I have an awful area under a huge oak tree, next to our driveway. We planted it as a lawn ten years ago, and it just keeps eroding away and getting dryer and deader. Now we have an area, lets say 15 feet by 30, where nothing grows. It actually gets a lot of sun, as it's a southern facing slope and the oak doesn't shade it a lot. The dirt is awful, dry clay with oak roots peeking up out of it.
I have several piles of old wood, small logs or large sticks between 4 and 8 feet long, from a Honey locust tree we cut down 5 years ago. I'm thinking of putting these logs around in this area, mostly perpendicular to the water flow, and then covering it (partly) up with several inches of wood chips. Then, planting, barely in the dirt and mostly covered by chips, the toughest perennials I can find.
Plants I have or can get easily: Lots of (damn invasive) strawberry plants, yarrow, comfrey, oregano, thyme, violets, goldenrod, ironweed, Dame's Rocket (lots), butterfly weed, maybe Coltsfoot. I'm willing to buy seeds but not spend a lot on live plants as I don't have high hopes for them. I have some chicken litter (wood shavings), a little lawn clippings, and leaf collection time is imminent.
Does this plan have any chance of success? It's not a steep slope, by the way, not at all. I'm in Ohio, Zone 5/6.
