turning 20' x60' of weeds into a landscaped back yard-help!

[amanda b]

Hi there,
I'm new to this forum, but have been an avid house plant 'gardener' for years.

My husband and I bought our house four years ago and due to various concerns have not had the time or money to landscape the backyard. We live in Pittsburgh--in the city--and what was 20' x 60' of dirt when we moved in is now an "urban meadow." Wall to wall well established weeds of just about every variety, including some poison ivy, which invaded from the neighbors' yard, and which they and I have aggressively attacked (we'll see what happens this year).*

We would like to plant grass and have a cutting garden back there, and we hope to be able to sow the grass seed and create the beds (perhaps raised beds) sometime this year, either in the spring or fall (preferably spring). I'd rather not spray any chemicals that will remain in the soil for a long time, but I'm not averse to using them if necessary.

Most of the information I have seen about weed eradication or control does not address what to do with this size or intensity of problem. We can't really do any planting of any kind until the weeds have been addressed.

I know that with the amount of well established weeds we have it will be an ongoing process to get rid of them, but I'm just not sure what the best way to go about it is.

Thanks!

--amanda b

[Newt]

Hi Amanda,

I would suggest you first mow down what is there if that hasn't been done already.* Then you could use either a radiant heat weeder or a flame weeder.* If using a flame weeder, DO NOT BURN POISON IVY!!!!
http://www.pesticide.org/radiant.html
http://www.pesticide.org/pubs/alts/pdf/flameweeding.pdf
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/weed.html#top

You might find this helpful on how to use a flame weeder.
http://www.flameengineering.com/Flame_Weeding.html

You should be able to rent a flame weeder, but you would have to purchase your own propane tank.

Newt