Hello, all. I have a drainage ditch (or maybe it's an easement, I don't actually know the difference) in front of my house and I was hoping to do something to make it look prettier. The only problem is that I don't have any sort of artistic imagination. Some other members on another board referred me to you so here I am. 🙂
Here are some facts which might be relevant:
- I am in eastern North Carolina, maybe 30 minutes from the coast, on the edge of growing zone 8A.
- The bottom of the ditch is probably 18-24 inches lower than the top edge nearest to my house.
- Despite heavy rains, I have never seen the ditch fill up with water as it seems to drain pretty quickly, either into the ground or down the street. I have never seen it following a hurricane.
- I have no HOA, so I can pretty much do what I want.
- If flowers are involved, I'd prefer perennials or pretty reliable self-seeding annuals so as to avoid replanting every year. Additionally, I am military so I may be away for months at a time. As such, low maintenance is better than high maintenance.
- Also, since I'm military, I'm definitely not rich. 😄 However, I'd be willing to drop a couple thousand for this, especially if it comes back to me in terms of higher property value.
- Most of my neighbors haven't done anything, but many of them are renting and are likely not allowed to. The neighbors nearest to me all seem happy with my plans to make it nicer.
- I can't plant anything at the bottom of the ditch because the city will destroy it when they work the ditches.
- Planting on the either side of the ditch is fine. Planting on the upper part of the slope is probably okay. Planting on the slope towards the bottom of the ditch is pushing it.
- Placing manmade stuff on the slope is probably not okay, but it is fine on the side nearest to my house.
I have attached some photos of the ditch if that helps. And I ask for forgiveness in advance as I might ask some dumb questions. I'm new to gardening and even newer to art. 🤔
