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

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

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?