and sediment and can reduce erosion. A properly maintained ditch lined with rock can even improve the property value of a piece of land.
How do you beautify a drainage ditch?
12 Easy Ways To Spruce Up Your Drainage Ditch!Fill Your Ditch With Rocks. What is this? ... Use Commercial Grates. ... Create A Dry Creek Bed. ... Use Plants To Disguise Your Drain. ... Install A French Drain. ... Add Some Stepping Stones. ... Build A Rock Wall. ... Create A More Formal Look.More items...
Can you plant flowers in a ditch?
Prepping Your Ditch Clear the entire ditch or choose areas winding through the existing plant life. Remove the weeds, and gently expose the soil so your seed makes contact when sown. Plan rivers of wildflowers or colorful patches, as nature often delivers. Cultivate lightly, so you don't awaken weed seeds.
Why cover a ditch with grass?
Covering a ditch with grass reduces soil erosion caused by fast-running water. Most ditches alternate between dry and wet, so grass planted along the banks or in the ditch must be adaptable to the fluctuation in moisture. Pick ornamental grass varieties that match the growing conditions along the ditch.
What is the best grass to plant in wet areas?
Herbaceous shade-loving grasses are the ones to plant in wet areas with less than six hours of sun. One shade-loving grass is the “Gyoku-ryu” mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus “Gyoku-ryu”), which is a dwarf variety reaching only 1 to 2 inches tall, clumping 12 inches wide, in USDA zones 7 through 10.
What grasses stop growing?
Herbaceous grasses stop growing when the weather becomes too hot or cold. The tops may die back when the grass goes dormant. For example, bulbous oat grass (Arrhenatherum elatius bulbosum “Variegatum”) likes moist growing conditions and cool weather. In USDA zones 4 through 8, blue-green clumps reach 12 inches tall and 18 inches wide. This slow-growing grass does not flower. Variegated moor grass (Molinia caerulea “Variegata”) grows in USDA zones 5 through 9, producing green blades with white stripes and late summer purple blooms reaching 12 to 18 inches tall. This moisture-adaptable grass works well as a ground cover.
What grass grows in the shade?
Although ditch areas tend to stay moist, extreme sun can dry out the area. One moisture-adaptable grass is dwarf umbrella grass (Cyperus albostriatus), which stays green in USDA zones 10 and 11, with 8- to 20-inch-tall upright stems topped by broad-leaf blades. This North American native grass looks good when grown with Asian or tropical plants. Muhly grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris), which grows in USDA zones 6 through 10, produces 4-foot-tall stalks topped with billowy, pink airy flowers in fall forming clumps 1 to 3 feet wide. The flowering stems work well in cut flower arrangements.
What grasses grow in wet areas?
Herbaceous shade-loving gras ses are the ones to plant in wet areas with less than six hours of sun. One shade-loving grass is the “Gyoku-ryu” mondo grass (Ophiopogon japonicus “Gyoku-ryu”), which is a dwarf variety reaching only 1 to 2 inches tall, clumping 12 inches wide, in USDA zones 7 through 10. In summer, tiny pale lavender blossoms appear on short stems hidden by the leaves. This ground-covering grass does not tolerate to full sun. Yellow foxtail grass (Alopecurus pratensis “Aureus”) produces variegated yellow and green blades in USDA zones 5 through 8, giving the best color in cool weather reaching 12 inches tall and 24 inches wide. Green foxtail-like plumes grow to 30 inches tall in spring. This grass provides erosion control along ditch slopes and tolerates coastal conditions.
What is the best grass to grow with Asian plants?
This North American native grass looks good when grown with Asian or tropical plants. Muhly grass ( Muhlenbergia capillaris), which grows in USDA zones 6 through 10, produces 4-foot-tall stalks topped with billowy, pink airy flowers in fall forming clumps 1 to 3 feet wide.
How do you grow grass in a drainage ditch?
To grow grass in a drainage ditch, you will need to clear the area of debris, till the soil, and then seed the area.
How do you keep dirt out of a trench drain?
The best way to keep dirt out of a trench drain is to have a professional install it.
How do you redirect water runoff?
Water runoff can be redirected by channeling it into a drainage ditch or culvert, or by redirecting it with an earthen berm or barrow.
How deep should a drainage trench be?
Drainage trenches should be at least 1 foot deep and no more than 6 feet deep.
What is a good ground cover for a ditch?
One ground cover option for a ditch is Sedge (Carex). This plant is low-growing, with long, thin leaves that are green or brown in color. It is a hardy plant that can tolerate a variety of conditions, making it ideal for covering a ditch.
What do you line a ditch with?
The most common material used to line ditches is concrete. Other materials that can be used to line ditches include asphalt, stone, and metal.
Will rocks stop erosion?
Rocks can stop erosion when they are placed in the path of moving water. The water will flow around the rocks, and the rocks will protect the shoreline or hill from the erosive power of the water.
What to plant instead of grass in a ditch rain garden?
Make a Useful Ditch Rain Garden. Instead of grass, plant water-loving marginals such as cattails (Typha latifolia) or rushes and sedges. Not only do these low-maintenance perennials come back year after year to naturally take up excess water runoff; with many of these plants you also get bonuses.
How to make a ditch into a stream?
One elegant way to get out of mowing the ditch is to make it into a real, if sometimes dry, stream. Remove the turf and reshape the ditch it so that it narrows and widens periodically as a natural stream might. Add a layer of river rock in the bottom and along the sides. Place a few larger rocks or boulders here and there for interest, and add streamside plants for even more authenticity and to hold the soil where there are no rocks. Irises (Iris sp.) and day lilies (Hemerocallis sp.) are good choices for stream sides, as are some others already listed here. Even in dry times, you get the illusion of a natural stream running through the property, and in wet weather you'll have the real deal.
How to get out of a ditch?
One elegant way to get out of mowing the ditch is to make it into a real, if sometimes dry, stream. Remove the turf and reshape the ditch it so that it narrows and widens periodically as a natural stream might. Add a layer of river rock in the bottom and along the sides.
What flowers can be planted on the side of a stream?
Irises (Iris sp.) and day lilies (Hemerocallis sp.) are good choices for stream sides, as are some others already listed here. Even in dry times, you get the illusion of a natural stream running through the property, and in wet weather you'll have the real deal.
Why do you need to plant gaps between stones?
You need to plant the gaps with a moisture-loving ground cover to prevent grass from returning between the stones, however, and to keep water from working its way under the stones and dislodging them.
Can grass be planted in a ditch?
However, you needn't have grass in your ditch when there are better options. Be creative; choose plants that thrive in U.S. plant hardiness zones 8 through 10, but remember that a ditch must drain adequately. If it can do that and still be beautiful and low-maintenance, so much the better.
Can you mow grass in a ditch?
The mower is usually too large to get in there, and weed trimmers are time-consuming and often awkward to use. However, you needn't have grass in your ditch when there are better options.
What to put in drain ditch?
Here’s another great idea which adds a lovely natural look to the drain. The drainage ditch is filled with pebbles and some larger rocks and then planted with irises.
Why are drainage ditches necessary?
Written by Simon Barker in Lawn Care. Drainage ditches are necessary in most gardens to take care of excess rainwater and avoid waterlogged lawns and garden beds. Depending on the amount of rainfall your garden gets, it’s important to direct that excess water away. The problem with any type of drainage ditch is that it’s not normally very ...
How do Japanese gardens use water features?
Japanese gardens use water features very effectively. You can use these for inspiration to create a more formal look to your drainage ditch. This one is enclosed with concrete edging. The pebbles are then placed symmetrically and interspersed with paving stones. Add some stone sculptures to complete the look.
How to make drains look natural?
Using a combination of plants will create a natural look to your drain. Or, you can keep it a little more formal by just mass-planting one species.
Can you put potted plants in a drainage ditch?
If you’ve made your drainage ditch into a dry creek bed why not add a touch of whimsy by placing potted plants into interesting stone or concrete planters.
Can you fill a ditch with quartz?
Alternatively, why not consider filling your ditch with some crushed quartz. There are many colors available, so you can choose one that best suits the rest of your landscape.
Can you add stepping stones to a creek bed?
If you have a fairly large drainage ditch and have turned it into a dry creek bed, then why not add some stepping stones as well.
How wide is a ditch?
The ditch is a quarter mile long and about 20-30 feet wide. I can't use my stander until the grass gets cut down first. The grass and weeds are about 2-4 feet tall. This is the bulk of the job, the rest is simple. The slope is probab 30 degrees and the ground is pretty solid when dry.
Can a lawnmower cut anything?
Also, theoretically, any mower will cut anything, given enough time and sweat, but if your walk behind isn't up to the job, a Lawnboy certainly isn't going to be either. Best of luck.
What to plant in a ditch?
Wildflowers. Tall wildflowers make an attractive addition to a ditch, and require little to no mowing. Consider planting native wildflowers appropriate to your area, then simply allowing them to grow. Daylilies, black-eyed Susans, clover and wildflower mixes all work well.
Why do you need to mowing a ditch?
Ditches, or sloped trenches in your yard, along your driveway or in your fields, keep water away from low spots, roads and other important locations. Grass and weeds, which require mowing, often sprout in dry ditches. However, mowing a ditch can be difficult, inconvenient and even dangerous. Landscaping your ditches to avoid the need for mowing can produce a low-maintenance, attractive lawn and garden feature that still does its job.
Why do we need to leave trees in ditches?
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, leaving trees and other larger vegetation along at least once side of a ditch can reduce erosion and associated maintenance costs, as well as shade water for aquatic life and provide habitat for insects, rodents and other animals.
Can you grow grass above a certain height?
Some ground covers and grasses never grow above a certain height. An occasional clipping and weeding is all they require. "Southern Living" magazine recommends mondo grass, an Asian grass also called monkey grass, for no-mow lawns and ditches.
How long does it take for black plastic to kill weeds?
Here is my idea, Put black plastic down for 4-6 weeks to let it kill off the weeds without chemicals, Take the plastic up and put in native plants. You can use seed rather than plants to save money. I would give the people at Prairie Moon Nursery a call and get a recommendation for what to use.
Can phlox grow in clay soil?
You might try low growing phlox (creeping phlox). I started some plants last year in my mid-Michigan drainage ditch. It has steep sides and is mostly clay soil. I had to add some better soil to start the plants, but they survived the winter and are taking off now. I hope to see a wonderful array of flowers in April.
