Need Daylily advice for swale planting

15 years ago

Hi,

This area (to the left in the picture ... and beyond where this picture shows) is part of drainage swale that runs through my property. This is an emergency (overflow) swale and not the primary way that stormwater travels. Underneath my yard are a couple 18" concrete pipes and large intake/drain on the lot behind me.

The fence on the left actually goes across this emergency swale and is about 1" about the rocks for about 12' and then 1-12" above the rocks for another 4' on either side.

The fence has 2x4 steel fencing attached to it all the way down and into the rocks. So nothing can get into my backyard ... but the fence looks floating (above the rocks) from the street and its not a really great look.

I'm thinking about possibly planting daylilys in some configuration in front of the fence, down in the swale area ... and the goals would be to hide the "see through" or "see under" the fence ... and also to provide a nice look from the street. It could be a simple row of daylilys or something smaller in front with something larger behind it.

This are tends to be fairly moist all the time, just as it is an area where water from my house and yard drains into. I also want something that can be totally overrun with water, if this emergency swale ever kicks into action. Both below ground and above ground are scaled for the 100 year flood (flow rate).

Any advice or ideas greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Scott

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Comments (7)

jakejones
15 years ago
I have recently planted daylilies on swales. I think having large clumps helps. By large I mean 10-20 fans each clump. Hems should do well with the moisture.
okbt
15 years ago
I know that ditchlilies will survive there,as will probably most older cultivars.They don't seem to be prone to rotting if it gets real damp. Around here the ditchlilies grow right in with the cattails.See what your local landscapers have to offer.You can probably get a good price on a quantity of one kind or an even better price on an unnamed mix.I would say at least 100 fans or around 15 clumps.
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I considered not responding to this thread. What I have to say is not an answer to the question or what the OP wants to hear. Still, he may benefit and other readers can learn from the mistakes made. When building a new home, it's best to complete a grading and drainage plan before starting construction. There is a minor potential for flooding for this lot (flood zone X) that should be assessed and a height of foundation selected to ensure protection. If it was my house the grade at the foundation would be a few inches higher than the highest point in James Drive to the south. With luck, that is the case. When doing grading, it's a good idea to make a base property drawing that documents the grading before construction begins. Drainage law varies from state to state. Most states follow some modified version of the Civil Law of Drainage. It is a violation to block the natural flow of water from a higher property from entering your property, and carries liability for all damage for doing so. In this case, after construction started, water pooled on Lot 7, submerging newly planted trees. Whether the pooling was caused by construction or an insufficient capacity of the county's road ditch may be in question, but without a documentation of the original grades the poster is not in a good position to defend against a claim from the Lot 7 owner. The poster may have to regrade to accommodate the drainage of Lot 7 and pay for the replacement of any of the trees that die. While I think it was right of the county to tell poster to regrade such that Lot 7 drainage was not blocked from getting to the road ditch, I fail to see how the county has authority to require the swale MTguy constructed across his property. Moreover, the swale also violates the Civil Law of Drainage by diverting water to flow onto a lower property (Lot 5) in a place different from historical flows. The lower owner has a legal cause of action that the flows be stopped and all damage be compensated. A consolation with an attorney might be in order. I'm sorry you didn't find your way to this forum earlier.
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Spiderwort is invasive here. But I like the blue flowers. So I have two clumps of it in a "natural" area way in the back, where I can spray for weeds if it gets out of control. It will survive quite easily in poor soil and without irrigation. But if it is in a bed with good soil, regular water, and near your daylilies, it may cause more work than it's worth...especially next year when you find it popping up in places where you didn't plant it. It is very difficult to pull out by hand (needs to be sprayed to really kill it). I'd get rid of it...or at least move it to a corner away from your DL's. Kathy
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Some of my favorite daylily companions have been other lilies (oriental and asiatic), peonies, and irises. Heliopsis 'Loraine Sunshine' is gorgeous, and shasta daisies also worked very well for me. (I don't know how they'd handle slugs in the PNW, though). Nasturtiums were also a great filler among warm-colored daylilies, along with alyssum. Cosmos was nice at the back of the border; the shorter varieties would work in the middle. Chives in bloom looked nice with the pinks/whites of daylilies, and so did some of the lower hardy geraniums (cranesbills). I planted tulips and daffodils in clumps among my daylilies for early spring color, too. Finally, I loved having the rose of sharon 'Blue Bird' as a tall shrub behind my daylilies - gorgeous! (That's on my "must buy" list for the new garden; I just found it yesterday at a local nursery - hooray!) Good luck! Laurel
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gonegardening
15 years ago
If I read you correctly, you will need plants that can take "wet feet"...in an area that stays damp. A great shrub (very tough) is Clethra. There are several varieties...one, I think, is called Ruby Spice has very nice pinkish blooms...and is fragrant.

A perennial that can take dampness is Turtlehead (Chelone glabra). Very easy care. Maybe take a look at some Japanese Iris as well. And, Louisiana Iris.

Look at some plants that grow on riverbanks. Those are ones that can take wet feet as well as some flooding.

Just some quick thoughts. I hope they are of some help to you. I'm just not sure about exposing my pricey daylilies to those conditions. I'm with the others...try it with some inexpensive ones and see how they do.
bunkers
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks.

Yes, this area has wet feet, or at least constantly moist soil .

I saw some basic daylillies at home depot for around $3.xx each. I wasn't sure if they would be any good or if I should go to a daylilly etailer instead.

Further down in this swale, it becomes my yard and that part stays pretty normal. As the swale reaches the curb, it becomes wet again ... so they put in a trickle pan and landscaped it for plants. I have a lot of happy moisture loving perennials in there and they are looking good.

So I could also do shrubs or perennials instead of you think they would do better than daylilys.
beachlily z9a
15 years ago
On, my, Scott! I grew up in Denver and moved permanently in 1983. I looked at that picture and called my husband in to see it. All he said way, what part of Denver is that???

Brought back a lot of landscaping and planting memories! Thanks
bunkers
Original Author
15 years ago
This is 3-4 year old subdivision in Castle Rock ... on the North side, just South of Happy Canyon.

This neighborhood is what most would call $350k - 550k tract homes ... and the homes behind me in this picture are Diamond Ridge/Puma Ridge ... which is a million+ neighborhood, but some of these are in foreclosures right now for only $600k+ .

I bet it does bring back memories. I should post a picture of how my yard started. It was literally a flat patch of dirt and nothing more. Landscaping in CO in a new neighborhood means starting with NOTHING ! LOL
beachlily z9a
15 years ago
Yes, I do remember those bare patches of clay! I grew up and lived 35 years in Lakewood. It was imperative to make sure that any plants used were really, really hardy. The plant sale at the Denver Botanical Gardens was my favorite! Ahhh ... grasshoppers and meadowlarks. Who could forget!

I think daylilies would do really well in that location. In most climates, they might be challenged in dampness, but in your arid, hot climate, that dampness might save them. Look at the AHS website, and look under display gardens. There are two in Greeley and one in Aurora. If you called those people, they would tell you the cheapest, hardiest plants they have. I would start there for recommendations. Ignore the Home D. stuff--you don't have any idea of what you are getting. Also, Ned Roberts hybridized spiders in Colorado Springs, and I know his widow, Betty, still lives there. His introductions prior to about 1998 (I think) were grown in the Springs. After that he hybridized in Tenn. then FL, but never moved out of Colorado. Spiders might not be the best for you because their foliage isn't as lush as other types of daylilies, but the blooms are awesome!

Now I'm in FL gardening in sand and loving it! Down here, things grow while you watch! Break it off, stick it in the ground, and stand back!

Good luck with your project!

Need Daylily advice for swale planting

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jakejones

okbt

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