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[Ourobolus]

Spring is coming (well, technically it's here, but the weather hasn't caught up yet in the northeast US), and I'd like to fix a major problem I have in my backyard.

Goddamn ground vine. I tried every sort of chemical killer on this stuff last year and nada. Nothing works. I'll take a picture when I get home, but I've had various people say it's several different types (kudzu, violet, etc.), so I'm not entirely sure what kind it is.

ANYWAY.

So my backyard is on a slight slope (running parallel to the house), and is about 40 feet wide. The area I need to weed, the latter third or so of my yard, is about 15 feet long and runs the length of the yard (so 600 sqft). I'd like to turn this into some sort of garden, possibly raised, with some shrubbery, flowers, and vegetables (that my wife wants to plant). I don't really want to do it professionally if I can do it myself, but...yeah. I'm relatively handy, but I've never really done any serious gardening before.

After reading a bunch of articles online, I think this is what I need to do:

1. Till the fuck out of the area. Pull out any weeds that get brought up.
2. Lay down some weed barrier (fabric, newspaper, or something. Any preferences?)
3. Cut slits in the fabric for where I want to plant. (see question below)
4. Plant.
5. Toss 2 in. or so of mulch on top.

I'll also add some sort of edging, like brick or something, both for the part that faces my yard, and around the fence line, so that it should lessen the potential of more vine coming in from my neighbors' yards. Yes, I'm aware I'll probably have to do periodic maintenance since they've got all that shit in their yards as well. Currently I have a crappy chain-link fence that I hope to upgrade to a 6-ft wooden one at some point.

Questions:
- Do I add soil on top of the weed barrier and simply plant on top of it? Or should I cut slits in the fabric and plant underneath?
- Do I need to take out any of the dirt I tilled?

Am I missing anything?
What other things should I keep in mind?
Am I completely off-base?

Please help!

I'll take a picture or two when I get home if it helps.

 

[triplestation]

I would get set it on fire and buy new dirt

 

[Ourobolus]

I would get set it on fire and buy new dirt

I have debated this...if I wasn't so sure I'd end up burning down my neighborhood.

 

[SolsticeZero]

If you put the soil on top of the weed barrier and plant in it, the weeds will just grow in that soil. Put the soil down, THEN the weed barrier, THEN the mulch, and cut slits where you want the plants to be so their roots can get into the soil. And you won't need to remove any dirt unless you think it's completely unsuitable for plants to grow in.

 

[Ourobolus]

If you put the soil on top of the weed barrier and plant in it, the weeds will just grow in that soil. Put the soil down, THEN the weed barrier, THEN the mulch, and cut slits where you want the plants to be so their roots can get into the soil. And you won't need to remove any dirt unless you think it's completely unsuitable for plants to grow in.

The dirt should be fine as far as allowing the plants to grow, it's just making sure that I get out as many weeds as possible, right?

Thanks for the clarification, that makes sense. Any preference for weed barrier? Fabric? newspaper?

 

[J-Rod]

I buy the stuff from lowes or wherever sells gardening merchandise. I personally haven't found them to be very effective, but I usually buy the cheapest they have. I definitely don't think newspaper will be effective. First hint of moisture and weeds will be coming through as if nothing was there.

 

[Ourobolus]

I buy the stuff from lowes or wherever sells gardening merchandise. I personally haven't found them to be very effective, but I usually buy the cheapest they have. I definitely don't think newspaper will be effective. First hint of moisture and weeds will be coming through as if nothing was there.

I have read that if you're going to go this route, you do need to splurge a little bit on the barrier. There are some commercial-grade ones by...DeWitt? I think? that were recommended.