I would like to plant our shallow drainage ditch in front of the house so we don't have to mow it. Full sun.

Any suggestions? Has to be a plant that won't give up when we have a lot of rain -- but that can also tolerate dry conditions. Thanks.

I would like to plant our shallow drainage ditch in front of the house so we don't have to mow it. Full sun.
Some people near me now have tulips poking their heads up in a ditch, and they seem to love it there. I know of another ditch thoroughly colonized by fall-blooming Korean pink chrysanthemums. When I had a ditch in front of my house, I filled with with natives -- pink joe pye weed, white native asters and and blue floss flower. In the fall it was beautiful, and much better than mowing!
Reply:how about those tiger lilies?
Reply:What you'll want to plant depends on the soil type and how much you want to spend (and how much time you want to spend weeding it).





If you're in the Great Plains or the western prairies, I'd tend to suggest buffalo grass, Buchloe dactyloides. Sod forming, low growing, tough grass that can get away without mowing.





Suggest you check with your local extension service for appropriate groundcovers in your area.
Reply:I had a drainage ditch that I thought long and hard about.


I wish I had tried asparagus there but the problem is that although it got very very soggy and downright wet in the spring. it got pretty dry in the summer.





My final solution after much consideration has been to make a dry creek there, It is lovely and when it is wet in the spring it looks active and then looks just fine in the summer





here are some examples and instructions





http://www.sunset.com/sunset/garden/arti...





http://www.grlandscaping.net/grassroots/...








good luck
Reply:PRETTY MUCH ANY GRASSY MOSS
Reply:How about asparagus, the ditch plant that keeps on giving. Rhubarb would also grow well there.