Unless you start desirable plants in the ditch, other plants ( weeds ) will grow. The easiest way would probably be to weed wack it every so often.

Keep in mind that burning vegetation may require a permit and those may be issued only under certain conditions. Check with your local unit of government before setting that area afire since fines can be pretty hefty. We recently had someone fined $700.00 plus $3,500.00 for fire response, and $1,000.00 and 30 days in jail for assaulting a fire fighter.

Just keep the are mowed.

kimmq is kimmsr

The problem is that part of the ditch had a bunch of rock and cement to keep it in place place there. The weeds are growing so I can't mow...tried weed wacking too...

What's the convention the neighbors are following?

Thanks for all the input! I was hoping to grass seed the flat parts and maybe do some native wildflowers in the sloped area. The bigger problem is that there is rock around the culvert that was held in place by pooring concrete...now there are weeds growing in all the dirt that has ended up in the rock/concrete (can't mow...hard to weed whack). I have no idea what to do with that! Neighbors have grassy meadow that they mow. I have no idea how I will ever kill all this burdock and garlic mustard:(