Many properties are bordered by a ditch along the road within the VDOT easement. Maintaining turf grass and mowing in those ditches may be difficult. You are allowed to plant in these locations but of course must avoid doing anything that might divert water onto the road—a tree would not be a good idea in that location! If the road is salted during the winter, choose perennials that can tolerate salt as well as wet. Examples include

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• Eastern Red Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

• Joe-pye Weed (Eutrochium dubium and fistulosum)

• Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)

• Flat-topped Goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia)

• Swamp Rose-mallow (Hibiscus moscheutos)

• Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)

• Scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma)

• Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum)

• Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis)

• Narrow-leafed mountain mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)

• Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)

• Rough Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa)

• Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)

• New York Aster (Symphyotricum novi-belgii)

• Marsh Fern (Thelypteris palustris)

• Purple-top Grass (Tridens flavus)

• Golden Alexander (Zizia aurea)

 

Golden Ragwort (Packera aurea) (pictured) is a particularly good choice, as it loves to grow in ditches naturally and can tolerate sun or shade, wet or dry.

 

Planting bigger plants instead of small plugs can keep them from being washed away before they get established.