What to sown as buffer next to ditch water way?

[Northdowns Martin]

Sorting out area of heavy land with ditches, looking at CS and wondering what works best. Aiming to go 3m around perimeter of whole field and 6m alongside a ditch. AB8 - flower rich margins has been suggested.

 

[yellow belly]

Depends on soil
I have cocksfoot as a grass strip keeps out all invasive plants ragwort thistles and willow herb Heavy land

if flowers will grow easly then try them but thistles and ragwort will be hard to stop

I

 

[steveR]

Depends on soil
I have cocksfoot as a grass strip keeps out all invasive plants ragwort thistles and willow herb Heavy land

if flowers will grow easly then try them but thistles and ragwort will be hard to stop

I

Something that can be topped, wiped or sprayed to control problem weeds.

 

[Salopian_Will]

Timothy, cocksfoot.

 

[Princess Pooper]

Something that can be topped, wiped or sprayed to control problem weeds.

You don't want to be spraying - its supposed to be a buffer to protect water!

 

[Princess Pooper]

CSS option SW1, grass mix. Any decent seed house will have different seed mixes for this, for different soil types. Would have thought your best would be one with cocksfoot in, but you can only go 4-6m, not 3m for SW1. The flower-rich options can be quite difficult to establish on heavy land, due to the finer grasses and flower seeds in them. (Not sure of your aspect, also wants to be sunny/warm for AB8, not a cold wet heavy patch.)

 

[steveR]

You don't want to be spraying - its supposed to be a buffer

to protect water!

Agreed, but OP mentioned whole perimeter margins....