Oooh I have a question! I have a really big touble spot in my yard since it's on a slope and we get the rain runoff from the whole street right past my house and into the back, down the sloping yard, into the creek beyond. The nextdoor neighbors driveway takes it in the front, but as it curves around in the back, we have really bad erosion problems where it dumps it into the back yard. Issue 1: A rock bed beneath the deck (I didn't put it there), on a 20 degree slope, takes the force from the gutter outlets of my own home, then adds it to the street water. The rocks just wash right out of it. It's obvious I need deeprooting noninvasive ground cover for shade that can withstand the force of the running water. There are a few other areas of my yard where the grass won't grow because of this, right up next to the house so it's a very big issue. Grass seed, like the rock, just washes out even with small rains. The last homeowner said he tried sod but it kept washing out too before it could take. Issue 2: The street water runs off from the neighbors driveway, past and around an oak tree. I can't get anything to grow here since the run off washes out any seed that gets planted, and the tanins from the oak tree acidify the soil. Not to mention the fact that it's under a tree, I'd say at least partly shady. Any suggestions? Building a fence or planting some sort of barrier is out of the question because of the tree and because the problem begins on the neighbors property which he has completely neglected and passed off to us (for maintanance at least). Tomorrow I can take some pictures in case this is just too confusing to understand what I mean.

Thank you all for the additional responses. As most people will probably notice, so far the opinions here are unanimous. jayk, or anybody else, I wonder what would be a good source for this type of information, that is fair and accurate. I guess part of the problem IÂm having with all this, is that in trying to help one problem, I'm making something else worse, and don't think I have the information to make as informed a choice as I'd like to. I know organizations will have different slants based on their focus, and so would prefer a source that takes a broader view which I think UCS as least aspires to. Since I know what a problem invasives are, it did strike me as off seeing this suggestion I the book, especially since this organization is fighting invasives also. ladyslppr, WeÂve been putting in more shrubs and perennials, but our lawn is still about half or two-thirds of our garden, especially in the front yard. In the same book I mentioned, in addition to all the possible negatives you mention about lawns, they also point out that some 5 HP lawn mowers produce as much pollution as a 200 HP car could. This of course could be avoided by using electrical, manual, or less polluting mowers, but I donÂt know how many people would be using the alternatives. At this point we're having somebody else do the mowing for us, and he is using a gas mower. bob64, I don't think buffalo grass is native here, and from the pictures I'm seeing, doesn't look like it would fit in well here. Red fescue looks like it might fit in better in some places in my yard, so I'll do some more reading on that one. Finding native (or at least non-invasive) alternatives has become something of an obsession at this point. Next on my list to try is Paxistima canbyi which sounds promising. For climbing up a sunny fence to replace the English ivy there, IÂve had some success using Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper), Bignonia capreolata (cross-vine. Not native here, but I figure itÂs an improvement) and Lonicera sempervirens (trumpet honeysuckle). There are areas that Christmas fern works ok. I wouldnÂt call them total failures, but I havenÂt had very good results with Phlox Stolonifera (creeping phlox), Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry), Pachysandra procumbens (Allegheny spurge). I like the way moss looks, and it does show up in my yard, so I let it spread where it will. Those are actually the nicest looking parts of our lawn in my opinion, but I donÂt see it spreading everywhere, especially not out front where thereÂs more sun. Lori

Grows best in circumneutral soil, with pH of 6.8-7.2. I have had to modify my red clay (very acidic) soil to successfully grow it and allow it to spread. The attractive flower spikes contain both male (at the top) and many fewer female flowers at the lower end. As a result of that arrangement, a vector is not usually required for pollination. The seed are contained in a small capsule and can be a source of additional starts. Propagation is usually accomplished by division or root sections. The foliage is most often patterned with silver veins, some will be patterned moreso than others, but they can also produce solid green foliage. Because of your location, you may not be able to find the plants locally. Be aware that Wild collection is sometimes the source of plants available online. That is perfectly legal, if the source is from private property or with a valid permit, from public property (road construction, widening or other development areas). Rb

Oh, just plant it. I would wait until you are going to have at least 6-12 weeks of warm weather to let it get established before cold weather sets in. I planted mine atop grass and it has taken over. You know there are about 4-5 species of pachysandra, so we may not be thinking the same ones. Planting it atop the grass would depend on survival of the fittest and which is tougher. What about lasagna gardening it? Lay layers of newspaper, about 6-8 inches deep over the area where you wish to grow it. Throw some mulch atop that, as it breaks down over winter, do some more. When spring is in full force, pull up the papers to find a barren piece of land and that is where you plant it, keep the weeds pulled and within a few years you would have a happy home (in the south) for copperheads. It's just so cool in the afternoon heat for them. Chicken compost is pretty hot for pachysandra. Personally, unless there are some real soil issues, the breakdown of newspapers and magazines should contribute to her soil some browns and she can throw a handful of greens on it every now and then in the form of coffee or tea grounds. Throw it and the worms will come to compost the newspapers. This post was edited by patricia43 on Mon, Sep 8, 14 at 1:36