I have a front yard in Virginia near Richmond. The yard has a 3% grade to the street and a slope down to the driveway in center. The HOA Bis very restrictive of what I can do. There are many oak and tulip poplar trees in the area I have tried to grow sod and to mulch entire area over in each case the yard won. The sod was robbed of water by the large trees and the mulch washed away in the heavy downpours we get in Virginia every year or so. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Do the homeowners' assn. restrictions address terracing? Given the fact that you've tried sod and mulch but been thwarted by the rains and water, the only thing I can think of if you still want grass is to terrace the yard.

Alternatively, you could try planting an aggressive ground cover such as vinca minor or ivy. You'd probably have to create wells around each plant until they're established, but both of these are fierce competitors and will grow aggressively, perhaps enough to counteract the negative forces working against them.